What a chord chart is
A chord chart gives the chords of a song over the words, in order. It tells a band what to play and when, and leaves the melody to memory or a lead sheet. Church bands, guitarists, singers and pianists in a band use charts every week.
A good chart has the lyrics lined up so each chord sits over the syllable where it changes. If the chords drift from the words, the singer and the band lose each other.
How to transpose a chord chart
Transposing means moving the whole song up or down so it fits a voice. Every chord moves by the same distance.
- Find the original key and the new key.
- Count the semitones between them. From G to A is two semitones up. From G to F is two down.
- Move every chord that distance. Keep the quality: minor stays minor, and a 7th stays a 7th.
- Check any slash chord. A bass note moves with the chord, so G/B in G becomes A/C# in A.
- Play the new chart through once, and look for odd spellings.
| Key | I | IV | V | vi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | G | C | D | Em |
| F | F | Bb | C | Dm |
| A | A | D | E | F#m |
Use sharps or flats to suit the key, not both. F# in a key with sharps, Bb in a key with flats.
Choosing a key for a singer
Find the lowest and highest notes of the melody, and the singer's comfortable range. Shift the song until the range fits, and test the chorus first. Congregational songs usually sit in a range most people can reach. Moving the song a step or two is often enough.
Capo: play easy shapes in any key
A capo clamps across the neck and raises every open string by one semitone for each fret. It lets a guitarist play familiar open shapes while the song sounds in a different key.
The rule: the sounding key is the shape key plus the capo fret number, in semitones.
- Song in F, you want to play D shapes: D up three semitones is F. Put the capo on fret 3.
- Song in A, you want to play G shapes: G up two is A. Capo on fret 2.
- Song in Bb, you want to play G shapes: G up three is Bb. Capo on fret 3.
To find the capo spot, count the semitones from the shape key up to the sounding key. If the number is more than 7, you can usually pick a different shape key.
A chart that shows the shapes, not the sounding chords, can confuse a pianist. Write both in a mixed band: the capo shapes for the guitarist, and the real key for everyone else.
Nashville numbers
The Nashville number system writes each chord as the number of its scale degree. In the key of G, G is 1, A is 2, B is 3, C is 4, D is 5, E is 6 and F# is 7. A minor chord is shown with a dash or a minus, such as 6- for Em.
| Numbers | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In G | G | C | D | Em |
| In D | D | G | A | Bm |
The advantage is that a band reads the same chart in every key. Say the key out loud, and everyone knows the chords. It is quick to call a key change on stage. It does take practice, and it is not helpful if a player does not know scale degrees.
Lining up lyrics and chords
- Put each chord above the syllable where it changes, not above the start of the line.
- Use a monospaced layout or a tool that aligns by word, so edits do not shift the chords.
- Add section labels, such as Verse, Chorus and Bridge, and show the order of repeats.
- Keep a line to one breath. Break long lines where a singer would pause.
- Mark key changes and fermatas in the margin.
Chord charts in SheetScroll
SheetScroll opens chord charts and text tabs, and shows them in any key. You can transpose, set a capo or switch to Nashville numbers, with the lyrics lined up. Setlists let a service or a gig open one chart after another.
Questions
How do I transpose a chord chart?
Work out how many semitones the new key is from the old one, then move every chord by that amount. Keep each chord's quality, and move bass notes in slash chords too.
How do I work out capo shapes?
Count the semitones from the key whose shapes you want to play up to the key the song is in. That number is the capo fret. For example, D shapes with the capo on fret 3 sound in F.
What are Nashville numbers?
A way to write chords as scale degrees. In G, the chords G, C and D become 1, 4 and 5. The same chart then works in any key.
Can a sheet music app transpose chord charts?
SheetScroll can. It transposes chord charts, sets a capo and switches to Nashville numbers, with lyrics lined up.
What key should I pick for a singer?
Pick the key that puts the melody's lowest and highest notes inside the singer's comfortable range, and test the chorus first.
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