relative major
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of relative major
First recorded in 1840–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even though they have the same key signature, a minor key and its relative major sound very different.
From Literature
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The pattern for the minor scale starts a half step plus a whole step lower than the major scale pattern, so a relative minor is always three half steps lower than its relative major.
From Literature
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You may find it helpful to notice that the "relative major" of the Dorian begins one whole step lower.
From Literature
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I can’t say that it has to be in a major key or go to the chorus to get to the relative major to get that lift, because that isn’t really what happens.
From The Guardian
While the notes are identical in both, the effect upon the ear is different, according to the starting note, just as the descending melodic minor scale is de facto the same as the relative major scale, but not in its effect.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.