Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions. For step-by-step instructions, see the guide.
- Is Chord Transposer free?
- Yes. It is free to use, with no sign-up or account.
- Are my files uploaded to a server?
- No. Chord charts you open or type are processed only in your browser and never leave your device. When you open a PDF or an image, the app downloads its reading libraries from a CDN, but your file is not sent.
- Which files can I open?
- Text files (including ChordPro files such as .cho and .crd), PDFs, and images such as PNG and JPEG. PDFs with text are read directly; scanned pages and images are read with OCR (Japanese and English). Up to the first 20 pages of a PDF are read. See opening files.
- The text from my photo or scanned PDF is wrong. What can I do?
- OCR can misread characters, especially in photos taken at an angle, in poor light, or at low resolution. Fix mistakes directly in Input — Output updates immediately. For better results, see the tips for photos and scanned PDFs. Handwritten charts are usually not recognized.
- Why were some chords not transposed?
- The app only changes text that looks like a chord. A single capital letter inside lyrics, such as "A" in "A man walked in", is left alone on purpose, and unusual symbols may not be recognized. ChordPro directives such as
{key: G}are also not changed. Edit these in Input or by hand. - The chords no longer line up with the lyrics.
- Chord charts line up only in a fixed-width (monospace) font, where every character has the same width. If you paste the result into a word processor, choose a font such as Courier New, Consolas, or MS Gothic. In Japanese lyrics, a full-width character takes the space of two half-width characters.
- Why do I get A# when I expected Bb?
- Both names are the same note. Set #/♭ to Prefer b for flat keys (F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb) or Prefer # for sharp keys. See sharps or flats?.
- How many semitones should I transpose?
- Count the semitones from the old key to the new key, or look them up in the key-to-key table. For singing, try 1 or 2 semitones first. A karaoke key setting of +2 is the same as +2 in the app.
- How do I rewrite a chart for playing with a capo?
- Set Transpose to the capo fret with a minus sign: for capo 2, choose -2. The output shows the chord shapes to play. The capo chart shows which fret to use for each key.
- Can I transpose minor keys and songs with key changes?
- Yes. Every chord moves by the same number of semitones, so minor keys and key changes within a song keep their relationships.
- Does it understand German H notation?
- Yes. H is read as B (and Hm as Bm). Transposed chords are written with B.
- Does it work on iPhone and Android?
- Yes. It works in the browser on phones, tablets, and computers. On a phone, Input and Output are shown as tabs. You can also add it to your home screen; see install the app.
- Can I use it offline?
- Yes. After your first visit, the app opens and transposes without a connection. Opening PDFs and images needs a connection the first time, to download the reading libraries.
- How do I print the result?
- Open the preview. On a computer, use your browser's print command (Ctrl+P or ⌘P) in the preview window. On phones and tablets, tap the printer button; on iPhone and iPad, choose Print in the share menu. See preview, print, and save.
- Is my chart saved?
- The chart you are working on and your settings are kept in your browser so you can continue next time. They are not sent anywhere. To keep a copy, save it as a text file. To remove the stored data, clear this site's data in your browser settings.
- How do I report a problem or suggest a feature?
- Please open an issue on GitHub. If a chart is converted incorrectly, include a short example of the text.