Looking up the key and tempo of Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)? Jazmine Sullivan's track sits in G# Minor at 95 BPM (Camelot 1A). Whether you're learning it on guitar, setting up a cover in the right key, or mixing it into a DJ set, here are the scale notes, chords, and compatible keys.
Scale & Notes of G# Minor
The G# Minor scale is built from these seven notes:
G#A#BC#D#EF#
Its relative key is B Major (same notes), and its parallel key is G# Major. If you're transposing or looking for a vocal-comfortable key, those are the natural neighbours.
Chords in G# Minor
The seven diatonic triads in this key — the chord palette most of the song will draw from:
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|
| i | G#m | Minor |
| ii° | A#dim | Diminished |
| III | B | Major |
| iv | C#m | Minor |
| v | D#m | Minor |
| VI | E | Major |
| VII | F# | Major |
Indian Classical: the Marwa thaat
In Hindustani classical terms, G# Minor maps to the Marwa thaat (Western mode: Lydian ♭2 (Marwa mode)). Unique to Indian music — the 'Marwa mode.' A ♭2 and raised 4th (♯4) with no perfect 5th in the characteristic phrases. Creates intense tension and yearning. Has no exact Western parallel; closest to a Lydian scale with flat second (Neapolitan Lydian). Traditional listening time: Sunset (5–7 pm).
If you want to sing or practise in this key, set your tonic (Sa) to G#. Ragas built on this thaat:
- Marwa — Lydian ♭2 — ♭2 and ♯4, avoids Pa (5th) — extreme tension. Intense yearning, sunset dread.
- Puriya — Lydian ♭2 with strong ♭2 emphasis — similar to Marwa but sweeter. Romantic longing, twilight.
- Sohini — Lydian ♭2 pentatonic (omits 2nd and 6th). Restless, passionate (Night).
- Lalit — Marwa scale with both ♮4 and ♯4 (double madhyam). Deep meditation, dawn (Pre-dawn).
Set Tanpura to G# →Practise in this key →Find another song's key →
Harmonic mixing (for DJs)
Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles) sits at Camelot 1A. For a smooth harmonic transition, mix it with tracks in 12A, 1B, 2A — adjacent keys on the Camelot wheel that share most of their notes.