Which statement about the relative minor is true?

• A. It shares the same tonic as its relative major
• B. It shares the same key signature as its relative major
• C. It shares the same key signature as its parallel major
• D. It is always a major key

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that relative major and relative minor share the same set of accidentals. The relative minor is built starting on the sixth degree of the major scale, so it uses the same key signature as its relative major. For example, C major and A minor both have no sharps or flats, even though their tonics are different (C for the major, A for the minor).

Because the tonic is different, the relative minor does not share the same tonic as its relative major. And the relative minor is not always a major key—it is by definition a minor key (even though you can encounter harmonic or melodic variants). The statement about sharing the same key signature is the true one, while the others conflict with how relative majors and minors relate musically.