Guides

Things everyone who plays ends up needing to know — capo, key, chord symbols, set order. Written straight, no padding and no theory required up front.

• Capo and transposition: change key without getting lost

  Why a capo LOWERS the written chords while raising the sound, how to transpose by hand, and when to use each.

• Key and diatonic chords: why some songs go together

  The chords a key gives you, the relative minor, and how that explains the order of a set.

• Chord symbol glossary: what each one means

  m, 7, maj7, sus4, dim, add9, slash — what the symbols above the lyrics actually say.

• How to build a setlist that works on stage

  Energy, key, tempo and the technical changes that make a show flow or stall between songs.