Key-pair transition

Mixing from 4B to 2B

A strong energy drop ideal for signalling a breakdown or cool-down phase within the same harmonic family.

From

4BA♭ Major

High Energy Drain

❄️❄️

2BF♯ Major

4B tracks

11,043

2B tracks

11,142

Best chemistry

92%

Tier

Energy

Tracks

Best chemistry

Tier

Energy

What this transition feels like

Moving from 4B (A♭ Major) to 2B (F♯ Major) drops the energy noticeably while keeping the listener grounded in a shared harmonic palette—both keys sit on the B side of the Camelot wheel, so the relative major/minor relationship preserves tonal coherence. The audience hears a descent in intensity and brightness; the mood shifts from driving forward motion into introspection or rest, making this an ideal moment to strip back layers and reset the dancefloor.

Example transitions from the catalog

Top chemistry-scored pairs where the outgoing track is in 4B and the incoming is in 2B. Evaluated 1,600 candidate pairs.

92%High Energy Drain

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

92%High Energy Drain

Little L - Enzo Edit - Extended

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

92%High Energy Drain

No Sleep - Extended Mix

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

92%High Energy Drain

At The Disco - Extended Mix

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

92%High Energy Drain

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

91%High Energy Drain

LA NOCHE - Extended Mix

Chris Lake

1274B

Sound of da Police - Extended Mix

Don Diablo

1282B

BPM±1.0

Energy=

Pitch ±1.0 BPM

91%High Energy Drain

Control - Extended Mix

Afrojack

1304B

In This Bih' - Extended Mix

Chris Lorenzo

1302B

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

91%High Energy Drain

BPM0

Energy=

No pitch needed — BPMs match

Sound profile shift

Average across all 4B and 2B tracks in the catalog. The difference between the two shapes is what your audience hears across the transition.

4B · A♭ Major

2B · F♯ Major

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.

4B · A♭ Major65–170 BPM · median 128

2B · F♯ Major65–174 BPM · median 128

How to mix this transition

Plan a blend of 8–16 bars to let the energy drain feel intentional rather than abrupt. Begin introducing the incoming track (2B) at a phrase boundary in the outgoing track, using a high-pass filter or EQ kill on the incoming track's low end during the first half of the blend to soften the harmonic shift. Since both keys share the same key signature, you can layer them without clashing, but watch the kick and bass—swap the kick at the phrase boundary and ride the outgoing bass underneath the incoming one briefly to smooth the transition. Avoid dropping both the kick and the harmonic content simultaneously; stagger them by 4–8 bars so the energy drain reads as deliberate.

Common mistakes

Don't kill the outgoing track's energy too fast—let it fade over at least half the blend length
Avoid introducing the new track's full bass and kick at the same moment; separate them by a phrase
Don't neglect the relative major/minor relationship—use it to your advantage by layering the two keys briefly

When this transition lands best

Mid-set breakdown
Before a vocal drop
Cool-down into a slower section
Peak-to-valley transition

Genres in this pair

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

Psy-Trance
Hard Dance / Hardcore / Neo Rave
Techno (Peak Time / Driving)
Breaks / Breakbeat / UK Bass
Progressive House

Artists with tracks in both keys

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

Chris Brown2 · 2
Chris Lorenzo1 · 1

Related transitions

Reverse

2B4B

High Energy Boost

Also try

4B1B

Parallel Key Lower

Also try

4B3B

Simple Mix Lower

Also try

4B4A

FAQ

Is mixing from 4B to 2B safe?⌄

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

What does the 4B → 2B transition sound like?⌄

What BPM range works for 4B to 2B?⌄

4B tracks median 128 BPM; 2B median 128 BPM. Pairs at similar BPMs work without pitch adjustment.

When in a DJ set should I use 4B → 2B?⌄

Best moments: Mid-set breakdown, Before a vocal drop, Cool-down into a slower section, Peak-to-valley transition.

Plan a chemistry-scored set