There are only seven letters of the alphabet used in music notation but there are many, many variations.

The letters are, A-B-C-D-E-F-G. So we have the chords D-C-G, and if the first chord tells what the key is the traditional arrangement of "Sweet Home Alabama" is in the key of D.

So you're sitting around banging these chords out on your guitar, keyboard or your dad's old accordion, whatever you play, then you start barking out the lyrics and you realize your voice is straining or worse, the voice of the lead singer is!

Maybe it's not the voice that strains but the ability to play a certain chord progression that is too hard for you.

The song has to be transposed!

Look on the numbers chart and locate the line that reads "Key of D". It will read, from left to right, D- E-F#-G-A-B-C#.

Do not be concerned about the sharp or flat signs (#/b) , we will get to them soon enough.

The D is first, the C is all the way to the right hand side and the G is in the middle.

In "The Numbers" system this chord progression would be a 1-7-4 in the key of D.

Suppose you want to transpose to the key of A (the first chord will be an A). Locate the column that reads "Scale / Key -- A". If you really need help the A is above the D in the same column.

To transpose the second chord (C) locate the note C on the line "Scale / Key -- D" and look, following a straight line, above it to "Scale / Key -- A" and you will see the letter G. So the second chord C will transpose to a G in the key of A.

It would be helpful to keep some paper and a pencil close at hand when doing the lessons to begin with, to write the chord names, Scale / Key information down until you become more familiar with the method.

You could also print the numbers chart out if you have a printer connected to your computer.