Puzzle

[stiggowitz]

In our church hymnal there's a song with the key signature of 4 flats but is actually played in F minor, what is the reason?

s:)

[Kap'n]

Four flats is either A flat major, or its relative minor F minor.

[stiggowitz]

Thanks Kap'n. How does a person determine the relative minor and does the answer apply to all key signatures?

Thanks for your patience.

s:)

[Kap'n]

A relative minor is one and a half steps below the major key.

For example in the key of C, the relative minor is Am, for the key of G, the relative minor is Em, and so on.

Using the key of C example, the major scale (also called Ionian mode) has the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

If you shift those same notes to the relative minor, starting the scale at A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A - you get what is called the Aeolian mode.

[Don]

It's what we used to call the difference between country and blues!