Chord Transposer with Capo Helper
Transpose chords to any key in one click. Paste a chord progression or a whole song sheet, move it up or down, and see the easiest capo position and chord shapes for guitar.
Capo helper: easiest way to play it on guitar
Each row sounds the same as the new key. Tap a row to show those shapes. ★ marks the capo position with the most easy open chords.
- Works with lyrics and chord sheets
- Capo shapes for guitar
- Sharps or flats
- Free, no sign-up
How to transpose chords
- Paste your chords. A simple progression like
G D Em C, a chord sheet with chords over the lyrics, or ChordPro chords like[G]all work. - Check the key. The transposer detects the original key. If it’s wrong, set it in From key.
- Move it. Press + or − to shift by semitones, or choose the new key in To key.
- Add a capo (optional). Pick a capo fret to see the shapes to play, or tap a row in the capo helper.
- Copy the result into your notes, song book or chord app.
How capo transposing works
A capo raises every string by one semitone per fret. So with a capo on fret 2, a G shape sounds as A, a C shape sounds as D and an Em shape sounds as F♯m. To play a song in a hard key like B♭ or E♭ with easy open chords, put the capo on and play the shapes of a lower, friendlier key. The capo helper does that math for every position at once and stars the one that gives you the most easy chords. For a quick lookup without pasting anything, use the capo chart.
Common key changes
| Song in | Easy option | Shapes |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ major | Capo 3 | G shapes (G C D Em) |
| E♭ major | Capo 3 | C shapes (C F G Am) |
| F major | Capo 3 or capo 1 | D shapes or E shapes |
| A♭ major | Capo 1 or capo 4 | G shapes or E shapes |
| B major | Capo 2 or capo 4 | A shapes or G shapes |
| F♯ minor | Capo 2 | Em shapes (Em C G D) |
Transposing to fit your voice
If the chorus is out of reach, move the song down two or three semitones; if the verses feel too low and breathy, move it up. Want an exact answer? Find your range with the vocal range test, then use the free what key should I sing in tool. Don’t know the original key? Get it from the recording with the key finder, and use the tap tempo metronome to practice at the right speed.
Chord transposer FAQ
How do I transpose chords to another key?
Paste the chords into the chord transposer, then press + or − to move them up or down a semitone at a time, or pick the new key from the To key list. Every chord moves by the same interval, so the song keeps its shape. Chord sheets with lyrics keep their layout.
How do I transpose chords for a capo?
Pick your capo fret in the Capo list. The transposer then shows the chord shapes to play with the capo on, while the song still sounds in the key you chose. The capo helper below the tool lists every capo position from 0 to 7 and marks the one with the most easy open chords.
What capo position should I use?
Use the capo helper: it ranks each capo position by how many of the song’s chords become easy open shapes (C, D, E, G, A, Am, Dm and Em). For example, a song in B♭ is much easier with a capo on fret 3 using G shapes, or fret 1 using A shapes.
How do I change the key of a song to suit my voice?
Transpose down if the song is too high and up if it’s too low. Two or three semitones is often enough. To find the best key for your range, use the free what key should I sing in tool on our sister site, then set that key here.
How many semitones is a key change?
Each step on the transposer is one semitone (one fret on guitar, one key on the piano). Twelve semitones make an octave, so +12 brings you back to the same key. Going up 5 semitones is the same key as going down 7.
Does the chord transposer work with chord sheets and lyrics?
Yes. Paste a full song sheet with chords above the lyrics, or ChordPro-style inline chords like [G]. Lines of lyrics are left alone, and chord lines are transposed with their spacing kept, so chords stay over the right words.
What chords does it understand?
Major, minor, 7th, maj7, m7, sus2, sus4, add9, dim, aug, 6, 9, 11, 13, m7♭5 and slash chords like G/B. Sharps and flats can be typed as # and b. Choose Sharps or Flats to force a spelling, or leave it on Auto to use the spelling of the new key.
How do I find the key of the song first?
The transposer guesses the key from the chords you paste. If you only have the recording, use the free song key finder to get the key and the chords in the key, then click through to transpose.