Blog · DJ basics · 26 October 2026

The Camelot wheel: mixing in key made simple

Two songs can have the same tempo and still clash. The reason is key. The Camelot wheel is a simple map that shows which keys sound good together.

What the wheel is

Each musical key gets a code made of a number from 1 to 12 and a letter. A means a minor key and B means a major key. For example, 8A is A minor and 8B is C major.

The easy rules

Staying on the same code always works. Moving one number up or down, for example from 8A to 9A or 7A, usually sounds smooth. Switching the letter while keeping the number, for example from 8A to 8B, changes the mood from minor to major and also sounds natural.

How to use it

Load a track in the DJ Console and look at the key shown on the deck. The mixer tells you when the two decks match or are close. In the Library, sort by best match to see which of your tracks suit the one that is playing.

A word of caution

Key detection from audio is an estimate. Tracks with weak harmony, such as pure drums, may show a wrong key. Trust your ears first and use the wheel as a guide. The Learn page has a wheel helper you can try.

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