Capo & Transpose - Revision history

Timo at 10:13, 22 January 2026

2026-01-22T10:13:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:13, 22 January 2026
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	== Key concept: the song key stays the same ==		== Key concept: the song key stays the same ==

	JustChords always ~~keeps~~ the ~~song’s designated~~ key as ~~its musical reference~~.		In '''JustChords''', the '''Key''' setting always represents the actual sounding (concert) key of the song. The capo is treated strictly as a playability tool, not as a visual marker or a simple label.

			Capo and Transpose only affect how chords are displayed and played in the Song Viewer; the stored song key and content remain unchanged.

	* If a song is set to the key of '''D''', it remains in the key of D even when a capo is used.		* If a song is set to the key of '''D''', it remains in the key of D even when a capo is used.
	* The capo and transpose settings only affect how chords are displayed and how they are fingered, not the underlying song key field itself.

	This makes it easier to understand what key the band is actually playing in, while still giving guitarists simple chord shapes.		This makes it easier to understand what key the band is actually playing in, while still giving guitarists simple chord shapes.
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	* Your song is written in key '''A'''.		* Your song is written in key '''A'''.
	* You want to perform it in key '''D''' to match the singer’s voice.		* You want to perform it in key '''D''' to match the singer’s voice.
	* ~~In JustChords, set the song sheet key to '''A''' (original key), then~~ use the Transpose setting to select '''D'''.		* Then use the Transpose setting to select '''D'''.
	* All chords on the song sheet are now shown in key D.		* All chords on the song sheet are now shown as key D chords

	~~On its own, transpose updates~~ the ~~chords you see and play, and~~ the ~~musical~~ key of the ~~song is now D~~.		Transpose does not change the song’s stored key; it only changes the performance key in the viewer.

	== Combining transpose and capo ==		== Combining transpose and capo ==

	You can combine transpose and capo to keep easy chord shapes while ~~also changing~~ the ~~song’s~~ key.		You can combine transpose and capo to keep easy chord shapes while performing the song in a different key.

	Example scenario:		Example scenario:

Timo: /* Key concept: the song key stays the same */

2026-01-22T09:47:08Z

Key concept: the song key stays the same

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:47, 22 January 2026
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	JustChords always keeps the song’s designated key as its musical reference.		JustChords always keeps the song’s designated key as its musical reference.

	* If a song is set to the key of '''Db''', it remains in the key of Db even when a capo is used.		* If a song is set to the key of '''D''', it remains in the key of D even when a capo is used.
	* The capo and transpose settings only affect how chords are displayed and how they are fingered, not the underlying song key field itself.		* The capo and transpose settings only affect how chords are displayed and how they are fingered, not the underlying song key field itself.

Timo: /* How the capo works */

2026-01-22T09:46:25Z

How the capo works

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:46, 22 January 2026
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	Example:		Example:

	* The song is written in key '''Db''' (chords like Db, ~~Ebm~~, Fm, Gb, Ab, ~~Bbm~~, ~~Cdim~~).		* The song is written in key '''D''' (chords like D, Em, F#m, G, A, Bm, C#dim).
	* ~~Many of these~~ chords ~~are not very guitar‑friendly~~.		* Some players prefer to avoid barre chords or sharp keys.
	* If you place the capo on fret 1 and play chord shapes from the key of '''C''' (C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim), those shapes will sound as chords from the key of Db.		* If you place the capo on fret 2 and play chord shapes from the key of '''C''' (C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim), those shapes will sound as chords from the key of D.
	* You are “thinking and fingering” in C, but the audience hears Db.		* You are “thinking and fingering” in C, but the audience hears D.

	Important: the song key in JustChords is still set to '''Db'''; the capo only changes how your chord shapes sound.		Important: the song key in JustChords is still set to '''D'''; the capo only changes how your chord shapes sound.

	== How transpose works ==		== How transpose works ==

Benjustchords at 09:09, 21 January 2026

2026-01-21T09:09:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:09, 21 January 2026
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	This separation lets you maintain a clean “master” version of each song while still having maximum flexibility during rehearsals and live performances.		This separation lets you maintain a clean “master” version of each song while still having maximum flexibility during rehearsals and live performances.


			== How JustChords Handles Key and Capo ==
			In '''JustChords''', the '''Key''' setting always represents the actual sounding (concert) key of the song. The capo is treated strictly as a playability tool, not as a visual marker or a simple label.

			When a capo is applied, JustChords automatically adjusts the displayed chord shapes so that the song continues to sound in the same key.
			For example, if a song is in '''E''' and you place a capo on the first fret, the chord shapes shown by the app will shift accordingly, ensuring the music still sounds in E when played with the capo.

			Because of this, chord names in the interface will change when a capo is added.

			JustChords does '''not''' support using the capo purely as a visual reminder while keeping the original, unshifted chord shapes. Any capo position will always result in updated chord shapes.

			This approach is consistent with common practice in chord‑chart tools and helps avoid confusion when playing together with other musicians, since everyone refers to the same real key regardless of capo use.

			If your goal is to change the actual sounding key of the song, you should modify the song’s '''Key''' setting rather than using the capo.
			``

Benjustchords: Created page with "= Capo & Transpose in JustChords = This article explains how JustChords handles capo and transpose, and how you can combine both to get easier guitar chord shapes while keeping the correct musical key. == Key concept: the song key stays the same == JustChords always keeps the song’s designated key as its musical reference. * If a song is set to the key of '''Db''', it remains in the key of Db even when a capo is used. * The capo and transpose settings only affect h..."

2026-01-17T20:09:08Z

Created page with "= Capo & Transpose in JustChords = This article explains how JustChords handles capo and transpose, and how you can combine both to get easier guitar chord shapes while keeping the correct musical key. == Key concept: the song key stays the same == JustChords always keeps the song’s designated key as its musical reference. * If a song is set to the key of '''Db''', it remains in the key of Db even when a capo is used. * The capo and transpose settings only affect h..."

New page

= Capo & Transpose in JustChords =

This article explains how JustChords handles capo and transpose, and how you can combine both to get easier guitar chord shapes while keeping the correct musical key.

== Key concept: the song key stays the same ==

JustChords always keeps the song’s designated key as its musical reference.

* If a song is set to the key of '''Db''', it remains in the key of Db even when a capo is used.
* The capo and transpose settings only affect how chords are displayed and how they are fingered, not the underlying song key field itself.

This makes it easier to understand what key the band is actually playing in, while still giving guitarists simple chord shapes.

== How the capo works ==

A capo raises the pitch of your guitar by one semitone for every fret.

* Placing the capo on fret 1 raises everything by one semitone.
* Placing the capo on fret 2 raises everything by two semitones (a whole tone), and so on.

Example:

* The song is written in key '''Db''' (chords like Db, Ebm, Fm, Gb, Ab, Bbm, Cdim).
* Many of these chords are not very guitar‑friendly.
* If you place the capo on fret 1 and play chord shapes from the key of '''C''' (C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bdim), those shapes will sound as chords from the key of Db.
* You are “thinking and fingering” in C, but the audience hears Db.

Important: the song key in JustChords is still set to '''Db'''; the capo only changes how your chord shapes sound.

== How transpose works ==

Transpose changes the displayed key of the song by shifting all chords up or down by a chosen number of semitones.

Use transpose when:

* The original key does not fit your singer’s range.
* You want the whole band to play in a different key than the song was originally written in.

Example:

* Your song is written in key '''A'''.
* You want to perform it in key '''D''' to match the singer’s voice.
* In JustChords, set the song sheet key to '''A''' (original key), then use the Transpose setting to select '''D'''.
* All chords on the song sheet are now shown in key D.

On its own, transpose updates the chords you see and play, and the musical key of the song is now D.

== Combining transpose and capo ==

You can combine transpose and capo to keep easy chord shapes while also changing the song’s key.

Example scenario:

* Original song key: '''A'''.
* Target performance key: '''D''' (for the singer).
* Desired chord shapes: from key '''C''' (because these shapes are easy to play on guitar).

Steps in JustChords:

# Ensure the song’s key field is set to '''A''' (original key).
# Use '''Transpose''' and select '''D''' as the new key.
# Set '''Capo''' to fret '''2'''.

Result:

* The song sheet now displays chords from the key '''C'''.
* With the capo on 2, when you play those C‑family shapes, they sound as '''D''' chords.
* Your singer gets the key D, while you enjoy simple C shapes.

If you want to return to the original state at any time, simply discard the transpose/capo settings.

== Temporary vs. permanent changes ==

Capo and transpose in JustChords are intended as **temporary** performance tools.

* Use **Transpose** and **Capo** when you want to adapt a song for a specific singer, band or arrangement without changing the stored song content.
* Use the **Rewrite into key** function in the Song Editor if you want to permanently change the chords of the song itself to a new key.

This separation lets you maintain a clean “master” version of each song while still having maximum flexibility during rehearsals and live performances.