Harmonic Mixing Explained.

Since we invented the term over 15 years ago, harmonic mixing has become a core principle for most professional DJs. Harmonic mixing is essentially the process of mixing tracks together which have ‘key consonance’ – in other words, tracks that have compatible root keys. Mix tracks that go together musically, and your mix will sound beautiful. On the flipside, mix tracks together that ‘key-clash’, and it will probably sound amateur.

Key detection is vital to harmonic mixing, because it tells you exactly which tracks will be harmonically compatible, and which won’t. Poor key detection means you’re more likely to perform amateur mixes.

So what is Harmonic Mixing?

We’ve established that harmonic mixing is the process of mixing tracks together that ‘go’. But what does that really mean?

Well, firstly, it’s about applyng music theory to DJing. So in the same way that songs tend to be in one ‘key’ (or sometimes two), DJs that use harmonic mixing like to keep their DJ sets ‘in-key’. If a song is in C Minor, for example, it will mostly contain notes or chords from the scale of C Minor.

When we apply that to DJing, instead of concerning ourselves with the chords and notes present in the song itself, we’re more interested in the overal root key of the song. Knowing that a song is rooted in C Minor tells us that songs also in C Minor are likely to sound as if they ‘belong’ together. They will probably share many of the same notes and chirds. You could possibly even imagine that they are the same song!

The Camelot Wheel of Fortune…

You may already be familiar with the Camelot Wheel. It’s the alpha-numeric system by which musical keys are given a special code. This code enables you to visualise how compatible tracks are. You don’t need to remember whether C Minor is compatible with G Flat, B Minor or E Flat… the Camelot Wheel makes it super easy. Here’s what it looks like:

As you can see, each musical key has it’s own code: 8A = C Minor, for example. Minor keys are repsented by an ‘A’ while Major keys are coded ‘B’. The numbers relate to the root note of each key. The reason for this is to enable you to quickly establish which keys will go together. Tracks with the same key are perfect key matches, so 8A will always go with 8A. Similarly, numbers sequentially up or down will also be compatible. 8A will always go with 7A and 9A. Furthermore, a single step between A and B is compatible, but only if the total number of steps is stil one. For example, 8A will go with 8B, because that’s one step. But 8A is a key clash with 9B, because you need to make two steps to reach them. You need to go from 8 to 9, and A to B. That’s 2 steps, and likely to result in a key clash.

Hopefully it’s becoming clear why the most accurate key detection is important if you want to mix harmonically.

One wrong result can ruin a mix.

Let’s say you’re using an inferior key detection algorithm, such as one in your DJ software. Your results tell you that the tracks you want to play are compatible. You’re mixing 4A into 4A, 5A, and bac into 4A – a perfectly ‘in-key’ route around the Camelot Wheel. But, then, you use a track your key detection tells you is 4A. Only; disaster – the algorithm was wrong… you thought the next track was 4A (F Minor), but it’s actually in 6A (G Minor).

Here’s why that causes problems:

The problem with performing an Energy Boost Mix is that they are really noticeable – as such you want to use them sparingly. If you do more than maybe one or two Energy Boosts an hour, you’re highly likely to confuse and disrupt your audience. The mix will feel like it’s jarring with the listener. It’s uncomfortable.

And, of course, by accidentally performaing an Energy Boost when you thought you were mixing in key, you’ve thrown the whole vibe of your mix off course. What’s worse, your next track is actually in 4A – so you perform another Energy Boost straight after the first one! And all the while you thought you were mixing solely in 4A/5A. Nightmare!

Even worse, what if the key detection is out but gives you a key that is totally incompatible, even as an Energy Boost? It’s gonna throw your carefully crafted mix right off track.

Whether you’re throwing mixes together on the fly or planning the perfect mix, incorrect key detection can cause your mixes to sound amateur.

Compatible keys as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Each key has a set of chords that exist in its diatonic scale. That’s a big word, but it just means each key has 7 chords that go nicely with it. Each of these chords has a different relationship with the root key. The Camelot Wheel gives you a particularly compatible diatonic chord in your current key, by moving up or down the Camelot Wheel sequentially. In other words, If you’re mixing from 8A ( C Minor), the Camelot Wheel tells you that tracks in 7A and 9A are particularly compatible.

You don’t need to know the theory behind it. You just need to remember that one step in any direction on the Camelot Wheel is going to be harmonically compatible.

Relative Major/Minor.

Every key in the Minor scale has a relative Major – that’s a key in the Major scale that is 100% compatible. And vice versa, every Major Key has a Relative Minor. Learning that the relative Major of C Minor is E-Flat Major, and then learning all the other keys too, is useful because it helps you gauge which tracks might mix particularly well together. But, thanks to Mixed In Key’s pioneering software, you don’t need to actually memorise all the relative major and minor keys!

You just need to remember that you should only move between A and B (Minor and Major) if the numeric value is the same.

It’s that simple! By using the Camelot Wheel to give every key a unique alpha-numeric value, Mixed In Key enables harmonic mixing that’s literally as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Quality Key Detection is vital for Harmonic Mixing.

Since inventing the world’s first key detection software way back in 2009, our algorithm has been consistently improved. Today, with the launch of Mixed In Key 10, we have the best key detection algorithm the world has ever seen. By far. In fact, it’s around 10% more accurate than the next best key detection software. And what is the next best? Well, it’s Mixed In Key 8.

While our pioneering software has spawned many imitations, present in most DJ software nowadays, Mixed In Key is by far the most accurate.

But why is accurate key detection so important for harmonic mixing?

Put it this way: When you want advice, who do you ask? Someone who knows a fair bit about the topic, or an expert? If you were going to use their recommendations as an integral part of your decision-making process, you’d go with the expert every time, right?

It’s the same with key detection. If you compare the key results of Mixed In Key 10 to the results of the in-built detection in Serato, RekordBox, Virtual DJ and Traktor, you will see major discrepancies. Since Mixed In Key 10 is scientificaly proven to be superior, that means that using other detection is likely to make you make mistakes.

The World’s Top DJs Use Mixed In Key.

They know that pro results come from using pro gear. They don’t want to be second-guessing their key detection results or testing each track with a piano. And they want to concentrate on harmonic mixing, confident that they have the most accurate data possible.

Get Mixed In Key 10 today.

Improve your DJ Mixing by using the industry-standard for key detection. Mixed In Key 10 also gives you up to 8 automatic Cue Points per track, rates your tracks by Energy Level, and offers a comprehensive metadata management system. Unlock the secret of the pros.