How to transpose chords to a new key

When playing a song on guitar or piano using chords, sometimes you need to change the key (which group of chords you use). This article shows you an easy way to quickly change chords from one key to a new one (also called transposing).

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Piano, guitar, organ, mandolin, ukulele or other instrument that plays chords.

1. 
   In the key of C, chords are numbered and named after notes in the scale.

   Determine what key you are in.
   For example, in the key of C, your chords are made out of the notes of the C scale, and your chord names are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim and C. (small "m" means "minor", and "dim" means diminished).

2. 
   Use this chart to transpose chords from C to any keys with sharps

   TO TRANSPOSE FROM C TO A KEY WITH SHARPS
   Look at what chord number your chord in the key of C is in. Then find that same chord number in the new key. For example, the "C" chord (in the key of C) is the 1 chord. To play the 1 chord in the key of D, look on the attached chart to find the line of chords in which chord # 1 is "D". This is the one chord in the new key. Then continue to find the chord number in the new key that correlates to the chord number in the old key. Ta DAH! You've now transposed the song!

3. 

   TO TRANSPOSE FROM C TO A KEY WITH FLATS
   Follow the same process as above. E.g., find the 4 chord in the key of Bb. That chord name is Eb. Now go to the new key (to which you're tranposing) -- let's use F in this example, and find the 4 chord in the key of F, which is Bb. So now, play the 4 chord in the new key instead of the old one.

Tips & Warnings

• It's easiest to transpose songs that only have a few chords, such as the 1, 4, and 5 chords. However, if you think note (and chord) numbers, you will find it much easier to change the key of a song.
• Notice that the 1, 4 and 5 chords in every key are major (the "happy" chords); the 2, 3 and 6 chords are minor, and the 7 chord is diminished.
• Some songs have chords other than the regular 7 ones from a key. This happens when a song is changing keys on purpose within the song itself. This can be a bit trickier if you are new to practicing how to transpose a song to a different key.

Resources

• Suz Doyle Music web site
• Other articles by SuzDoyleMusic