i-♭VI-♭VII-i (Andalusian Rock)
i · ♭VI · ♭VII · i
Aeolian rock pattern; metal anthem flavor.
Key of A# Minor
The Key of A♯ Minor
The chords in the key of A♯ minor are A♯m, B♯dim, C♯, D♯m, E♯m, F♯ and G♯.
Seven sharps — a theoretical key.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (F♯ · C♯ · G♯ · D♯ · A♯ · E♯ · B♯), 5 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of A♯ minor
Each degree of the A♯ minor scale carries one chord. Roman numerals show the degree; the function column tells you what the chord does. Every name links to its full chord page — press play to hear it on guitar.
| Degree | Function | Chord | Guitar shape | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i | TonicTonicHome — rests | A♯mB♭ · D♭ · Fspelled A♯m in A# minor · the chord page is B♭ Minor | ||
| ii° | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | B♯dimC · E♭ · G♭spelled B♯dim in A# minor · the chord page is C Diminished | ||
| III | TonicMediantHome — rests | C♯D♭ · F · A♭spelled C♯ in A# minor · the chord page is D♭ Major | ||
| iv | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | D♯mE♭ · G♭ · B♭spelled D♯m in A# minor · the chord page is E♭ Minor | ||
| v | DominantDominantPulls back to I | E♯mF · A♭ · Cspelled E♯m in A# minor · the chord page is F Minor | ||
| VI | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | F♯F♯ · A♯ · C♯ | ||
| VII | DominantSubtonicPulls back to I | G♯A♭ · C · E♭spelled G♯ in A# minor · the chord page is A♭ Major |
Want the same chords on another instrument? Every chord page carries piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo shapes — start with piano.
Character
Why songs live in A♯ minor
A# minor requires E# and B#, which is enough to disqualify it from most printed music. It sounds exactly like Bb minor, and that is what publishers use. It exists on the circle as the relative minor of C# major, and as a way of not respelling everything mid-modulation.
Scale
The A♯ minor scale
Seven notes, in order from the tonic. Tap any note to hear it, or play the whole scale ascending.
This spelling has no separate scale page — the identical pitches are catalogued under Bb Natural Minor (Aeolian).
Key signature
The A♯ minor key signature
F♯ · C♯ · G♯ · D♯ · A♯ · E♯ · B♯
A♯ minor is written with 7 sharps. Every F, C, G, D, A, E and B in the music is played sharp unless an accidental says otherwise. Its relative major, C♯ major, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in A♯ minor
The most-used progressions, already transposed into A♯ minor. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
ii°-V-i (Minor ii-V-i)
iiø · V · i
The minor-key version of ii-V-I.
i-♭VII-♭VI-V (Andalusian)
i · ♭VII · ♭VI · V
Flamenco / Phrygian descent; minor with major V.
i-iv-V (Minor Three Chord)
i · iv · V
Minor three-chord with major V.
i-♭VI-♭VII (Aeolian Loop)
i · ♭VI · ♭VII
Aeolian rock loop.
FAQ
Questions about the key of A♯ minor
- What chords are in the key of A# minor?
- The key of A# minor contains seven diatonic chords: A#m (i), B#dim (ii°), C# (III), D#m (iv), E#m (v), F# (VI), G# (VII). Most songs in A# minor lean on A#m, D#m and E#m — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative major of A# minor?
- C# major is the relative major of A# minor. Both keys share the same key signature (7 sharps) and exactly the same seven notes — C# major simply treats C# as home instead of A#, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in A# minor to play on guitar?
- A# minor has no open guitar shapes — every diatonic chord needs a barre or a movable grip in standard tuning. Most guitarists capo and play open shapes from an easier key instead.
Learn the theory
Read up on A♯ minor
This page is the reference. These are the guides that explain how a key works in the first place — read one and the table above stops needing to be looked up.