How to Transpose Chords: 4 Easy Steps, Chart and Capo Tips
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You found a chord progression you love, but when you sing over it, the chorus sits just a little too high. Or you want to jam with a guitarist who knows the song in a different key. That's when you need to transpose the chords: move every chord up or down by the same amount. It sounds like music theory, but it's really just counting. In this guide you'll learn how it works, with a transposition chart, examples and tips for capo and MIDI.
What does it mean to transpose chords?
Transposing means moving a whole piece of music higher or lower. Every chord shifts by the same number of half steps (also called semitones). Because everything moves the same distance, the song still sounds the same, just at a different pitch. The key changes with it.
An example: the progression C, G, Am, F is in C major. Move everything up two half steps and you get D, A, Bm, G. Same loop, now in D major.
The 12 notes in a row
It all comes down to this row of twelve notes. Each step is one half step. After B you start again at C.
C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb, B
Two things to remember:
- There's no sharp or flat between E and F, or between B and C. Those steps are already a half step. This is where most mistakes happen.
- C# and Db are the same key on the piano. You can write a note with a sharp (#) or a flat (b).
On a piano keyboard you can see it right away: every key, white or black, is one half step further. New to the keys? Read piano chords for beginners first.
How to transpose chords in 4 steps
- Decide how many half steps to move. Know your target key? Count the steps from the old root to the new one. From C to E, for example, is 4 half steps up (C, C#, D, D#, E).
- Move only the letter name. Shift the root of every chord by the same number of steps. With +2, Am becomes Bm.
- Keep the chord type. Everything after the letter stays the same: m, 7, maj7, sus2, sus4 or dim. With +3, Dm7 becomes Fm7, not F7.
- Don't forget the bass note. For a slash chord like C/E, move both letters. With +2, C/E becomes D/F#.
Chord transposition chart
Find the root of your chord in the left column, then read the new root in the column for your shift. Just carry the chord type over.
| Original | -3 | -2 | -1 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +4 | +5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | A | Bb | B | C# | D | Eb | E | F |
| C# | Bb | B | C | D | Eb | E | F | F# |
| D | B | C | C# | Eb | E | F | F# | G |
| Eb | C | C# | D | E | F | F# | G | Ab |
| E | C# | D | Eb | F | F# | G | Ab | A |
| F | D | Eb | E | F# | G | Ab | A | Bb |
| F# | Eb | E | F | G | Ab | A | Bb | B |
| G | E | F | F# | Ab | A | Bb | B | C |
| Ab | F | F# | G | A | Bb | B | C | C# |
| A | F# | G | Ab | Bb | B | C | C# | D |
| Bb | G | Ab | A | B | C | C# | D | Eb |
| B | Ab | A | Bb | C | C# | D | Eb | E |
Twelve half steps up or down brings you back to the same note, one octave higher or lower. That's why you never need more than six steps: seven up lands on the same letters as five down.
Three examples
Pop progression, two half steps up
C, G, Am, F with +2 becomes D, A, Bm, G. Handy when your voice sounds low and thin in C major.
Trap or drill progression, two half steps down
Am, F, C, G with -2 becomes Gm, Eb, Bb, F. Notice that F with -2 becomes Eb, not E? That's because there's only a half step between E and F.
R&B progression with seventh chords
Dm7, G7, Cmaj7 with +3 becomes Fm7, Bb7, Ebmaj7. The 7 and maj7 stay exactly the same. Learn what those chords do in seventh chords explained.
Sharp or flat: how do you write it?
It sounds the same, but it reads better if you follow the spelling of the new key. A few rules of thumb:
- Keys like G, D, A, E and B major use sharps. Write F#, not Gb.
- Keys like F, Bb, Eb, Ab and Db major use flats. Write Bb, not A#.
- Not sure? Pick the spelling with the fewest sharps or flats. The circle of fifths shows them for every key: read the circle of fifths explained.
Want all the chords for each key in one overview? Check chords by key.
Which key fits your voice?
You usually transpose because a song doesn't sit quite right. Here's how to find the right direction:
- Sing or rap the highest part of the song, usually the chorus.
- Straining on the top notes? Go down. Does your voice sound weak and far away? Go up.
- Start with one or two half steps and try again.
- Pick the version where you sound relaxed and strong, even on the last take of the day.
Not sure what key the original is in? Read how to find the key of a song.
Transposing with a capo
Play guitar or ukulele? A capo clamps all the strings at one fret. Each fret raises everything by a half step. With a capo on fret 2, your regular C, G, Am and F shapes sound like D, A, Bm and G.
It works the other way around too. Is a song in an awkward key, like Eb, Bb, Cm, Ab? Put the capo on fret 3 and play the shapes three half steps lower: C, G, Am, F. It sounds exactly like the original, but it's much easier to play.
The rule: chord shape + capo fret = the chord you hear.
Transposing chords in your DAW
Working with MIDI in FL Studio, Logic Pro or Ableton Live? Then it's even easier. In the piano roll, every row is one half step. Select all the notes of your chords and move them up or down together. Don't forget your bass line or 808, because it has to move the same number of steps.
No MIDI, just a full beat as an audio file? Then you transpose the audio. With the free Beat Lab you see the estimated key, shift by half steps and keep the tempo the same. Here's how to approach it: how to transpose a beat to fit your voice.
Common mistakes
- Counting an extra step between E and F, or between B and C. There's only a half step there, so E goes straight to F and B goes straight to C.
- Changing the chord type. A minor chord stays minor. With +2, Am becomes Bm, not B.
- Forgetting the bass note in chords like G/B.
- Losing count halfway. Write down the shift first (for example +3) and do the whole progression in one go.
- Not updating your recording. Vocals you already recorded in the old key won't fit the new version. Transpose before you record, and set your auto-tune to the new key.
FAQ
How many half steps are in an octave?
Twelve. After twelve steps you're back at the same note.
Does the song change when I transpose it?
The melody and the relationship between the chords stay the same. Only the pitch and the key change. So it sounds like the same song, just higher or lower.
Does a minor song stay minor?
Yes. Am, F, C, G in A minor becomes Gm, Eb, Bb, F in G minor with -2. Switching from minor to major isn't transposing, that's choosing a different key. Learn the difference in major vs minor explained.
Can I use a capo to transpose down?
No, a capo only makes things higher. To go lower, pick different shapes or tune your guitar down.
Key sorted and ready to write? Listen to the NameOnTheBeat beats, or check out all the free music tools for your next step.