Key-pair transition

Mixing from 1A to 11A

A strong energy drop ideal for signalling a breakdown or cool-down phase mid-set.

From

1AA♭ Minor

High Energy Drain

❄️❄️

11AF♯ Minor

1A tracks

14,803

11A tracks

18,330

Best chemistry

93%

Tier

Energy

Tracks

Best chemistry

Tier

Energy

What this transition feels like

Moving from 1A (A♭ Minor) to 11A (F♯ Minor) pulls the listener down two steps on the Camelot wheel, creating a noticeable loss of harmonic momentum. The audience perceives a shift toward introspection or fatigue—the energy drains noticeably without a complete key collision. This is a deliberate step backward, not a climactic pivot, making it perfect for resetting tension before a rebuild.

Example transitions from the catalog

Top chemistry-scored pairs where the outgoing track is in 1A and the incoming is in 11A. Evaluated 1,600 candidate pairs.

93%High Energy Drain

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

92%High Energy Drain

Sweet Nothing - 2025 Edit

Calvin Harris

1301A

Ease My Mind - Odd Mob Extended Remix

Chris Lake

13011A

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

92%High Energy Drain

Yama By Night - Extended Mix

Hugel

1221A

Friday (Dopamine Re-edit) [Extended]

Riton

12311A

BPM±1.0

Energy±6%

Pitch ±1.0 BPM

92%High Energy Drain

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

91%High Energy Drain

Shinjuku - Extended Mix

Franky Rizardo

1291A

TOO COOL TO BE CARELESS - Extended Mix

PAWSA

12811A

BPM±1.0

Energy=

Pitch ±1.0 BPM

91%High Energy Drain

Positions - Extended

Stryv

1221A

Papele - Extended Mix

Daytona

12211A

BPM0

Energy±6%

No pitch needed — BPMs match

91%High Energy Drain

Ease My Mind - Extended Mix

BPM±1.0

Energy=

Pitch ±1.0 BPM

91%High Energy Drain

It's That Time (FISHER Remix - Extended Mix)

Marlon Hoffstadt

1301A

Blackberries - Extended Mix

FISHER

13011A

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

Sound profile shift

Average across all 1A and 11A tracks in the catalog. The difference between the two shapes is what your audience hears across the transition.

1A · A♭ Minor

11A · F♯ Minor

Outline = where you start. Filled shape = where you land. Bigger gaps mean a more dramatic mood shift for the dancefloor.

BPM landscape

Both keys share the same median tempo — most pairs need no pitch adjustment.

1A · A♭ Minor65–175 BPM · median 126

11A · F♯ Minor65–175 BPM · median 126

How to mix this transition

Plan a blend length of 16–32 bars to let the energy drop feel intentional rather than abrupt. Begin the EQ transition by rolling off high-end sparkle on the outgoing track (1A) around bar 8–12 of the blend, then introduce the incoming track (11A) with its low-mid body already present—this cushions the downward shift. Bring in the new kick on a phrase boundary, ideally after a drum break or fill in the outgoing track, so the swap reads as a deliberate section change. Avoid stacking a BPM drop on top of this harmonic descent; keep tempo locked to prevent the transition from feeling chaotic.

Common mistakes

Don't rush the blend—a quick crossfade will feel jarring rather than controlled.
Avoid introducing 11A with full high-end presence; the brightness will fight the energy-drain intention.
Don't layer both kicks simultaneously during the transition; swap cleanly at a phrase boundary.

When this transition lands best

Mid-set breakdown
Before a vocal drop
Post-climax cool-down
Second-hour energy reset

Genres in this pair

Tech House
Drum & Bass
Trance (Main Floor)
Hard Techno
Minimal / Deep Tech

11A

Trance (Main Floor)
Breaks / Breakbeat / UK Bass
Tech House
Minimal / Deep Tech
Dubstep

Artists with tracks in both keys

Names worth queuing — they routinely produce in both keys, so their catalogs give you ready-made pairings.

Daytona1 · 1
Chris Lake1 · 1

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1A2A

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1A3A

FAQ

Is mixing from 1A to 11A safe?⌄

High Energy Drain. Strong drop — great for breakdowns or warm-down phases.

What does the 1A → 11A transition sound like?⌄

What BPM range works for 1A to 11A?⌄

1A tracks median 126 BPM; 11A median 126 BPM. Pairs at similar BPMs work without pitch adjustment.

When in a DJ set should I use 1A → 11A?⌄

Best moments: Mid-set breakdown, Before a vocal drop, Post-climax cool-down, Second-hour energy reset.

Plan a chemistry-scored set