Key wheel
The 1A–12B codes in Rekordbox's alphanumeric notation arrange all 24 keys on a clock face. Codes next to each other sound good together; that's all harmonic mixing is. Click a slice to open that key's page.
How to read it
The number is the key's position on the wheel (1–12). The letter tells the mode: A is minor, B is major. A and B with the same number use the same seven notes. Examples from 8A:
- One step down (−1)
- 8A → 7A 6/7
- A fifth down. Lowers the energy slightly and relaxes; only one note differs.
- Diagonal move
- 8A → 9B 6/7
- +1 and switch letter: from minor to the next major. Only one note differs.
- Two steps up (+2)
- 8A → 10A 5/7
- A whole tone up; a clear energy lift. Needs a short, clean transition.
How it relates to the circle of fifths
The wheel is the circle of fifths from music theory, with numbers. Each step clockwise goes up a perfect fifth (8B C major → 9B G major) and changes only one of the seven notes. That's why neighboring codes are the most closely related keys.
The “closely related keys” of music theory always sit together on the wheel: the relative minor on the inner ring at the same number, the dominant and subdominant right next to it. The numbers let you use those relationships without memorizing them.
Every key and its notations
| Code | Key | Classic | Open Key |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | A♭ minor | Abm | 6m |
| 1B | B major | B | 6d |
| 2A | E♭ minor | Ebm | 7m |
| 2B | F♯ major | F# | 7d |
| 3A | B♭ minor | Bbm | 8m |
| 3B | D♭ major | Db | 8d |
| 4A | F minor | Fm | 9m |
| 4B | A♭ major | Ab | 9d |
| 5A | C minor | Cm | 10m |
| 5B | E♭ major | Eb | 10d |
| 6A | G minor | Gm | 11m |
| 6B | B♭ major | Bb | 11d |
| 7A | D minor | Dm | 12m |
| 7B | F major | F | 12d |
| 8A | A minor | Am | 1m |
| 8B | C major | C | 1d |
| 9A | E minor | Em | 2m |
| 9B | G major | G | 2d |
| 10A | B minor | Bm | 3m |
| 10B | D major | D | 3d |
| 11A | F♯ minor | F#m | 4m |
| 11B | A major | A | 4d |
| 12A | C♯ minor | Dbm | 5m |
| 12B | E major | E | 5d |
In Rekordbox, Serato and Traktor
In Rekordbox, set Preferences → View → Key display format to Alphanumeric to see 1A–12B, or Classic to see Am, F#m and so on.
Traktor shows keys in Open Key (1m–12d). Same logic, shifted numbers: 8A = 1m, 8B = 1d. The offset is always 7.
CrateKeys writes the classic name (Am) into the key field and the code into the comment field (“08A · Am”). Every program can convert it to its own notation, and sorting by comment puts your tracks in wheel order.
Is the 1A–12B wheel the same as the Camelot wheel?
The numbering is the same: 8A is A minor in both. Camelot® is a registered trademark of Mixed In Key and the name of its system; Rekordbox shows the same numbers as its “alphanumeric” key display. CrateKeys uses these numbers descriptively and is not affiliated with Mixed In Key.
How reliable is automatic key detection?
No software gets the key right for every track, and even trained ears sometimes disagree. Mistakes usually land on the other letter of the same number or a neighboring number. Those are compatible moves anyway, so the mix doesn't break. Check by ear before an important transition.
Don't know the key of your tracks?
Drop your files on CrateKeys: key and BPM are detected and written into each file's tags. Your files never leave your computer.