A-sharp minor
Minor scale based on A-sharp
title: "A-sharp minor" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["musical-keys", "minor-scales"] description: "Minor scale based on A-sharp" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-sharp_minor" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Minor scale based on A-sharp ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical scale"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | A-sharp minor{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key ais \minor s16 \clef F \key ais \minor s^"" } |
| relative | C-sharp major |
| parallel | A-sharp major |
| →enharmonic: B-flat major | |
| enharmonic | B-flat minor |
| dominant | E-sharp minor |
| →enharmonic: F minor | |
| subdominant | D-sharp minor |
| first_pitch | A |
| second_pitch | B |
| third_pitch | C |
| fourth_pitch | D |
| fifth_pitch | E |
| sixth_pitch | F |
| seventh_pitch | G |
| :: |
| name=A-sharp minor{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key ais \minor s16 \clef F \key ais \minor s^"" } | relative=C-sharp major | parallel=A-sharp major →enharmonic: B-flat major | enharmonic=B-flat minor | dominant=E-sharp minor →enharmonic: F minor | subdominant=D-sharp minor | first_pitch=A | second_pitch=B | third_pitch=C | fourth_pitch=D | fifth_pitch=E | sixth_pitch=F | seventh_pitch=G
A-sharp minor is a minor musical scale based on A, consisting of the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has seven sharps.
Its relative major is C-sharp major (or enharmonically D-flat major). Its parallel major, A-sharp major, is usually replaced by B-flat major, since A-sharp major's three double-sharps make it impractical to use. The enharmonic equivalent of A-sharp minor is B-flat minor, which only contains five flats and is often preferable to use.
The A-sharp natural minor scale is:
\header { tagline = ##f } scale = \relative a { \key ais \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature ais'^"A♯ natural minor scale" bis cis dis eis fis gis ais gis fis eis dis cis bis ais2 \clef F \key ais \minor } \score { { } \layout { } \midi { } }
Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The A-sharp harmonic minor and melodic minor scales are:
\header { tagline = ##f } scale = \relative a { \key ais \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature ais'^"A♯ harmonic minor scale" bis cis dis eis fis gisis ais gisis! fis eis dis cis bis ais2 \clef F \key ais \minor } \score { { } \layout { } \midi { } } \header { tagline = ##f } scale = \relative a {\accidentalStyle modern \key ais \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature ais'^"A♯ melodic minor scale (ascending and descending)" bis cis dis eis fisis gisis ais gis? fis? eis dis cis bis ais2 \clef F \key ais \minor } \score { { } \layout { } \midi { } }
In Christian Heinrich Rinck's 30 Preludes and Exercises in all major and minor keys, Op. 67, the 16th Prelude and Exercise and Max Reger's On the Theory of Modulation on pp. 46~50 are in A-sharp minor. In Bach's Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp major, BWV 848, a brief section near the beginning of the piece modulates to A-sharp minor.
In tuning systems where the number of notes per octave is not a multiple of 12, notes such as A and B are not enharmonically equivalent, nor are the corresponding key signatures. For example, the key of A-sharp minor, with seven sharps, is equivalent to B-flat minor in 12-tone equal temperament, but in 19-tone equal temperament, it is equivalent to B-double flat minor instead, with 12 flats. Therefore, A-sharp minor with 7 sharps, which has been rarely used in the existing 12-tone temperament, may be absolutely necessary.
Scale degree chords
The scale degree chords of A-sharp minor are:
- Tonic – A-sharp minor
- Supertonic – B-sharp diminished
- Mediant – C-sharp major
- Subdominant – D-sharp minor
- Dominant – E-sharp minor
- Submediant – F-sharp major
- Subtonic – G-sharp major
References
References
- Pilhofer, Michael. (February 25, 2011). "Music Theory For Dummies". [[Wiley (publisher).
- Max Reger. (1904). "Supplement to the Theory of Modulation". C. F. Kahnt Nachfolger.
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