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6.12.3
Relative Major & Minor: Relative Key Modulation

Relative major and minor keys, modulating one to the other—that's called relative key modulation. In this variety of modulation, the song establishes tonality in a major key (such as C major), then moves to its relative minor (A minor) and establishes tonality there.

Or vice-versa.

NOTE: A large proportion of popular songs have a casual mix of major and relative minor chords. But such use of relative minor or relative major chords in a song that does not actually establish tonality in the relative key does not constitute relative key modulation.

Chord map examples of relative key modulation coming up:

  • “Dear Landlord”
  • “Lovesick Blues”
  • “Georgia On My Mind”

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