Find compatible keys, explore scales on a piano,
and hear how they sound together.
Most DJ software shows the key in the track list. Look for a Key column displaying a Camelot code like 5B or a key name like C Major. If the field is empty, run a track analysis first. Note that some software uses Open Key notation (e.g. 1d instead of 1A). A free online converter will translate these to Camelot codes.
Not sure of a song's key? Sites like Tunebat.com or Songkey.net let you search any track by name and see its key and BPM instantly.
The Key Explorer is a free, interactive tool for DJs, music producers, and musicians to find musically compatible keys, explore scales and chords, and understand harmonic relationships. It uses the same 1-12 number system popularized by the Camelot Wheel (also called the Camelot System), where each number represents a key center and the letters A (minor) and B (major) distinguish the mode.
Pick a key using the Key 1 selector or click any segment on the wheel. The piano shows note names on all in-scale keys, with the root highlighted in amber. The info panel shows seven compatible keys: three core neighbors plus four extended options. Click any compatible key row to set it as Key 2 for side-by-side comparison on the piano.
Three keys are always harmonically compatible with your chosen key: one step up (+1), one step down (-1), and the relative major or minor (same number, opposite letter). Four more extended options appear below, sharing most of the same notes.
Click any note chip or piano key to hear it. Use your computer keyboard (number row and letter rows) to play the scale across nearly two octaves. The piano highlights each note as it sounds.
Each of the 24 keys carries a mood or feel descriptor. For example, C Major (5B) is Bright & neutral, while F minor (1A) is Dark & solemn. These associations draw on classical key theory. The mood badge appears in the info panel when a key is selected, and on the wheel when you hover any segment.
Click any compatible key row, or use the Key 2 selector, to compare two keys side by side. The piano splits into two keyboards, one per key, with shared notes and roots clearly marked.
Play scale plays two ascending octaves with each key lighting up on the piano in sync. Play chords plays a I-IV-V progression. Below that, seven individual chord buttons (I through VII) let you hear any diatonic chord in the key.
Tap along with a track to find its tempo
or press spacebar
Harmonic key matching tells you which keys will sound musical together, but a smooth DJ transition also depends on tempo. The general guideline is to stay within ±6% of your current BPM. Within that range the rhythms lock naturally; beyond it the energy difference becomes jarring even when the keys are perfectly compatible.
At 125 BPM, a ±6% window covers roughly 117–133 BPM. Most DJ software (Rekordbox, Traktor, Serato) lets you nudge playback speed in real time, so a 2–3% stretch is usually invisible to the dancefloor. Pushing toward 5–6% starts to feel like a deliberate energy shift, which can be intentional.
For the most seamless transitions, aim for ±3% or less. For a noticeable but controlled energy boost or drop, ±4–6% works well. Above 6% you're typically better off doing a full genre or section break rather than a blended mix.
Most modern DJ software includes a key-lock (also called master tempo or pitch correction). This lets you time-stretch a track to match BPM without shifting its key, keeping your harmonic mix intact. Heavy stretching (beyond roughly ±8–10%) can introduce audible artifacts, so key-lock is best used for small adjustments.
The genre ranges in the table are typical averages, not hard limits. A house track can sit at 116 BPM or push to 135; a hip-hop beat can land anywhere from 70 to over 100. Producers bend genre conventions constantly, and crossover tracks often live in the gaps between ranges.
Use the ranges as a starting point for crate-digging and set planning, not as a gate. If two tracks sound good together and the BPM is close enough to mix, the genre label doesn't matter. Your ears are always the final judge.
Human reaction time adds 10–30ms of natural jitter to every tap. At 120 BPM each beat is 500ms, so even small timing variations shift the detected tempo by 1–2 BPM. This is normal. Professional DJ software analyzes the actual audio waveform for exact readings. Tap tempo is designed for quick ballpark estimates: close enough to find genre matches, mixing ranges, and compatible keys. If you need the precise BPM of a specific track, use your DJ software's track analysis.
| Genre | Typical BPM | Common keys |
|---|---|---|
| Downtempo / Lo-fi | 60 – 90 | Am, Cm, Fm (5A–2A) |
| R&B | 60 – 95 | Fm, Bbm, Cm (1A–2A) |
| Hip-Hop | 70 – 100 | Cm, Fm, Bbm (2A–1A) |
| Reggae | 60 – 90 | Am, Dm, G (5A–4B) |
| Funk / Disco | 90 – 130 | Dm, Gm, Am (4A–3A) |
| Reggaeton | 88 – 100 | Am, Dm, Gm (5A–4A) |
| Afrobeats | 95 – 120 | Gm, Am, Cm (3A–2A) |
| Pop | 100 – 130 | C, G, Am (5B–5A) |
| Deep House | 118 – 125 | Am, Cm, Fm (5A–1A) |
| House | 120 – 132 | Am, Gm, Dm (5A–3A) |
| UK Garage | 128 – 140 | Am, Dm, Cm (5A–2A) |
| Techno | 125 – 150 | Cm, Am, F#m (2A–5A) |
| Trance | 128 – 150 | Am, Em, Bm (5A–7A) |
| Dubstep | 68 – 75 | Fm, Cm, Dm (1A–4A) |
| Hardstyle | 145 – 155 | Dm, Am, Em (4A–7A) |
| Drum & Bass | 160 – 180 | Dm, Am, Gm (4A–3A) |
Ranges are approximate. Always trust your ears over any chart.
Yes, the numbering system is identical to the Camelot Wheel used in Mixed In Key and Rekordbox. 5B is C Major, 5A is A minor, and so on. The Key Explorer uses the same codes so you can use it alongside any DJ software that displays Camelot numbers.
B = major key, A = minor key. Every number has one major and one relative minor key sharing the same set of notes. For example, 5B is C Major and 5A is A minor, both using the notes C D E F G A B.
Three keys are always harmonically safe to mix into: one step clockwise (+1), one step counterclockwise (-1), and the relative major or minor (same number, opposite letter). These share enough notes to blend without clashing. Four more extended relationships (diagonal, jump, semitone shift, and dominant) are also shown, giving you seven compatible keys in total. The info panel and wheel highlight all of them whenever you make a selection.
Moving +1 step (clockwise, e.g. 5B → 6B) introduces one new note and drops one. The result sounds slightly brighter and more lifted. Use it to build energy.
Moving -1 step (counterclockwise) has the opposite effect: softer, more resolved. Use it to release tension after a peak. The relative major/minor swap keeps all the same notes but shifts the tonal center, creating an emotional change without a harmonic clash.
Each key is tagged with a traditional emotional character. For example, D Major (7B) is Triumphant & bold, E minor (6A) is Melancholic & tender. These associations come from classical key theory (notably Schubart's Ideen zu einer Aesthetik der Tonkunst). Use them as inspiration when choosing a key for a new track, not as rigid rules.
Minor keys lean melancholic or intense: A minor (5A, sorrowful), D minor (4A, brooding), C minor (2A, dramatic), and F minor (1A, dark & solemn) are all widely used in techno, dark house, and emotional ballads.
Major keys generally feel brighter and more energetic. C Major (5B, bright), G Major (6B, warm), D Major (7B, triumphant), and Bb Major (3B, joyful & soulful) are popular choices for feel-good and anthemic music.
Key compatibility handles the harmonic side; tempo handles the rhythmic side. The standard guideline is to stay within ±6% BPM of your current track for a blend that feels natural. For fully seamless transitions, ±3% or less is ideal. Most DJ software lets you stretch tempo slightly in real time. Use key-lock (master tempo) to keep the pitch fixed while adjusting BPM. Check the BPM Tools tab for a tap tempo tool and genre-specific ranges.
In Western music, every black key has two valid names. For example, the key between C and D is called either C♯ or D♭. They are the same physical key, just spelled differently depending on context. This is called enharmonic equivalence.
In a sharp key like G Major you use sharp names (F♯, C♯); in a flat key like B♭ Major you use flat names (B♭, E♭, A♭). This tool follows the industry standard used by Mixed In Key, Rekordbox, and Ableton: diatonic spelling for in-scale notes, conventional fallback for out-of-scale black keys. Labels update dynamically whenever you select a different key.