Montero by Lil Nas X is in the key of D# Minor, with a tempo of 150 BPM and a Camelot code of 2A. Below are the full scale notes, the diatonic chords you can play over it, the Indian classical raga that maps to this key, and other songs in the same key for harmonic mixing or practice.
Scale & Notes of D# Minor
The D# Minor scale is built from these seven notes:
D#FF#G#A#BC#
Its relative key is F# Major (same notes), and its parallel key is D# Major. If you're transposing or looking for a vocal-comfortable key, those are the natural neighbours.
Chords in D# Minor
The seven diatonic triads in this key — the chord palette most of the song will draw from:
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|
| i | D#m | Minor |
| ii° | Fdim | Diminished |
| III | F# | Major |
| iv | G#m | Minor |
| v | A#m | Minor |
| VI | B | Major |
| VII | C# | Major |
Indian Classical: the Purvi thaat
In Hindustani classical terms, D# Minor maps to the Purvi thaat (Western mode: Double Harmonic Minor variant). Has ♭2, raised 4th (♯4), and ♭6 — closest Western parallel is the Double Harmonic Minor or Hungarian Minor scale. Deeply evocative of twilight and endings. Traditional listening time: Sunset to evening.
If you want to sing or practise in this key, set your tonic (Sa) to D#. Ragas built on this thaat:
- Purvi — Double harmonic minor variant — ♭2 ♯4 ♭6, rich augmented intervals. Profound, twilight, endings.
- Shree — Purvi with emphasis on ♭2 — very serious and devotional. Devotional, solemn (Sunset).
- Gauri — Purvi scale, gentler execution — less chromatic movement. Serene, feminine.
- Paraj — Purvi with some Marwa phrases — hybrid at sunset. Twilight, melancholic.
Set Tanpura to D# →Practise in this key →Find another song's key →
Harmonic mixing (for DJs)
Montero sits at Camelot 2A. For a smooth harmonic transition, mix it with tracks in 1A, 2B, 3A — adjacent keys on the Camelot wheel that share most of their notes.