VERNIGOSH'S KEYMIX WHEEL (AKA. CIRCLE OF FIFTHS)

Click on any key to hear its tone. Adjacent keys are harmonically compatible.

What is the KeyMix Wheel?

The KeyMix Wheel is an interactive tool designed to help musicians, producers, and DJs find the key of a song using relative pitch.

Inspired by the Circle of Fifths, it displays a full rotation of musical keys in a simple, clickable layout. Each key plays a reference tone, allowing you to match the sound of a song by ear and determine its likely key. This is ideal for people training their ears or working without key detection software.

How to Use the KeyMix Wheel

  1. Listen to your song or loop a short section of it.
  2. Click around the wheel to play different root notes.
  3. When a note sounds like the song's "home base" — the one that feels most stable or resolved — you've likely found the tonal center or key.
  4. If you're unsure between two notes, try humming the root along with the track. Whichever note feels easier to land on or return to is probably correct.
  5. Once you've found the root, you can also explore nearby keys on the wheel to experiment with compatible transitions and chord ideas.

Why Use Relative Pitch?

For DJs, knowing the key of a track is essential for smooth, harmonic mixing — but automated key detection software isn't always accurate. Whether you're using DJ software or hardware, the results can vary from one tool to another.

That's where relative pitch comes in.

This site helps DJs manually confirm a track's key by ear, without needing a piano or music theory background. Just play the song, then use the KeyMix Wheel to match the tone that feels like the root or "home" note. It's a simple way to double-check software results and avoid awkward clashes in your mix.

You don't need to know chords or scales — this tool provides all the tones, laid out visually, so you can match by ear with confidence.

Beyond mixing, training your relative pitch also helps with:

  • Creating mashups or edits in key
  • Reharmonizing vocals or instrumentals
  • Developing your ear for production and live performance

This approach gives you more control and confidence over your transitions, without relying completely on algorithms.

DJ Guide: Using Chord Types for Harmonic Mixing

Single Notes

Perfect for quickly identifying the key of minimal techno, drum & bass, or any track with a prominent bassline. Focus on the sub bass or main synth line - that's often your key. When beatmatching, try mixing tracks where this root note is the same or adjacent on the wheel for smooth transitions.

Triad Chords

The workhorse for harmonic mixing. Listen to the main chord progression in breakdowns or melodic sections. Major triads create uplifting energy, while minor triads build tension or emotion. For energy-building transitions, try mixing from minor to its relative major (same position on opposite rings) during a build-up.

Power Chords

Essential for mixing rock, EDM, and bass music. Power chords cut through the mix and are easy to identify even in busy tracks. They work well for high-energy transitions and drops. When planning a set, tracks with compatible power chords (adjacent on the wheel) maintain energy while changing key.

Sus2 Chords

Common in ambient, progressive house, and trance. These create an open, floating feeling that works perfectly for long blends and atmospheric intros. When you hear these in a track, they often indicate a transitional section - perfect for beginning your mix into the next track.

Sus4 Chords

Listen for these in build-ups and pre-drop sections of EDM and house tracks. Sus4 chords create tension that wants to resolve, making them perfect for identifying mix-out points. When you hear a sus4 chord progression, it's often signaling an upcoming energy change - ideal for transitioning to your next track.

Seventh Chords

The secret weapon for mixing house, disco, and funk tracks. Seventh chords add sophistication and movement. In a DJ set, use these to identify tracks that will create a jazzy, soulful vibe. For genre-switching transitions, seventh chords can bridge between electronic and more organic-sounding tracks.

Add9 Chords

Found in melodic dubstep, future bass, and emotional dance tracks. These chords add color and emotional depth. When planning a set's emotional journey, tracks with add9 chords often mark peak emotional moments. Use these for creating memorable breakdowns or when you want to shift the energy while maintaining harmonic flow.

DJ Mixing Tips

  • Energy Flow: Moving clockwise around the wheel generally increases energy. Use this for building your set.
  • Harmonic Transitions: Adjacent keys on the wheel are harmonically compatible - perfect for smooth blends.
  • Key Jumping: For dramatic shifts, jump to the opposite side of the wheel during a breakdown or drop.
  • Relative Mixing: Switch between a minor key and its relative major (3 positions clockwise) to change the mood while staying harmonically compatible.