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Guitar Capo Chart: how capo changes keys and chords?
- Authors
- Name
- Rizan Bhandari
- @rizan
This post answers two questions (1) how a capo changes the key, and (2) how it changes the chords you play.
A capo transposes notes. It changes pitch. Easy way to sound great. Also a great way to avoid playing barres. If you were playing a D shape with a capo on 1st fret, the chord you hear is Eb major.
This interactive chart helps you understand how it changes keys- click around and see what changes.
Easy capo chart
Pick key on the left, fret number (for capo) on the right.
| Key | No capo | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | Db | D | Eb | E | F | Gb | G | Ab | A | Bb |
| Db | Db | D | Eb | E | F | Gb | G | Ab | A | Bb | B |
| D | D | Eb | E | F | Gb | G | Ab | A | Bb | B | C |
| Eb | Eb | E | F | Gb | G | Ab | A | Bb | B | C | Db |
| E | E | F | Gb | G | Ab | A | Bb | B | C | Db | D |
| F | F | Gb | G | Ab | A | Bb | B | C | Db | D | Eb |
| Gb | Gb | G | Ab | A | Bb | B | C | Db | D | Eb | E |
| G | G | Ab | A | Bb | B | C | Db | D | Eb | E | F |
| Ab | Ab | A | Bb | B | C | Db | D | Eb | E | F | Gb |
| A | A | Bb | B | C | Db | D | Eb | E | F | Gb | G |
| Bb | Bb | B | C | Db | D | Eb | E | F | Gb | G | Ab |
| B | B | C | Db | D | Eb | E | F | Gb | G | Ab | A |
Get it? Try finding these:
G shape + capo 2 = A
C shape + capo 4 = E
D shape + capo 3 = F
Am shape + capo 3 = Cm
How does a capo change keys?
Each fret is one semitone. If you move a G shape up two frets with a capo, its root moves from G to A. If you move an Am shape up three frets, its root moves from A to C.
When you put capo higher (left to right on the neck), the pitch increases.
| Shape you play | Capo | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| G | 2 | A |
| C | 2 | D |
| D | 2 | E |
Makes sense, right?
How does a capo change chords?
It raises the pitch of the chord. It doesn't alter the quality (major/minor/diminished/sus4 etc).
| Shape you play | Capo | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Cmaj | 1 | C#maj |
| Cmaj | 2 | Dmaj |
| Amin | 2 | Bmin |
| Gmaj7 | 5 | Cmaj7 |
| Csus4 | 4 | Esus4 |
Why would I use a capo?
Good question.
- If you only know basic chords and cannot play barres - you can use a capo to make chords like Ebm and C#maj7 easier to play.
- If you know barres but don't want to strain your hands and wrist (experience), capo lets you play painfree.
- If you prefer how chords sound when played with a capo. For example, I can play an A-barre chord easily, but I prefer playing G shape with capo on 2nd. Still A, but sounds very different.
- If you want/ need to play in sharp or flat keys but don't have the chord shapes memorized. Which happens a lot. Example: you need to play in Eb. You don't know what Eb chord looks like. You put a capo on 1st fret and play in the key of D (chords like Dmajor, Bminor, Gmajor, Amajor). You're now playing I vi IV V in Eb. As easy as that!
D Bm G A
If you put the capo on first fret and play the same, you get:
Eb Cm Ab Bb
Capo goes where?
Depends on your (or your singer's) singing range, and what key you want to play in.
I think it's a good idea to keep capo between 1 and 6/7. Any higher isn't all that useful.
Try it yourself.
Practice
Put your capo on fret 3 and play these shapes:
C Am F G
Name the sounding chords:
E♭ Cm A♭ B♭
Try the same exercise with capo 2, capo 4, and capo 5. Say both names aloud each time: the shapes you're playing and what you're hearing.
Quick answers
What key is capo 2 in?
A capo does not have a key by itself. A capo on 2 raises whatever you play by two semitones. G shapes sound in A, C shapes sound in D, and D shapes sound in E.
Can a capo lower the key?
No. A capo only raises pitch. If the song is too high for your voice, transpose the chords down or use a different set of shapes.
Is using a capo cheating?
Nope. Everybody uses it. It can help make chords easier and can limit your skills if you avoid learning barres and spam capo all the time. But, it's a songwriting tool. Think of it like using a tuner. Is it cheating?