FullCalculator

Key Transpose Calculator

Transpose by Semitones

Transpose a note or key up/down by a number of semitones

Interval Between Keys

Find the number of semitones between two keys

Formula

New Note Index = (Original Index + Semitones) mod 12 | Semitones Between Keys = (To - From + 12) mod 12

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to transpose a key?
Transposing means shifting all the notes of a song up or down by the same interval (number of semitones). The melody and harmony stay the same, but the pitch changes. This is commonly done to match a singer's vocal range.
How many semitones are in an octave?
There are 12 semitones in an octave. A semitone (half step) is the smallest interval in Western music, like from C to C# or from E to F.
How does a guitar capo relate to transposition?
A capo placed on fret N effectively transposes all open chord shapes up by N semitones. For example, playing C shapes with a capo on fret 2 produces the key of D.

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