Each of the letters we added to the circle in my previous post represents a major scale. Each major scale as an equivalent minor or what is called a relative minor. It is determined by falling back a minor 3rd or 3 half-steps from the major scale designation. So 3 half-steps before C is what? 1. C back to B, 2. B back to B-flat (or we can call it A-sharp), 3. B-flat back to A. So the relative minor of C major is A minor.
But how can we use the circle to find the relative minor?
It bears a 90 degree relationship with the major. Draw a line from C at 12 o'clock to the center where the hands of the clock would both be pinned to the clock face (if this one had hands) and then make a right angle or 90-degree turn to the right towards the 3 o'clock position where A is.
So what is the relative minor of A-flat major? F minor. Another way to look at it is to count forward three positions. So what is the relative minor of D major?
