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.

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, 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.

In tuning systems where the number of notes per octave is not a multiple of 12, notes such as A and B are not enharmonically equivalent, nor are the corresponding key signatures. For example, the key of A-sharp minor, with seven sharps, is equivalent to B-flat minor in 12-tone equal temperament, but in 19-tone equal temperament, it is equivalent to B-double flat minor instead, with 12 flats. Therefore, A-sharp minor with 7 sharps, which has been rarely used in the existing 12-tone temperament, may be absolutely necessary.

Scale degree chords

The scale degree chords of A-sharp minor are:

  • Tonic – A-sharp minor
  • Supertonic – B-sharp diminished
  • Mediant – C-sharp major
  • Subdominant – D-sharp minor
  • Dominant – E-sharp minor
  • Submediant – F-sharp major
  • Subtonic – G-sharp major

References

  • Overview of compositions with 7 accidentals