Transposing a chord means moving every note by the same interval so the chord keeps its quality: a major chord stays major, a dominant seventh stays a dominant seventh. Singers transpose songs to fit their range, guitarists use a capo, and horn players read parts written in another key – all of them need the same arithmetic.
The safe method is to transpose the root by the interval and then rebuild the chord from its formula. Counting only semitones can give awkward spellings: F major up a whole tone is G major, but A major up a tritone, spelled strictly as an augmented fourth, is D♯ major (D♯, F𝄪, A♯), which most people would rather read as E♭ major. The calculator gives the theoretical spelling and, if you prefer, simplifies awkward roots such as E♯, B♯, F♭, C♭ and double accidentals.
To transpose a whole song from one key to another, find the interval between the keys (C to D is a major second up) and transpose every chord by that interval – or use the music transposer for lists of notes.
How to use the Chord Transposer
- Root
- Chord form
- Transpose by
- Direction
- Spelling
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How it works
The root moves by the generic interval for the chosen number of semitones (for example 4 semitones = a major third = two letter names). The chord is rebuilt from the new root with the same formula, so all its notes are spelled consistently; with “simplify” an awkward root is respelled first.
Worked example
Transpose E major (E, G♯, B) up a major second (2 semitones): a second moves the root one letter name, E → F, and two semitones above E is F♯, so the new root is F♯ and rebuilding 1–3–5 gives F♯, A♯, C♯. Moving E major up a tritone with strict spelling gives A♯ major (A♯, C𝄪, E♯); simplified, it is B♭ major (B♭, D, F).
Interval cheat sheet for transposing
| Semitones | Short | Interval | Just ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | P1 | Perfect unison | 1:1 |
| 1 | m2 | Minor second | 16:15 |
| 2 | M2 | Major second | 9:8 |
| 3 | m3 | Minor third | 6:5 |
| 4 | M3 | Major third | 5:4 |
| 5 | P4 | Perfect fourth | 4:3 |
| 6 | A4 / d5 | Tritone | 45:32 |
| 7 | P5 | Perfect fifth | 3:2 |
| 8 | m6 | Minor sixth | 8:5 |
| 9 | M6 | Major sixth | 5:3 |
| 10 | m7 | Minor seventh | 9:5 or 16:9 |
| 11 | M7 | Major seventh | 15:8 |
| 12 | P8 | Perfect octave | 2:1 |
Formula
New root = old root moved by the interval (letter steps and semitones)
New chord = new root + the same chord formula
Up n semitones = down (12 − n) semitones, one octave higher
Worked example
Inputs — Root: E; Chord form: Major triad (C); Transpose by: Major second (2); Direction: Up; Spelling: Simplify awkward roots (E♯, B♯, F♭, C♭, 𝄪, 𝄫).
Results — Transposed chord = F♯; Transposed notes = F♯, A♯, C♯; Transposed chord name = F♯ major triad; Original chord = E (E major triad); Original notes = E, G♯, B; Transposed by = Major second up (2 semitones).
Key terms
- Transposition
- Moving music up or down by a constant interval.
- Semitone
- The smallest step on a piano, one twelfth of an octave.
- Enharmonic respelling
- Writing the same pitch with another letter name (D♯ = E♭).
- Capo
- A clamp on a guitar neck that transposes all open chord shapes up.
Frequently asked questions
What is F major transposed up two semitones?
G major (G, B, D).
How do I transpose C minor from E♭ major to B♭ major?
The keys are a perfect fifth apart (7 semitones up, or 5 down), so C minor becomes G minor.
What is G7 transposed from C to D?
Up a major second: A7 (A, C♯, E, G).
Why do I sometimes get double sharps?
Strict interval spelling keeps every letter consistent; D♯ major contains F𝄪. Choose “simplify” to get E♭ major instead.
Is transposing up 7 semitones the same as down 5?
Yes, apart from the octave: both give the same chord name.
How does a capo relate to transposing?
A capo on fret n raises every chord shape by n semitones – a G shape with a capo on 2 sounds as A.
Does transposing change the chord type?
No – the intervals inside the chord stay the same; only the root and the note names change.