# Notation and Transposition
For the purpose of transposition, Bard supports these four notation systems:
- [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_note#12-tone_chromatic_scale)
- [German](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_note#12-tone_chromatic_scale)
- [Nashville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville_Number_System)
- Roman (the same as Nashville except using Roman numerals)
The English notation is the default.
If you live in, for example, central Europe or Scandinavia, you may want to set `notation = "german"` in your `bard.toml`.
However, if you don't use transposition features, you don't need to worry about this; Bard will simply use
whatever you enter as chords. Correct notation setting is only needed when using transposition so that Bard can
understand the chords you are using.
### Transposition
To transpose your chords, use the `!±X` syntax, where X is the number of halftones.
The chords will be transposed from that point onward. For example:
```Markdown
# Danny Boy
!+5
1. `G7`Oh Danny `C`Boy, the pipes, the ``C7``pipes are `F`calling
```
will shift the chords up by 5 halftones, aka _perfect fourth_:

If needed, use `!+0` to go back to the original scale.
### Second Set of Chords
Bard can also generate a second line of chords as a transposition of the first one.
Use the `!!±X` syntax to generate a second row. The second row is, by default,
rendered in blue font. For example:
```Markdown
# Danny Boy
!!+5
1. `G7`Oh Danny `C`Boy, the pipes, the ``C7``pipes are `F`calling
```
renders as:

### Notation Conversion
Besides transposition, the notation system of chords can also be converted using the `!notation` syntax,
where `notation` is one of the names listed above in lowercase.
This can be used just like transposition (and together with it) as well as for the second line of chords.
A comprehensive example of transposition and notation conversion to generate a 'scale agnostic' second line:
```Markdown
# Wild Mountain Thyme
!!-7
!!roman
1. O the `G`summer `C`time `G`has come
And the `C`trees are sweetly `G`bloomin'
And the `C`wild `G`mountain `Em`thyme
```
