Transposition

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paul@banjolin.supanet.com
It sounds good, doesn't it! As you all know, we fretted stringed instrument players can change key at a moments notice by putting a capo on the fretboard. Works as well for bouzouki or mandola as it does for guitar. Can just about do mandolin at a pinch. Pity it doesn't work for vocalists and Tin Whistles. I recommend a Shrubb quick action capo - it doesn't get in the way like some others do, or one of those with elastic.

The two tables for transposition are complimentary. The first one shows you what the chord shape given at position 0 will sound like when moved up the fretboard, while the second one shows you which chord shape to use at a higher fret to sound the same as another played elsewhere.

The chord shape at position 0, sounds the chords given at the other frets.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab A
Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab A Bb
B C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab A Bb B
C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab A Bb B C
D Eb E F F# G Ab A Bb B C C# D
E F F# G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E
F F# G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E F
F# G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F#
G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G

Homophonic Chord Shapes

Whichever chord shape is played at one fret, the given shape at another fret will sound the same.
e.g. C shape at the 2nd is the same as A shape at the 5th

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
A   G F# F E   D   C B Bb A
Bb A   G F# F E   D   C B Bb
B Bb A   G F# F E   D   C B
C B Bb A   G F# F E   D   C
  C B Bb A   G F# F E   D  
D   C B Bb A   G F# F E   D
  D   C B Bb A   G F# F E  
E   D   C B Bb A   G F# F E
F E   D   C B Bb A   G F# F
F# F E   D   C B Bb A   G F#
G F# F E   D   C B Bb A   G
  G F# F E   D   C B Bb A