How many sharps does A# minor have?

Seven: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, and B# — same as its relative major, C# major.

The A# natural minor scale — notes, intervals, and pattern

The A# natural minor scale has seven sharps — F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, and B# — and shares its notes with C# major. Like C# major, it's primarily a theoretical key: B♭ minor (five flats) covers the same pitches with a much cleaner notation.

Interval pattern

The A# natural minor scale is built from this fixed pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H):

Wwhole
Hhalf
Wwhole
Wwhole
Hhalf
Wwhole
Wwhole

Every natural minor scale uses this same pattern. The half-steps fall between scale degrees 2–3 and 5–6.

Scale degrees and intervals

Each note of the scale, with its scale-degree name and interval from the root:

Degree	Note	Interval from root	Function
1	A#	Root	Tonic
2	B#	M2	Supertonic
3	C#	m3	Mediant
4	D#	P4	Subdominant
5	E#	P5	Dominant
6	F#	m6	Submediant
7	G#	m7	Subtonic / Leading tone

In melody and improvisation

A# minor exists for completeness in the 24-key system. Bach's prelude and fugue in this key demonstrates that all minor keys are playable in equal temperament. In day-to-day music, you'll see B♭ minor written instead.

Relative key

The A# natural minor scale shares its notes with C# major. Same seven pitches, different tonal centre — when a piece moves between them, no accidentals change.

Common mistakes

Seven sharps — including E# and B# — is a lot to read. The harmonic-minor variant adds G## (double-sharp), which most musicians find genuinely difficult to parse. If you can use B♭ minor instead, do.

Drill it

The Interval Trainer gives you a root note and an interval, and asks you to name the result. Practising the intervals of the A# natural minor scale is the fastest way to internalise it as a melodic shape rather than a memorised string of notes.

Open the Interval Trainer →Or drill key signatures

Frequently asked

What are the notes in the A# natural minor scale?: A#, B#, C#, D#, E#, F#, G#.
How many sharps does A# minor have?: Seven: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, and B# — same as its relative major, C# major.
What is the relative major of A# minor?: C# major.