Originally Posted by: billtilghman

Question that bugs me:

Why in the minor scale is the first note (relative minor) noted as "i" instead of "vi"? In other words, why 1 instead of 6?

It's both depending on the context.

For example, in the C major scale, the note A is the 6th note. The chord formed on the 6th scale degree of the C major scale is an A minor chord.

But we are starting with the premise that we are in C. So, the A is the 6th scale degree, so in this context the A minor chord is a vi chord ("minor six chord").

But, if we start with the premise that we are in the key of A minor, then the chord formed on the 1st scale degree is also an A minor chord. But it's the 1st scale degree, so in this context the A minor is a i chord ("minor one chord").