How to Transpose
If a piece contains difficult chord shapes, you can transpose it to another key with easier chord shapes. Keys that contain easy shapes for beginners are C major and G major, or if the song is in a minor key, A minor (Am) or E minor (Em).
First write down the chromatic scale (see page 127) of the key the piece is in (usually the first chord is the key chord). Then underneath it write the chromatic scale of the key you wish to change to. E.g. to change a song from the key of Eb to the key of G, write down the chromatic scale starting with the note Eb and then underneath it write down the chromatic scale starting on the note G.
This gives you the letter names of the chords from the original key on the on the top line, with the letter names of the chords in the new key (in this case G) directly underneath.
Note that the chord type never changes. If the chord is a minor chord in the key of Eb major it will also be a minor chord in the major key it is transposed to. for example:
An Eb chord in the key of Eb major becomes a G chord in the key of G major.
An Ab chord in the key of Eb major becomes a C chord in the key of G major.
A Cm chord in the key of Eb major becomes an Em chord in the key of G major.
A Bbm chord in the key of Eb major becomes a Dm chord in the key of G major.
The easiest keys for guitar are:
G major, C major, D major, A major, E major, A minor and E minor. These keys contain chords that include strings and are generally easier shapes to hold.
If a guitarist wants to transpose a song into a different key to enable the use of easier chord shapes, but the singer prefers to sing the song in the original key, e.g. Eb a capo may be used.
