A-sharp minor

See also: B-flat minor and A minor
A minor
Relative key C major
enharmonic: D major
Parallel key A major
enharmonic: B major
Dominant key E minor
enharmonic: F minor
Subdominant D minor
enharmonic: E minor
Enharmonic B minor
Component pitches
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A
A-sharp natural minor scale ascending and descending.
A-sharp harmonic minor scale ascending and descending
A-sharp melodic minor scale ascending and descending.

A-sharp minor or A minor is a minor scale based on A-sharp. The A minor scale has pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. For the harmonic minor scale, G is used instead of G. Its key signature has seven sharps (see below: Scales and keys).

Its relative major is C major (or enharmonically D major), and its parallel major is A major, usually replaced by B major, since A major's three double-sharps make it impractical to use. Exceptions include Chopin's Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61, which has a brief passage of about 6 bars actually notated in A-sharp major, inserting the necessary double-sharps as accidentals. The overall harmonic context is an extended theme in B major, which briefly modulates to A-sharp major.

A minor's direct enharmonic equivalent is B minor.

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary.

A-sharp minor is one of the least used minor keys in music as it is not a practical key for composition. The enharmonic equivalent B-flat minor, which would only contain five flats as opposed to A-sharp minor's seven sharps, is normally used. There is, however, in Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C major, a brief section near the beginning of the piece which modulates to A minor.

External links

Scales and keys

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