Key Navigator Core

Harmonic Mixing Tool

KN
Quick Select

Key Navigator Core

Harmonic Mixing Reference
Use it in the browser – or install it as an app

Nothing to install: Key Navigator runs in any current browser and keeps working offline once it has loaded. Installing only gives it its own icon and window.

  • iPhone & iPadSafari: tap Share, then Add to Home Screen.
  • AndroidChrome: menu ⋮ → Install app (or Add to Home screen).
  • MacSafari (macOS 14+): File → Add to Dock. Chrome or Edge: install icon at the right end of the address bar.
  • WindowsChrome or Edge: install icon in the address bar. Firefox (newer versions): Add tab to taskbar in the address bar.
  • Firefox on Mac / LinuxCan't install web apps. Just keep the tab – everything works the same.

The standard Camelot wheel gives you three compatibility types: same key, one step adjacent, and relative major/minor. Key Navigator expands this to 8 directional match categories (Core includes level 1 of each energy direction, Pro adds levels 2 and 3) — letting you plan not just which keys mix, but how the energy of a set moves with each transition.

Harmonic mixing, extended

Traditional harmonic mixing only answers "will these keys clash?" This wheel answers "where does this take the crowd?" Boost moves raise perceived energy and tension. Drop moves lower it. Each level quantifies how dramatic the shift is — so you can plan a slow burn build, a peak-time push, or a smooth comedown with precision.

The result: eleven ways out of every key instead of three, almost four times as many as a standard wheel, each with a defined energy direction.

Match Categories

Each tip starts with how to mix, the reason follows in brackets. Levels rate how strongly the energy change is felt, not how far apart the keys are.

Perfect Match Blend freely, long overlaps work. (→ Same key or its diagonal neighbour. 6–7 of 7 notes shared.)
Mood Change Short, clean transition. Changes the emotion, not the energy. (→ Same root, minor ↔ major. 4 of 7 notes shared.)
Boost Lv 1 Gentle lift, long blends are fine. (→ One step up the circle of fifths, or minor → relative major. 6–7 of 7 notes shared.)
Drop Lv 1 Soft cool-down, long blends are fine. (→ One step down the circle of fifths, or major → relative minor. 6–7 of 7 notes shared.)
Boost Lv 2 Keep the overlap short, ideally over drums or a break. A change of colour more than a push. (→ Key moves up a minor third. 4 of 7 notes shared.) Requires Pro
Drop Lv 2 Keep the overlap short. A darker change of colour. (→ Key moves down a minor third. 4 of 7 notes shared.) Requires Pro
Boost Lv 3 Mix fast. The classic key-change lift. (→ Up a whole tone, 5 of 7 notes shared. In brackets: up a semitone, only 2 of 7 shared, the strongest jolt.) Requires Pro
Drop Lv 3 Mix fast. A clear step down that signals a wind-down. (→ Down a whole tone, 5 of 7 notes shared. In brackets: down a semitone, only 2 of 7 shared.) Requires Pro

Your ears decide. The categories follow music theory: they show which keys fit and what each move does harmonically. But every track brings its own energy, from groove and sound to arrangement and vocals. A harmonic boost points the way, it doesn't guarantee a great mix. Key Navigator doesn't replace your ears. It's your guide, and it shows you far more options than the classic wheel.

How to use

Select a key by clicking any segment on the wheel or any button in the Quick-Select grid. All compatible keys light up instantly in their category colour.

Read the panel (right side) for a grouped list of every compatible key, sorted by category. Click any chip to pivot to that key.

Filter categories using the slider icon in the settings bar to focus only on the match types relevant to your current goal.

Toggle Key Names (KN) to switch between Camelot notation (e.g. 8A) and musical key names (e.g. A min) — whichever matches your library tags.

Switch layouts with the view icons — including Dual Wheels: two independent wheels side by side, each with its own match-category settings below it. Ideal for comparing two scenarios at once. Requires Pro

Click the active key again to deselect and reset the wheel — or simply press R or Esc. Switch layout modes at any time without losing your selection.

Quick Check Mode Requires Pro

Two keys in. Verdict out.

Toggle Quick Check in the top bar — or press Q — to answer one question instantly: do these two keys work together? Pick a first key, then a second — the app immediately names the match category, or flags a Clash.

The first key stays locked while you tap through candidates — perfect for finding the right next track for the song you're playing. All 8 match categories count here, regardless of your filter settings.

Tap the locked key again, or press R / Esc, to reset.

Shortcuts

Q Toggle Quick Check mode on and off.
R Reset — clears the current selection: both keys in Quick Check, both wheels in the Dual view.
Esc Closes open dialogs (info, category filter) first — then resets, just like R.
Want to get more out of it?

This wheel is built right into Playlist Architect Pro — a dedicated tool that lets you plan and build complete DJ sets and playlists quickly and efficiently, with harmonic mixing at its core.

And there's more: mnmedia.app offers a growing suite of tools for DJs and music creators. Worth a visit whenever you need a workflow boost.

↗ Playlist Architect Pro Explore mnmedia.app
© mnmedia.app info@mnmedia.app · Impressum · Privacy Works with Camelot notation (1A–12B). Camelot Wheel is a trademark of Mixed In Key LLC. Key Navigator is not affiliated with Mixed In Key.