Circle of fourths and their relative minor family of chords

Many songs use the relative minor for the chorus or bridge sections:
i.e. verse C //// F //// G //// chorus  Am //// G //// F ////
So it is important to memorize the relative minor family of chords.
The relative minor is also called the natural or aeolian minor.

 

 

 

C major C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C 

A natural minor  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A

same notes as C major except A is the root or key note.

 

A Natural Minor scale = A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A

A Natural Minor (3 note) family of chords:

A minor,  B diminished,  C major,  D minor, E minor, F major, G major   

i             iio                III            iv           v           VI            VII

 

A Natural Minor (4 note) family of chords:

Am7,         Bm7b5,       Cmaj7,        Dm7,     Em7,    F maj7,      G dominant 7  

im7            iiØ7           IIImaj7         iv7        v7        VImaj7       VII7

 

 

F major F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F 

D natural minor  D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D  

same notes as F major except D is the root or key note.

 

D Natural Minor scale = D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D

D Natural Minor (3 note) family of chords:

D minor,   E diminished,   F major,   G minor, A minor, Bb major,  C major  

i              iio                   III             iv         v           VI             VII

 

D Natural Minor (4 note) family of chords:

Dm7,         Em7b5,           Fmaj7,         Gm7,      Am7,      Bb maj7,      C dominant 7  

i                iiØ7               IIImaj7          iv7          v7         VImaj7         VII7

 

 

 

Bb major Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb 

G natural minor  G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G  

same notes as Bb major except G is the root or key note.

 

G Natural Minor scale = G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G

G Natural Minor (3 note) family of chords:

G minor,   A diminished,  Bb major,  C minor,  D minor,  Eb major,   F major  

i              iio                 III             iv            v            VI             VII

 

G Natural Minor (4 note) family of chords:

Gm7,          Am7b5,        Bbmaj7,     Cm7,        Dm7,        Eb maj7,        F dominant 7  

Im7             iiØ7             IIImaj7       iv7            v7           VImaj7           VII7

 

 

 

Eb major Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb 

C natural minor  C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C  

same notes as Eb major except C is the root or key note.

 

C Natural Minor scale = C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C

C Natural Minor (3 note) family of chords:

C minor,     D diminished,    Eb major,  F minor,  G minor,   Ab major,  Bb major  

i                iio                   III             iv            v             VI             VII

C Natural Minor (4 note) family of chords:

Cm7,        Dm7b5,            Ebmaj7,    Fm7,      Gm7,        Ab maj7,      Bb dominant 7  

Im7           iiØ7                 IIImaj7      iv7          v7           VImaj7         VII7

 

 

Ab major Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab 

F natural minor  F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F  

same notes as Ab major except F is the root or key note.

 

F Natural Minor scale = F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F

F Natural Minor (3 note) family of chords:

F minor,     G diminished,   Ab major,  Bb minor, C minor,  Db major,  Eb major  

i                iio                  III             iv             v            VI             VII

 

F Natural Minor (4 note) family of chords:

Fm7,          Gm7b5,          Abmaj7,      Bbm7,      Cm7,      Db maj7,       Eb dominant 7  

im7             iiØ7              IIImaj7         iv7           v7         VImaj7          VII7

 

 

 

Db major Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db 

Bb natural minor  Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb  

same notes as Db major except Bb is the root or key note.

 

Bb Natural Minor scale = Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb

Bb Natural Minor (3 note) family of chords:

Bb minor,  C diminished, Db major, Eb minor, F minor,  Gb major,  Ab major  

i               iio                III            iv            v            VI             VII

 

Bb Natural Minor (4 note) family of chords:

Bbm7,       Cm7b5,        Dbmaj7,     Ebm7,     Fm7,       Gb maj7,      Ab dominant 7  

im7           iiØ7             IIImaj7       iv7          v7           VImaj7         VII7

 

Gb major Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb 

Eb natural minor Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb  

same notes as Gb major except Eb is the root or key note.

 

Eb Natural Minor scale = Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb

Eb Natural Minor (3 note) family of chords:

Eb minor,  F diminished,  Gb major, Ab minor,  Bb minor,  Cb major, Db major  

i              iio                 III             iv             v              VI           VII

 

Eb Natural Minor (4 note) family of chords:

Ebm7,         Fm7b5,       Gbmaj7,     Abm7,      Bbm7,      Cb maj7,      Db  dominant 7  

im7             iiØ7            IIImaj7       iv7           v7            VImaj7         VII7

 

 

Cb major Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb 

Ab natural minor  Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab

same notes as Cb major except Ab is the root or key note.

 

Ab Natural Minor scale = Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab

Ab Natural Minor (3 note) family of chords:

Ab minor,  Bb diminished,  Cb major,  Db minor, Eb minor, Fb major,  Gb major  

i               iio                  III             iv             v            VI             VII

Ab Natural Minor (4 note) family of chords:

Abm7,       Bbm7b5,       Cbmaj7,        Dbm7,     Ebm7,    Fbmaj7,    Gb dominant 7  

im7           iiØ7              IIImaj7          iv7          v7         VImaj7      VII7

 

 

 

Assignment memorize all the family of chords for each of the circle of fourths.

 

Now record (or have a friend play) these common relative minor chord progressions 5 to 10 minutes for each key.

Then live (or on another track) play the minor scale for each key. Do this for all of the seven keys.

Play the minor scales first using quarter then eighth notes. Start about 100 BPM.

 

1. i //// iv //// v ////  iv ////

 

2. iio //// v //// i ////

 

3. i //// iv //// VII //// III //// VI //// iio //// v //// i ////

 

4. I //// v //// vi //// IV ////                                                           

(also experiment substituting the four note chords for the three note chords) 

Later create at least 4 to 6 of your own progressions for each major scale key.