Looking up the key and tempo of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms? James Newton Howard's track sits in A# Major at 118 BPM (Camelot 6B). 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 A# Major
The A# Major scale is built from these seven notes:
A#CDD#FGA
Its relative key is G Minor (same notes), and its parallel key is A# Minor. If you're transposing or looking for a vocal-comfortable key, those are the natural neighbours.
Chords in A# Major
The seven diatonic triads in this key — the chord palette most of the song will draw from:
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|
| I | A# | Major |
| ii | Cm | Minor |
| iii | Dm | Minor |
| IV | D# | Major |
| V | F | Major |
| vi | Gm | Minor |
| vii° | Adim | Diminished |
Indian Classical: the Kafi thaat
In Hindustani classical terms, A# Major maps to the Kafi thaat (Western mode: Dorian). Dorian mode — minor scale with a natural 6th. Common in jazz and folk music (Santana, 'So What' by Miles Davis). In Indian music it gives a gentle, romantic character. Traditional listening time: Afternoon to midnight.
If you want to sing or practise in this key, set your tonic (Sa) to A#. Ragas built on this thaat:
- Kafi — Pure Dorian — ♭3 and ♭7, natural 2nd and 6th. Romantic, folk-like, seasonal (Holi).
- Pilu — Dorian with chromatic passing notes — very flexible. Light classical, semi-classical (Any time).
- Bhimpalasi — Dorian pentatonic (omits 2nd & 6th). Meditative, longing (Afternoon).
- Bageshri — Dorian with omitted 5th in ascent — intimate, introspective. Romantic, feminine (Late night).
- Patdeep — Dorian with both ♮3 and ♭3 in descent. Tender, seasonal (Afternoon).
Set Tanpura to A# →Practise in this key →Find another song's key →
Harmonic mixing (for DJs)
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms sits at Camelot 6B. For a smooth harmonic transition, mix it with tracks in 5B, 6A, 7B — adjacent keys on the Camelot wheel that share most of their notes.