A-sharp minor

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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
File:A-sharp natural minor scale ascending and descending.png
A-sharp natural minor scale ascending and descending.
File:A-sharp harmonic minor scale ascending and descending.png
A-sharp harmonic minor scale ascending and descending
File:A-sharp melodic minor scale ascending and descending.png
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, Gdouble sharp is used instead of G. Its key signature has seven sharps (see below: Scales and keys).

Its relative major is C-sharp major. 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.

The direct enharmonic equivalent of A minor 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.

External links

Scales and keys