theoretical key

noun

A key signature which has eight or more sharps or seven flats. In music using twelve-tone equal temperament its pitch coincides with its enharmonic, while in most other equal temperament tunings most enharmonic equivalences between key signatures regularly go beyond simple sharps and flats.

“G-sharp major is a theoretical key with 8 sharps; in 12-tone equal temperament it is enharmonic to A-flat major, but in most other tunings, such as 31-tone equal temperament, it is a distinct key.”

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Meanings

nountheoretical key (plural theoretical keys)

plural theoretical keys

  1. music theoryA key signature which has eight or more sharps or seven flats. In music using twelve-tone equal temperament its pitch coincides with its enharmonic, while in most other equal temperament tunings most enharmonic equivalences between key signatures regularly go beyond simple sharps and flats.

    G-sharp major is a theoretical key with 8 sharps; in 12-tone equal temperament it is enharmonic to A-flat major, but in most other tunings, such as 31-tone equal temperament, it is a distinct key.

Translations

Greek φανταστική κλίμακα
  • φανταστική κλίμακα (fantastikí klímaka)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

theoretical key. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theoretical%20key

MLA

“theoretical key.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theoretical%20key. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “theoretical key,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/theoretical%20key.

Source: theoretical key on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.