About the Chord Transposer
This chord transposer moves a song to a new key. Paste a list of chords or a complete chord sheet with lyrics, then either choose how many semitones to shift or pick the original and target keys. Chord lines are transposed in place and keep their alignment over the lyrics, ChordPro-style chords in square brackets such as [Am7] are transposed wherever they appear, and lyric lines are left untouched.
Singers use it to put a song in a comfortable range, worship teams to match a leader’s key, and guitarists and pianists to avoid awkward chords. Slash chords (D/F♯), extensions (maj7, add9, sus4, 7♭9) and both sharp and flat spellings are handled correctly — only the root and bass notes change.
With accidentals on Auto, sharps or flats are chosen to match the new key’s signature (for example B♭ and E♭ in F major, F♯ and C♯ in A major). You can force sharps or flats instead if your band prefers one style.
How to use the chord transposer
- 1Paste your chords or chord chart (with or without lyrics) into the box.
- 2Choose the original and new key, or enter how many semitones to move.
- 3Leave accidentals on Auto, or force sharps or flats.
- 4Copy the transposed chart — chord lines keep their spacing over the lyrics.
Formula and method
The twelve notes of the chromatic scale repeat every octave, so transposing is modular arithmetic on pitch classes (C = 0, C♯/D♭ = 1 … B = 11). Every chord root and slash-bass note is moved by the same number of semitones, while the chord quality (m, 7, maj7, sus4, add9 and so on) is kept exactly as written.
When you transpose by key, the shift is the distance between the two key notes, taking the shorter way round (up to 6 semitones up or down). A line is treated as a chord line only if every word on it is a valid chord symbol or bar line, so lyrics containing words like “A” or “Am” are not changed by mistake.
- semitones
- Half steps to move; +12 or −12 returns to the same key
- mod 12
- Wrap around the 12 pitch classes of an octave
Worked examples
Chord list from G to A
A is two semitones above G, so every root and bass note moves up a whole step: G→A, D/F♯→E/G♯, Em→F♯m and C→D. A major uses sharps, so G♯ and F♯ are spelled with sharps.
Down 3 semitones into a flat key
Moving A minor down three semitones gives F♯ minor (A→F♯, F→D, C→A, G→E). F♯ minor is the relative minor of A major, so the sharp spelling is used.
C to E♭ with extensions
E♭ is three semitones above C. The chord types stay the same while the roots move: C→E♭, A→C, D→F and G→B♭, written with flats because E♭ major has three flats.
Frequently asked questions
How do I transpose chords to another key?+
Count the semitones between the original key and the new key, then move every chord root (and any slash-bass note) by that amount, keeping the chord type. For G to A that is +2, so G becomes A, Em becomes F♯m and C becomes D.
How many semitones is it from one key to another?+
Count piano keys including black keys: C to D is 2, C to E♭ is 3, C to F is 5 and C to G is 7. Going down 5 semitones lands in the same key as going up 7.
Will it change words in my lyrics?+
No. A line is only transposed if every word on it is a chord symbol or bar line, so lyric lines — even ones containing “A” or “Am” — stay untouched. Chords inside [square brackets] are always transposed.
Should I use sharps or flats?+
Use whichever the new key uses: keys such as F, B♭, E♭, A♭ and D♭ major (and D, G, C and F minor) use flats; G, D, A, E, B and F♯ major use sharps. Auto mode does this for you.
Can I use a capo instead of transposing?+
Yes, to go up. A capo at fret n raises everything by n semitones, so you can play the original shapes and sound higher. To go down you must transpose the chords or retune.