BeatScopeCamelot Wheel Guide: harmonic mixing explained
In short: Camelot turns keys into a number-and-letter code, and then harmonic mixing becomes arithmetic. Adjacent code on the wheel, a major/minor swap A↔B, a +7 lift — the transition sounds clean. Let's go through the rules and examples.
What the Camelot wheel is
Each of the 24 keys gets a code: a number 1–12 (its position on the wheel) and a letter — A for minor, B for major. For example, A minor is 8A and C major is 8B. The wheel is arranged so neighbouring codes get along musically.
Compatibility rules
| Move | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Same key | Perfect match | 8A → 8A |
| ±1 on the wheel | Neighbour key, smooth | 8A → 9A or 7A |
| A ↔ B (same number) | Major/minor swap | 8A → 8B |
| +7 on the wheel | Energy boost | 8A → 3A |
These four rules cover almost every clean transition. Anything further around the wheel sounds more tense — sometimes that's the point, but do it deliberately.
How it looks in practice
- Find the current track's key in Camelot code (say
5A). - Next-track candidates:
5A,4A,6A,5B, and for a lift,12A. - Pick by the mood of the set: neighbour for smooth, A↔B for a colour change, +7 to add energy.
Why it works
Camelot is a simplified circle of fifths: neighbouring keys share many notes, so layering them sounds coherent. The A↔B swap at the same number moves between relative minor and major — also close in note content.
Camelot in BeatScope
BeatScope detects the key offline and shows it in Camelot code and in notes, and highlights compatible keys on the wheel so the mix builds itself. How the key is computed: "How BeatScope Detects Key and Tempo".