To transpose a song to a new key, find the interval between the old key and the new key, move every chord and every melody note by that interval, and check the new key signature. A song in C major moved to D major goes up by a whole tone, so C becomes D, G becomes A, and the melody moves up by the same interval.
How do you transpose a song to a new key?
Transposing a song to a new key means moving the whole song, chords and melody, from one key to another, by moving every note by the same interval. A song in C major moved to D major goes up by a whole tone, two semitones, so every C becomes D, every G becomes A, and every melody note moves up by the same interval. The song sounds the same, just higher, because the intervals between the notes have not changed, only the pitch has. Songs are transposed for practical reasons: to suit a singer's voice, to make the chords easier on an instrument, or to match the key of another instrument. A song in Eb major may be too low for a singer, so it is transposed up to F major, and a song in E major may be too hard on guitar, so it is transposed down to D major, where the chords are easier. The chord transposer transposes the chords, and the capo calculator transposes guitar songs with a capo.
How song transposition works
The method is the same as transposing chords, but it applies to the melody as well as the chords. First, find the interval between the old key and the new key: from C major to D major is a whole tone, two semitones, and from C major to G major is a perfect 5th, seven semitones. Second, move every chord by that interval, keeping the qualities the same: C becomes D, F becomes G, and G becomes A for the move to D major. Third, move every melody note by the same interval, keeping the scale degrees the same: a melody that goes C, E, G in C major becomes D, F#, A in D major, because the degrees are 1, 3, 5 in both keys. The key signature changes too, and it must be updated, or the accidentals will be wrong. Transposing from C major, with no sharps or flats, to D major, with two sharps, means adding F# and C# to the key signature, and every F and C in the melody becomes F# and C#. Transposing from G major, with one sharp, to C major, with none, means removing the F#, and every F# becomes F natural. The key of D major shows the new key signature, and the key of C major shows the old one.
Worked example — transposing a melody from C major to G major. The melody is C, E, G, E, D, C, which is the degrees 1, 3, 5, 3, 2, 1 in C major. The interval from C to G is a perfect 5th, seven semitones, so move every note up by seven semitones: C becomes G, E becomes B, G becomes D, and D becomes A. The transposed melody is G, B, D, B, A, G, which is the degrees 1, 3, 5, 3, 2, 1 in G major, and the chords move the same way: C becomes G, F becomes C, and G becomes D. The I–V–vi–IV progression in G major shows the transposed chords.
How to practise transposing songs
Practise transposing by moving a song you already know to a new key, using scale degrees, so the skill transfers to any song.
- Take the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major and transpose it to D major, moving every chord up by a whole tone.
- Take a simple melody in C major and transpose it to G major, moving every note up by a perfect 5th and keeping the scale degrees the same.
- Transpose a song from Eb major to C major, moving every chord down by a minor 3rd, three semitones, and check your answer against the chord transposer.
- Play the chords of the key of G major and then transpose them to the key of C major, moving every chord down by a perfect 5th.
- Use the chord transposer to check your transpositions, and repeat the exercise until you can transpose without the tool.
Common mistakes
- Transposing the chords but not the melody — A song is chords and melody together, and transposing only the chords leaves the melody in the old key, where it will clash with the new chords. Move every note, chords and melody, by the same interval.
- Forgetting to update the key signature — Transposing to a new key changes the sharps and flats, and the key signature must be updated, or the accidentals will be wrong. Check the key signature of the new key before you transpose.
- Moving some notes by a different interval — Transposition moves every note by the same interval, so if you move C to D but G to A, the melody will be wrong. Check that every note has moved by the same number of semitones.
Quick reference
This table shows a song in C major transposed to three other keys, with the chords and the melody notes moved by the same interval in each column. Read across a row to see one chord or one melody note in four keys, and read down a column to see the whole song in one key.
| Song in C major | Transposed to D major | Transposed to G major | Transposed to F major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chord: C | D | G | F |
| Chord: G | A | D | C |
| Chord: Am | Bm | Em | Dm |
| Chord: F | G | C | A# |
| Melody: C – E – G | D – F# – A | G – B – D | F – A – C |
| Melody: E – D – C | F# – E – D | B – A – G | A – G – F |
Use the table as a transposition guide: find the chord or the melody note you want to transpose in the first column, move across to the column for the new key, and read the transposed note. When you can transpose the table without looking, try the same exercise with a song in G major, and build your own transposition table for it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I transpose a song to a new key?
Find the interval between the old key and the new key, move every chord and every melody note by that interval, and check the new key signature. A song in C major moved to D major goes up by a whole tone, so C becomes D, G becomes A, and the melody moves up by the same interval.
Why transpose a song?
To suit a singer's voice, to make the chords easier on an instrument, or to match the key of another instrument. A song in Eb major may be too low for a singer, so it is transposed up to F major, and a song in E major may be too hard on guitar, so it is transposed down to D major.
Do I need to transpose the melody as well as the chords?
Yes. A song is chords and melody together, and transposing only the chords leaves the melody in the old key, where it will clash with the new chords. Move every note, chords and melody, by the same interval.
How do I transpose down?
Move every note down by the same interval, which is the same as moving up by the inversion of the interval. To transpose down a perfect 5th, move every note up by a perfect 4th, because the two intervals add up to an octave.
Can I use a capo to transpose a song?
Yes. A capo transposes the guitar by raising the pitch of every string, so the shapes stay the same and the key changes. A capo on the 2nd fret transposes a song up by a whole tone, so C shapes sound as D major.