How to change a song's key on guitar

Going up: use a capo

A capo raises every string by one semitone per fret. Play the same open chord shapes with a capo on fret 2 and the song is two semitones higher. Every song page here lists the capo position and chord shapes for each voice type.

Going down: pick lower shapes

A capo cannot lower a key. Instead, choose chord shapes rooted lower and capo up to the key you want. For example, a song in G that you want in E: play E shapes with no capo. A song in C that you want in A: play A shapes, or G shapes with a capo on fret 2.

• Common open major shapes: C, A, G, E, D.
• Common open minor shapes: Am, Em, Dm.

Which key is right for you

Find your range with the vocal range test, then open the song key finder. It picks the key with the fewest notes outside your range and shows the matching capo position, so you do not have to work it out by trial and error.