Key-pair transition

Mixing from 4B to 1B

A bold downward tonal shift best used to reset energy and mood after a peak, signaling a deliberate genre or emotional pivot.

From

4BA♭ Major

Parallel Key Lower

❄️

1BB Major

4B tracks

11,043

1B tracks

7,076

Best chemistry

87%

Tier

Advanced

Tracks

Best chemistry

Tier

Advanced

What this transition feels like

Moving from A♭ Major (4B) down to B Major (1B) creates a significant harmonic drop that pulls the listener into a darker, more introspective space despite B Major's major-key brightness. The audience experiences a clear sonic reset—the familiar harmonic anchor dissolves, and the new key's tonal center feels distant and fresh. This is a mood-change move, not an energy-lift: use it to break tension, shift narrative, or introduce contrast after sustained intensity.

Example transitions from the catalog

Top chemistry-scored pairs where the outgoing track is in 4B and the incoming is in 1B. Evaluated 1,600 candidate pairs.

Score your own pair

87%Parallel Key Lower

LA NOCHE - Extended Mix

Chris Lake

1274B

Set Me Free feat. Robert Courtois - Franky Rizardo Extended Remix

Nic Fanciulli

1281B

BPM±1.0

Energy=

Pitch ±1.0 BPM

87%Parallel Key Lower

Patadas de Ahogado / LATÍN MAFIA, HUMBE - Extended Rework

BPM±1.0

Energy=

Pitch ±1.0 BPM

87%Parallel Key Lower

If Only - Extended Mix

BPM±1.0

Energy=

Pitch ±1.0 BPM

87%Parallel Key Lower

Campanera

Faul & Wad

1254B

Tambora - Extended Mix

Martina Camargo

1251B

BPM0

Energy±6%

No pitch needed — BPMs match

87%Parallel Key Lower

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

87%Parallel Key Lower

Get Em Up

Jamek Ortega

1214B

Lift Me High - Extended Mix

Moeaike

1221B

BPM±1.0

Energy=

Pitch ±1.0 BPM

87%Parallel Key Lower

Dlala Fisho (feat. Mr JazziQ)

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

87%Parallel Key Lower

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

Sound profile shift

Average across all 4B and 1B tracks in the catalog. The difference between the two shapes is what your audience hears across the transition.

4B · A♭ Major

1B · B Major

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

BPM landscape

Just 2 BPM apart at the median — small pitch nudge gets you there cleanly.

4B · A♭ Major65–170 BPM · median 128

1B · B Major65–175 BPM · median 126

How to mix this transition

This parallel-key shift requires a longer blend window—typically 16–32 bars—to let the ear adjust to the new tonal center without jarring dissonance. Begin the EQ transition early: roll off the outgoing track's low-mids around 200–400 Hz in the final 8 bars to soften the harmonic clash, then bring in the incoming track's kick and bass locked to the new key at a phrase boundary (ideally after a 4- or 8-bar breakdown in the outgoing track). Avoid stacking this tonal shift on top of a BPM change or a sudden energy drop; let the key change do the work. The new track should enter with sparse, clear elements (kick, bass, one melodic line) so the key shift reads cleanly before layering texture.

Common mistakes

Don't rush the blend—a 4-bar crossfade will sound unresolved and confused.
Avoid bringing in the new track's full arrangement at once; the harmonic shift needs space to breathe.
Don't use this move mid-phrase or over a sustained pad; wait for a clear structural break.

When this transition lands best

Post-peak breakdown
Second-hour narrative shift
Before a genre pivot
After a sustained climax

Genres in this pair

Psy-Trance
Trance (Main Floor)
Hard Dance / Hardcore / Neo Rave
Techno (Peak Time / Driving)
Progressive House

Progressive House
Trance (Main Floor)
Techno (Peak Time / Driving)
Tech House
Psy-Trance

Artists with tracks in both keys

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

Chris Lake2 · 1
Nicki Minaj1 · 1

Related transitions

Reverse

1B4B

Parallel Key Upper

Also try

4B2B

High Energy Drain

Also try

4B3B

Simple Mix Lower

Also try

4B4A

FAQ

Is mixing from 4B to 1B safe?⌄

Parallel Key Lower. Significant tonal shift downward — bold mood change.

What does the 4B → 1B transition sound like?⌄

What BPM range works for 4B to 1B?⌄

4B tracks median 128 BPM; 1B median 126 BPM. Pairs at similar BPMs work without pitch adjustment.

When in a DJ set should I use 4B → 1B?⌄

Best moments: Post-peak breakdown, Second-hour narrative shift, Before a genre pivot, After a sustained climax.

Plan a chemistry-scored set