Harmonic mixing guide
The Camelot Wheel, explained
The Camelot wheel turns music theory into a simple number system. Every key gets a code from 1A to 12B, and keys next to each other on the wheel blend smoothly. Learn it once and you'll mix in key without thinking about sharps and flats.
Try it: pick a key
Tap any slice. Your track is in 8A (A minor). These keys mix cleanly with it:
- 8A A minor
- 7A D minor
- 9A E minor
- 8B C major
Outer ring (B) = major keys. Inner ring (A) = minor keys.
The four rules of mixing in key
- Same code. 8A into 8A is always safe — the tracks share a key.
- One step around. Move one number clockwise or anticlockwise (8A → 9A or 7A). Clockwise lifts the energy a little.
- Switch rings. Swap the letter, keep the number (8A ↔ 8B) to move between a minor key and its relative major — same notes, different mood.
- Energy boost. Jumping two numbers (8A → 10A) is a bolder move that can lift a set when used sparingly.
Camelot wheel chart: every key and code
| Number | A (minor) | B (major) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1A · A♭ minor | 1B · B major |
| 2 | 2A · E♭ minor | 2B · F♯ major |
| 3 | 3A · B♭ minor | 3B · D♭ major |
| 4 | 4A · F minor | 4B · A♭ major |
| 5 | 5A · C minor | 5B · E♭ major |
| 6 | 6A · G minor | 6B · B♭ major |
| 7 | 7A · D minor | 7B · F major |
| 8 | 8A · A minor | 8B · C major |
| 9 | 9A · E minor | 9B · G major |
| 10 | 10A · B minor | 10B · D major |
| 11 | 11A · F♯ minor | 11B · A major |
| 12 | 12A · D♭ minor | 12B · E major |
How DJs use it
Most DJ software and key-detection tools can show a track's key as a Camelot code. Sort your crate by that code, and your next track is usually one slice away. Rules are a starting point, not a cage — trust your ears, and break them when the drama calls for it.
Find your next track faster
Harmonic Mixer does the wheel maths for you — enter a key and see which tracks belong together.
Camelot is a trademark of Mixed In Key LLC. This guide is independent.