To transpose a song, move every chord or note up or down by the same number of semitones. Count the semitones from the old key to the new key, shift each chord root by that number and keep the chord type. Our free chord transposer does a whole chord sheet in one click and leaves the lyrics in place.
What transposing a song means
Transposition moves all the pitches of a piece by the same interval. The melody keeps its shape, the progression keeps its function and only the key changes: a song in G major moved up two semitones is in A major, and every G chord becomes A. A key is the home note and scale a song is built on (what a song key is), and a semitone is the smallest step on a piano (what semitones are). Transposing written music and pitch-shifting audio reach the same result by different means: key change vs pitch change.
Transpose chords in 4 steps
- Find the original key. The first and last chord usually name it; in sheet music the key signature does. Only have the recording? The song key finder detects it, and how to find the key of a song shows the manual way.
- Choose the target key and count the semitones. For a singer, pick the key that fits the voice (what key should I sing in). Count from the old home note to the new one with the semitone calculator or the chart in how many semitones to change key.
- Move every chord root by that number. Keep everything after the root: m, 7, maj7, sus4 and add9 stay the same. In a slash chord such as D/F♯, move both letters.
- Spell for the new key. Flat keys (F, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭) use flats, sharp keys (G, D, A, E, B) use sharps: B♭ in F major, not A♯. Check the result against the music key chart.
| Chord in G major | +2 → A major | −2 → F major | +5 → C major | −5 → D major |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | A | F | C | D |
| Em | F♯m | Dm | Am | Bm |
| C | D | B♭ | F | G |
| D | E | C | G | A |
| D/F♯ | E/G♯ | C/E | G/B | A/C♯ |
| Am7 | Bm7 | Gm7 | Dm7 | Em7 |
Chord chart: I–ii–iii–IV–V–vi in all 12 major keys
Most pop, rock, folk and worship songs use these six chords. Find your chords in the row of the original key, then read the same columns in the row of the new key. Musicians call the columns by number (the Nashville number system), which is why a “1–5–6–4” song can be played in any key.
| Key | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C major | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am |
| D♭ major | D♭ | E♭m | Fm | G♭ | A♭ | B♭m |
| D major | D | Em | F♯m | G | A | Bm |
| E♭ major | E♭ | Fm | Gm | A♭ | B♭ | Cm |
| E major | E | F♯m | G♯m | A | B | C♯m |
| F major | F | Gm | Am | B♭ | C | Dm |
| F♯ major | F♯ | G♯m | A♯m | B | C♯ | D♯m |
| G major | G | Am | Bm | C | D | Em |
| A♭ major | A♭ | B♭m | Cm | D♭ | E♭ | Fm |
| A major | A | Bm | C♯m | D | E | F♯m |
| B♭ major | B♭ | Cm | Dm | E♭ | F | Gm |
| B major | B | C♯m | D♯m | E | F♯ | G♯m |
Using a capo on guitar
A capo raises every open string by one semitone per fret. You keep playing the same chord shapes, and the song sounds higher. It works in two directions: to raise a song, put the capo on the fret that equals the semitones up; to play a song in an awkward key such as E♭, find the easy shape plus fret that sounds in it.
| Capo fret | G shapes sound in | C shapes | D shapes | A shapes | E shapes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capo 1 | A♭ | D♭ | E♭ | B♭ | F |
| Capo 2 | A | D | E | B | F♯ |
| Capo 3 | B♭ | E♭ | F | C | G |
| Capo 4 | B | E | F♯ | D♭ | A♭ |
| Capo 5 | C | F | G | D | A |
| Capo 6 | D♭ | F♯ | A♭ | E♭ | B♭ |
| Capo 7 | D | G | A | E | B |
Example: a song in E♭ can be played with D shapes at capo 1 or C shapes at capo 3. A capo only goes up. To go lower, tune every string down (half-step-down tuning lowers everything one semitone) or choose shapes from a lower key. The chord transposer has a capo option under More options that suggests the shapes for you.
Parts for B♭, E♭ and F instruments
Some instruments are transposing instruments: the written note differs from the note that sounds (concert pitch). To write a part, add the interval below to the concert key.
| Instrument | Pitched in | Written vs sounding | Semitones | Concert C → written | Concert E♭ → written |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trumpet, clarinet in B♭, soprano sax | B♭ | Major 2nd higher | 2 | D major | F major |
| Tenor saxophone | B♭ | Octave + major 2nd higher | 14 | D major | F major |
| Alto saxophone | E♭ | Major 6th higher | 9 | A major | C major |
| Baritone saxophone | E♭ | Octave + major 6th higher | 21 | A major | C major |
| French horn | F | Perfect 5th higher | 7 | G major | B♭ major |
| Guitar, bass guitar | C | Octave higher (sounds an octave lower) | 12 | C major | E♭ major |
So a band song in concert E♭ is written in F for trumpet and in C for alto sax. When a singer changes the key, every part moves by the same number of semitones as the chords.
Rewriting a melody note by note
- Write the new key signature first.
- Move each note by the same interval. On the staff, a third stays a third and a step stays a step, so the shape of the line does not change.
- Fix the accidentals: a sharp in the old key may become a natural or a flat in the new one.
- Check the range. The new version must fit the instrument or voice; if it runs too high or too low, choose another key.
Notation programs such as MuseScore have a transpose command that does this for a whole score. The circle of fifths shows which keys are close, and a transposed song keeps its mode; to turn major into minor, use the major to minor converter.
When the music is an audio file or a video
Transposing a recording is an audio job, not a chord job. Upload-free tools do it in the browser: the online key changer for song files, the MP3 pitch changer for MP3s, the YouTube pitch changer for YouTube links, the video pitch changer for MP4 files and the karaoke pitch changer for backing tracks. For a song by a singer of the other gender, start with male to female key change. How our pitch shifting works explains why the tempo stays the same.
Transposition questions
What does it mean to transpose chords?
It means moving every chord of a song up or down by the same number of semitones, so the song is in a new key but keeps the same progression. G–Em–C–D up two semitones is A–F♯m–D–E.
How do I transpose chords with a capo?
Keep your chord shapes and put the capo on the fret that equals the semitones you want to go up. Capo 2 with G shapes sounds in A major. Use the capo chart above for the other shapes.
Does transposing change the tempo?
No. Transposing written music changes only the notes. The tempo is a separate marking and stays the same.
Is transposing the same as modulating?
No. Transposing moves the whole song to a new key. Modulating is a key change inside the song, such as a last chorus that goes up a step.
How do I know which key to transpose to?
Choose the key that puts the melody inside the singer’s comfortable range. Find the range with the vocal range test, then move the song until its highest note sits a little below the top of that range.
How do you transpose a YouTube video?
Paste the link into a YouTube pitch changer and press ♭ or ♯ once per semitone. The video keeps its speed; only the key moves.
Mayer runs Online Pitch Changer (OnlinePitchChanger.com) independently. Mayer maintains the site’s free browser tools for changing the pitch, key and tempo of audio, video and voice, and writes and checks its guides on keys, semitones, transposition and vocal ranges. Each rebuilt tool is tested before release with measured test tones, and app steps in the guides are checked against official manuals such as the Audacity manual and Apple’s GarageBand guide. Audio processed with the tools never leaves the reader’s browser. Mayer is not affiliated with YouTube, Google or any audio software company. For corrections or tool problems, see the Contact page.