A-sharp minor

A-sharp minor
{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key ais \minor s16 \clef F \key ais \minor s^"" }
Relative keyC-sharp major
Parallel keyA-sharp major (theoretical)
enharmonic: B-flat major
Dominant keyE-sharp minor (theoretical)
enharmonic: F minor
SubdominantD-sharp minor
EnharmonicB-flat minor
Component pitches
A, B, C, D, E, F, 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.[1]

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,[1] which only contains five flats and is often preferable to use.

The A-sharp natural minor scale is:

 {
\omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c'' {
  \key ais \minor \time 7/4 ais^"Natural minor scale" bis cis dis eis fis gis ais gis fis eis dis cis bis ais2 \clef F \key ais \minor
} }

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:

 {
\omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c'' {
  \key ais \minor \time 7/4 ais^"Harmonic minor scale" bis cis dis eis fis gisis ais gisis fis eis dis cis bis ais2
} }
 {
\omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c'' {
  \key ais \minor \time 7/4 ais^"Melodic minor scale (ascending and descending)" bis cis dis eis fisis gisis ais gis? fis? eis dis cis bis ais2
} }

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.[2] 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.

  1. ^ a b Pilhofer, Michael; Day, Holly (February 25, 2011). Music Theory For Dummies. Wiley. p. 144. ISBN 9781118054444.
  2. ^ Max Reger (1904). Supplement to the Theory of Modulation. Translated by John Bernhoff. Leipzig: C. F. Kahnt Nachfolger. pp. 46–50.