😎 Motivation & Inspiration Club #16 with Lieven | Change The Key of a Song by Transposing

[FannyJustinGuitar]

Hey Community,

Want to adjust songs to fit your vocal range, match your band’s style, or experiment with new sounds? Let Lieven guide you through the straightforward process of transposing songs, whether you’re using a capo or not. It’s easier than you think—bring your pen and paper to take notes!

Happening September 22 - Register Your Interest Here!

[Dman74]

What an excellent lesson @LievenDV . I had a question from this lesson. My question is, (I hope I say it clear enough to understand), Let’s say I am playing “The Joker” the G,C,D,C with open chords, I have a mate that I wish to play this song with. Is it possible for them to play the same G,C,D,C, let’s say, capoed on the 3rd and it will still be in the same key? and sound good? Or do we have to think bigger and change chord shapes to get proper key? I am a lil confused on this as I know that if I was to play say “Born In The U.S.A.” one can capo Second and play A,D another could be on capo 4 and play G, Cadd9? What am I missing in this equation?

Rock on!
Darren

[jacobbonde]

Hi Darren @Dman74 ,

I know you asked @LievenDV , hope you don’t mind me answering.

Assuming you both use standard tuning - if you play G, C, D, C without a capo, your mate could use a capo in various ways:

Put a capo on fret 2 and play chord shapes F, Bb, C, Bb
or
Put a capo on fret 3 and play chord shapes E, A, B, A
or
Put a capo on fret 5 and play chord shapes D, G, A, G
or
Put a capo on fret 7 and play chord shapes C, F, G, F

in all cases the sound of the chords will in fact be G, C, D, C, even though the shapes are different.

If your mate, as you asked, plays the G, C, D, C chord shapes with a capo on fret 3, the sound of the chords would be A#, D#, E#, D#, and it would not be in the same key and not sound good.

Bonus info: If you play chord shapes A, D with a capo on fret 2, and your mate plays chord shapes G, C with a capo on fret 4, both of you are actually playing B, F#.

Hope it helps.
Jacob

[Dman74]

Ahhhhhh…that makes sense when I put the theory to use. Yes , yes. This is the missing key that I wasn’t getting. It is all making sense now. Gotta love that note circle!!! Thank you very much!! I’m sure Lieven will verify this. It sure seems to make sense to the theory!!

Rock on!
Darren