How to mix tracks in different keys?

[Sogyal]

Anyone got any techniques on how to mix two tracks that are in incompatible keys?

[shr3dder]

Yep. You just mix them.


It's a guide, not a rule.

[protocol]

Yep. You just mix them.


It's a guide, not a rule.

This is true. The camelot wheel is a good guide, but it's not the bible. Also consider that most software can't determine key correctly 100% of the time, but it does come close, so the key of some songs may be misleading. Just know your music. Throw together different keyed tracks and see what happens.

[Jester]

If it sounds awful then use different tunes.

[Sogyal]

If it sounds awful then use different tunes.

How do you usually find compatible tracks? I mean, I find them, but after going through a bunch of different tracks. Is there something you look in the track to help you find a match easily?

[johney]

pretty much ^

[CountenanT]

Your average crowd is unlikely to notice unless it sounds *really* bad. So just go ahead and do it. There are no 'rules' like with beatmatching. Though the more elements of the track you mix together, the more noticeable any clash will become until it sounds like a trainwreck.

[Patch]

You CAN harmonically mix 2 tracks that are in completely different keys.

A "key" is just a group of notes.

Melodies in tracks are usually only made up of a couple of those notes in any key.

Different keys share similar notes. So as long as the NOTES in each track ARE hormonically compatible, the mix will be fine.

I'm sure someone with more musical theory experience than me can explain it better...

But basically:

If it sounds awful then use different tunes.

[MaxOne]

Just make it a quick mix or use the beat intro and mix with the beat outro...

[AMJ]

I often find myself in the situation of having to mix two songs in very different keys, if the transition sounds really bad, i search for a third song which has a key mid way between the two original songs key, this way is sounds more melodic, avoiding to sound like shit...