Transposed Chords: The same progression rewritten so it sounds identical in interval structure but starts from the new key's root note.
Semitones Shifted: How many half-steps each chord root moved up the chromatic scale. Twelve semitones equals a full octave (back to the same note).
Preserved Qualities: Minor, seventh, sus4, and other extensions stay attached — only the root letter changes.
Enharmonic Spelling: The tool uses sharps by default (C# rather than Db). Some keys read more naturally with flats, so adjust spelling to match standard notation if needed.
How This Calculator Works
You enter a chord progression, a starting key, and a target key. The tool computes the semitone distance between the two keys, then shifts every chord root up by that many half-steps around a 12-note chromatic cycle (C, C#, D, … B). Chord qualities and extensions are left untouched. It assumes equal-temperament tuning and sharp-based enharmonic spelling.
Quick Questions
Does transposing change how the song sounds?
The intervals between chords stay the same, so the harmonic feel is preserved. The overall pitch shifts higher or lower depending on the direction of the transposition.
Why does the tool show C# instead of Db?
The calculator uses a sharp-based chromatic scale for simplicity. In standard music theory, certain keys favor flats (like Bb or Eb). You can mentally swap enharmonic equivalents as needed.
Can I transpose by a specific number of semitones instead of picking keys?
Set the "From Key" to C (index 0) and the "To Key" to whatever semitone offset you want. For example, choosing Eb as the target key transposes by 3 semitones regardless of the chords' original key context.
Does this work for guitar capo positions?
Yes. A capo on fret N raises the pitch by N semitones. To find the chord shapes you'd play with a capo, transpose down by the capo fret count. The related Capo Calculator automates this.