Quick answer: How to transpose guitar chords: decide how many half steps you want to move, then move every chord in the song by that same number of half steps (keeping minor chords minor and sevenths as sevenths). For example, moving from G to A is up two half steps, so G becomes A, C becomes D, D becomes E and Em becomes F#m. A capo can do the same thing while you keep your original shapes.
Transposing sounds intimidating, but it’s just counting. Once you know how, you can make any song fit any voice. This is one of the most practical skills for singer-songwriters and worship guitarists.
What does transposing mean?
For the formal definition, see transposition in music on Wikipedia.
Transposing means moving a whole song to a different key while keeping the relationships between the chords the same. The song sounds the same, just higher or lower.
Short on time? Paste your chart into our free chord transposer and it moves every chord to the new key for you, with capo options.
How to transpose guitar chords, Step 1: Learn the 12 notes
Western music uses 12 notes, each one half step (one fret) apart:
A – A#/Bb – B – C – C#/Db – D – D#/Eb – E – F – F#/Gb – G – G#/Ab – (back to A)
Notice there’s no sharp between B and C or between E and F.
Step 2: Count the distance
Find how many half steps separate the original key from the new key. G to A is 2 half steps up. G to E is 3 half steps down (or 9 up).
Step 3: Move every chord by the same amount
Keep the chord “type” (major, minor, 7, sus) and only change the root letter.
The circle of fifths for guitar makes transposing faster because every key’s chord set sits in the same place on the wheel.
Knowing the chords in a key makes transposing much easier, because the Roman numerals never change.
Related: 8 tips for improvising over guitar jazz chords. For the full overview, see our complete guide to music theory for guitarists.
Chord transposition chart
| Key | 1 | 2m | 3m | 4 | 5 | 6m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | Dm | Em | F | G | Am |
| D | D | Em | F#m | G | A | Bm |
| E | E | F#m | G#m | A | B | C#m |
| F | F | Gm | Am | Bb | C | Dm |
| G | G | Am | Bm | C | D | Em |
| A | A | Bm | C#m | D | E | F#m |
| Bb | Bb | Cm | Dm | Eb | F | Gm |
| B | B | C#m | D#m | E | F# | G#m |
To transpose with this chart, find each chord’s column in the original key’s row and read across to the same column in the new key’s row. This is the idea behind the Nashville Number System.
Worked example
Original (key of G): G – D – Em – C
- Up to A (+2): A – E – F#m – D
- Down to E (−3): E – B – C#m – A
- Up to C (+5): C – G – Am – F
How do you transpose with a capo?
A capo raises the pitch one half step per fret, so you can keep easy shapes. To play in A using G shapes, put the capo on fret 2. See how chords change with a capo and the capo calculator.
| Shapes you play | Capo 1 | Capo 2 | Capo 3 | Capo 4 | Capo 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G shapes | Ab | A | Bb | B | C |
| C shapes | Db | D | Eb | E | F |
| D shapes | Eb | E | F | F# | G |
| E shapes | F | F# | G | Ab | A |
| A shapes | Bb | B | C | Db | D |
How do you pick the best new key?
- Sing the lowest and highest notes of the melody. Both should feel comfortable.
- For congregations, many leaders choose keys that keep the melody from going too high.
- Favor guitar-friendly keys (C, D, E, G, A) or use a capo to reach others.
What about slash chords and extensions?
Transpose both parts. G/B in the key of G becomes A/C# in A. Extensions stay the same: Cmaj7 becomes Dmaj7.
How do you transpose a full song step by step?
Let’s transpose a complete song chart from G to E, which is three half steps down.
| Section | Original (G) | Transposed (E) |
|---|---|---|
| Intro | G – Cadd9 – G – Cadd9 | E – Aadd9 – E – Aadd9 |
| Verse | G – D – Em – C | E – B – C#m – A |
| Pre-chorus | C – D – Em – D/F# | A – B – C#m – B/D# |
| Chorus | G – D/F# – Em7 – C | E – B/D# – C#m7 – A |
| Bridge | Am7 – G/B – C – Dsus4 – D | F#m7 – E/G# – A – Bsus4 – B |
Notice that every chord type stayed the same: add9 stayed add9, m7 stayed m7, sus4 stayed sus4. Only the letter names chan