What is the relative minor of C major?

• A. A minor
• B. C minor
• C. E minor
• D. F major

Answer: (A)

In major/minor pairs, the relative minor shares the same key signature and starts on the sixth scale degree of the major key. For C major, the notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B; the sixth degree is A, so the natural minor built from that note is A minor. Since both C major and A minor have no sharps or flats, they share the same key signature, which is the defining link between them. The other options would each carry different key signatures (C minor with flats, E minor with a sharp, F major with a flat), so they aren’t the relative minor of C major.