Camelot Wheel
Click any key on the wheel to light up the keys that mix smoothly with it, from safe moves to energy boosts. Convert a musical key such as F# minor to Camelot (11A) and Open Key (4m), and paste a track list to check every transition in your DJ set.
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- Also written
- Am
- Relative key
- C major (8B)
- Key signature
- No sharps or flats
- Scale notes
- A B C D E F G
Compatible keys for 8A
Set checker
How to use the Camelot Wheel
- Pick a key: click a segment on the wheel, or type a key such as 8A, Am or A minor into the converter.
- Read the highlights: green segments are the safest mixes, orange ones are energy boosts and mood changes. The move list explains each one.
- Convert notation: the converter shows the same key as a musical key, Camelot code and Open Key code, plus its relative key and scale notes.
- Hear it: press Play chord to hear the tonic chord of the selected key.
- Check a set: paste one track per line with its key (for example Sunrise Drive - 8A), then press Check transitions or Sort for harmonic flow.
Camelot, Open Key and musical key chart
Each number on the Camelot wheel is one step on the circle of fifths. The inner ring (A) holds the minor keys and the outer ring (B) their relative major keys, which use exactly the same notes. Open Key notation describes the same circle but starts counting at C major (1d) and A minor (1m), so an Open Key number is always the Camelot number minus 7, wrapped around 12.
| Camelot (minor) | Minor key | Open Key | Camelot (major) | Major key | Open Key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | G♯ minor | 6m | 1B | B major | 6d |
| 2A | E♭ minor | 7m | 2B | F♯ major | 7d |
| 3A | B♭ minor | 8m | 3B | D♭ major | 8d |
| 4A | F minor | 9m | 4B | A♭ major | 9d |
| 5A | C minor | 10m | 5B | E♭ major | 10d |
| 6A | G minor | 11m | 6B | B♭ major | 11d |
| 7A | D minor | 12m | 7B | F major | 12d |
| 8A | A minor | 1m | 8B | C major | 1d |
| 9A | E minor | 2m | 9B | G major | 2d |
| 10A | B minor | 3m | 10B | D major | 3d |
| 11A | F♯ minor | 4m | 11B | A major | 4d |
| 12A | C♯ minor | 5m | 12B | E major | 5d |
Enharmonic spellings name the same pitches: G♯ minor is also A♭ minor, E♭ minor is D♯ minor, F♯ major is G♭ major and D♭ major is C♯ major.
The harmonic mixing moves
| Move | Example from 8A | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Same key | 8A → 8A | All seven notes shared; the safest blend for long overlaps. |
| +1 / −1 | 8A → 9A or 7A | Up or down a perfect fifth; six of seven notes shared. The bread-and-butter DJ move. |
| Relative switch | 8A → 8B | Same notes, different home chord: minor to major brightens the mood, major to minor darkens it. |
| Diagonal | 8A → 9B, 8B → 7A | Combines a fifth with a mode switch; still shares six notes and sounds fresh. |
| Energy boost +2 | 8A → 10A | The key rises a whole tone (two semitones). Noticeable lift; keep the overlap short. |
| Energy boost +7 | 8A → 3A | The key rises one semitone, the classic pop "key change". Works best as a quick cut or after a breakdown. |
| Parallel key | 8A → 11B | Same root note, minor to major (A minor to A major). A dramatic mood swap. |
Tips for mixing in key
- Stay mostly on +1, −1 and relative moves, and save energy boosts for moments when you want the crowd to feel a lift.
- Key matters most during long blends where melodic parts overlap. Drum-only intros and outros can be mixed with almost any key.
- Pitching a track changes its key unless your player has key lock: roughly every 6% of speed moves the key one semitone, which equals +7 or −7 on the wheel.
- Lead into a big change with a neighbour first: going 8A → 9A → 11A sounds smoother than jumping straight from 8A to 11A.
- Use the set checker to spot clashes in a planned set, then try the sort button for an order that flows around the wheel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Camelot wheel?
The Camelot wheel is a circle of fifths re-labelled with simple codes for DJs. Each of the 12 positions has a number from 1 to 12; the letter B marks the major key and A marks its relative minor. Keys next to each other on the wheel share six of their seven notes, so they mix smoothly.
Which keys are compatible with 8A?
8A is A minor. The classic harmonic moves are 8A itself, the neighbours 7A (D minor) and 9A (E minor), and the relative major 8B (C major). A diagonal move to 9B (G major) also works well. For an energy boost you can move to 10A (B minor, a whole step up) or 3A (Bb minor, a semitone up).
What is an energy boost in harmonic mixing?
An energy boost is a key change that raises the pitch to lift the dance floor. Moving +2 on the wheel (for example 8A to 10A) raises the key by a whole tone, and moving +7 (8A to 3A) raises it by a semitone. Both clash a little more than neighbouring keys, so they work best on a quick, confident transition.
How do I convert Camelot to Open Key?
Open Key uses the same circle but starts at C major = 1d (d for major) and A minor = 1m (m for minor). Subtract 7 from the Camelot number and wrap around 12: Camelot 8B is 1d, 9A is 2m, 1B is 6d. The converter does this for you in both directions.
What does A and B mean in Camelot notation?
A is a minor key and B is a major key. The A and B keys with the same number are relatives: they use exactly the same notes, such as 8A (A minor) and 8B (C major), so switching between them is one of the smoothest mixes possible.
Do I still need to beat-match when mixing harmonically?
Yes. Harmonic mixing decides which keys blend without clashing, but tempo still has to match. Note that changing a track's speed without key lock also shifts its key: about 6% faster raises the pitch by one semitone, which is a +7 move on the wheel.
How do I find the key of my tracks?
Use a key detection tool or your DJ software's analysis, or check the key listed by the label or store. Detection is not always perfect, so trust your ears too, especially for tracks with modal or ambiguous harmony.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.