Transposition

Find out what key the original song is in Find out what key you want it in Calculate the interval between the two keys Transpose all chords either up or down that given interval NB: alterations remain the same, it’s only the letters that change Intervals in semitones:

Minor 2nd	1 semitone
Major 2nd	2 semitones
Minor 3rd	3 semitones
Major 3rd	4 semitones
Perfect 4th	5 semitones
Diminished 5th / Augmented 4th	6 semitones
Perfect 5th	7 semitones
Augmented 5th (or Minor 6th)	8 semitones
Major 6th (or double flatted 7th)	9 semitones
Minor 7th	10 semitones
Major 7th	11 semitones

Alterations to chords: All chords are major unless otherwise indicated All 7th are Minor 7th unless otherwise indicated e.g. Dmaj7 Sus = suspended Diminished = flattened a semitone Augmented = sharpened a semitone Having a piano keyboard infront of you helps speed the process (even if you don’t know how to play!) ‘C’ is the white key immediately to the left of the cluster of two black notes. Every note on the piano keyboard is one semitone apart. If haven’t got a piano handy, do a rough sketch of the keys and label them e.g. C#, D, D#, E etc. Though you can often get away with omitting some chords from the original chart, it helps to do a pencil transposition with ALL the chords present before you strip it back or substitute them