Transposing

Three steps

1. Count the distance. From the old key to the new one in semitones — from G to A it is two (G → G♯ → A). The chart below shows every distance.
2. Shift every chord. By the same distance, in the same direction: G becomes A, C becomes D, D becomes E, Em becomes F#m. The chord's type (major, minor, seventh) stays.
3. Spell it right. In flat keys (F, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭) the black keys are called E♭, A♭, B♭ — in sharp keys (G, D, A, E, B) F♯, C♯, G♯. A song in E♭ major has no D♯ chord.

If you would rather not count: the transposer takes a chord sheet and rewrites it in any key.

Shifting notes by semitones

Every row starts on a note and climbs in semitones. To raise a note by five semitones, read its row in the +5 column. Going down, count backwards: seven semitones down is five up (12 − 7). Black keys carry both names — the target key decides which one applies.

Chords in every key

The transposition chart proper. Each row is a key, each column a scale degree. Find the song's chord in the row of the old key, then read the same column in the row of the new key: C in G major sits in column IV; in D major that column holds G. Every chord is linked, every key leads to its chord progressions.

Major keys

Minor keys

With a capo

A capo transposes for you: the open shapes stay, everything sounds as many semitones higher as the fret number says. A C shape with the capo at fret 2 sounds as D, a G shape at fret 3 as B♭. To play a song in B♭ major with the easy shapes of G major, put the capo on fret 3. More at the easy guitar chords.

Transposing instruments

Trumpet, clarinet, saxophone and horn read different notes from the ones they sound: a written C sounds as B♭ on the trumpet, as E♭ on the alto sax, as F on the horn. Writing for them means transposing the other way. The chart, with notation and sound.