Capo chart
A capo clamps across all six strings at one fret, so every string sounds higher by that many half steps. You still play the same open chord shapes, counted from the capo, but they sound higher: with the capo on the 2nd fret, a G shape sounds as A. Pick a fret to see what every shape sounds as there, and strum it.
Capo 2
Play C shape
Sounds D
Play A shape
Sounds B
Play G shape
Sounds A
Play E shape
Sounds F♯
Play D shape
Sounds E
Play Am shape
Sounds Bm
Play Em shape
Sounds F♯m
Play Dm shape
Sounds Em
Each diagram is the shape you finger, counted from the capo as if it were the nut. Strum plays it as it sounds with the capo on.
Where to put the capo for a song
Pick the key the song is in. Each way to play it uses one family of open shapes, the four chords most songs in a key use, with the capo no higher than the 7th fret. The most open chords come first.
Capo 2, G shapes
Play G C D Em, sounds A D E F♯m
All four are open chordsNo capo, A shapes
Play A D E F♯m
3 open, one barre chordCapo 7, D shapes
Play D G A Bm, sounds A D E F♯m
3 open, one barre chordCapo 5, E shapes
Play E A B C♯m, sounds A D E F♯m
2 open, two barre chords
Capo chart for guitar
Find the fret your capo is on, then the shape you play: the chord under it is what the guitar sounds. With the capo on the 5th fret, a D shape sounds as G.
| Capo | C shape | A shape | G shape | E shape | D shape |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♭ | B♭ | A♭ | F | E♭ |
| 2 | D | B | A | F♯ | E |
| 3 | E♭ | C | B♭ | G | F |
| 4 | E | D♭ | B | A♭ | F♯ |
| 5 | F | D | C | A | G |
| 6 | F♯ | E♭ | D♭ | B♭ | A♭ |
| 7 | G | E | D | B | A |
| 8 | A♭ | F | E♭ | C | B♭ |
| 9 | A | F♯ | E | D♭ | B |
| 10 | B♭ | G | F | D | C |
| 11 | B | A♭ | F♯ | E♭ | D♭ |
Minor shapes move the same way: Am with the capo on the 2nd fret sounds as Bm.
| Capo | Am shape | Em shape | Dm shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭m | Fm | E♭m |
| 2 | Bm | F♯m | Em |
| 3 | Cm | Gm | Fm |
| 4 | C♯m | G♯m | F♯m |
| 5 | Dm | Am | Gm |
| 6 | E♭m | B♭m | G♯m |
| 7 | Em | Bm | Am |
| 8 | Fm | Cm | B♭m |
| 9 | F♯m | C♯m | Bm |
| 10 | Gm | Dm | Cm |
| 11 | G♯m | E♭m | C♯m |
Every shape here, with where each finger goes, is on the guitar chord chart.
Capo key chart
The easiest capo for a song in each major key, and the next best. For a minor key, use its relative major: a song in F♯ minor uses the same chords as A major.
| Key | Easiest | Next best |
|---|---|---|
| C | Capo 5, G shapes (G C D Em) | No capo, C shapes (C F G Am) |
| C♯ | Capo 6, G shapes (G C D Em) | Capo 1, C shapes (C F G Am) |
| D | Capo 7, G shapes (G C D Em) | No capo, D shapes (D G A Bm) |
| E♭ | Capo 1, D shapes (D G A Bm) | Capo 3, C shapes (C F G Am) |
| E | Capo 2, D shapes (D G A Bm) | Capo 4, C shapes (C F G Am) |
| F | Capo 3, D shapes (D G A Bm) | Capo 5, C shapes (C F G Am) |
| F♯ | Capo 4, D shapes (D G A Bm) | Capo 6, C shapes (C F G Am) |
| G | No capo, G shapes (G C D Em) | Capo 5, D shapes (D G A Bm) |
| A♭ | Capo 1, G shapes (G C D Em) | Capo 6, D shapes (D G A Bm) |
| A | Capo 2, G shapes (G C D Em) | No capo, A shapes (A D E F♯m) |
| B♭ | Capo 3, G shapes (G C D Em) | Capo 1, A shapes (A D E F♯m) |
| B | Capo 4, G shapes (G C D Em) | Capo 2, A shapes (A D E F♯m) |
What does a capo do?
It shortens every string at once, the way a finger shortens one, so the open strings and every open chord move up the neck together. The shapes stay the ones you know; only the sound moves.
That is why chord sheets say “capo 2” and then list G, C, D and Em: the song is in A, but A’s chords need a barre while G’s are all open. A capo also puts a song where a voice sits best, half a step at a time, and keeps the open strings ringing that give an acoustic guitar its sound.
How to put on a capo
Just behind the fret
Set the capo right behind the fret wire, on the side nearer the body, where a finger would press. Too far back and the strings buzz.
Straight across
Keep it square to the neck, the pad over all six strings, so no string is pressed harder than the rest.
Only as tight as it takes
Close it until every string rings clean and no tighter: a capo clamped hard pulls the strings sharp.
Check the tuning
Strum an open chord shape and listen, or check each string with a tuner. Then play the shapes counted from the capo.
To check every string after the capo is on, use the free tuner.
Questions about the capo
What does a capo do?
It clamps across all six strings at one fret, so every string sounds higher by that many half steps. You play the same chord shapes as before, counted from the capo as if it were the nut, and they sound higher: with the capo on the 2nd fret, a G shape sounds as A. Players use it to fit a song to a singer’s voice, to keep open strings ringing in any key, or to match a recording.
What is a capo?
A clamp for the guitar’s neck, with a rubber pad that presses all the strings down at one fret. The word is short for capotasto, Italian for the head of the fingerboard. It moves the guitar’s open strings, and so its open chords, up the neck.
Does a capo change the key?
Yes, up by one half step per fret. The chords you finger keep their names as shapes, but the song sounds in a higher key: G C D Em with the capo on the 2nd fret is A D E F♯m, the key of A. Chord sheets that say “capo 2” name the shapes, so you can play along without working out the new chords.
Where do you put the capo for the key of A?
The easiest is capo 2 with G shapes (G C D Em), which sound as A D E F♯m. All four are open chords. Without a capo, A D E F♯m needs a barre for F♯m.
What chords does capo 3 make?
With the capo on the 3rd fret, the C shape sounds as E♭, A as C, G as B♭, E as G, D as F, Am as Cm and Em as Gm. Songs in B♭ and E♭ are often played that way.
Where on the fret does the capo go?
Just behind the fret wire, on the side nearer the body, the same place a finger presses. Clamp it straight across and only as tight as it takes for every string to ring clean: too tight pulls the strings sharp.
Can a capo make the guitar sound lower?
No, a capo only raises the pitch. To sound lower, tune every string down, such as a half step down to E♭, and play the same shapes.
How high can a capo go?
As high as the neck lets it, but past the 7th fret the frets are close together and the chords sound thin. At the 12th fret everything is an octave higher, so the 12th is the open chords again.
Make a beat to play along to
Opens the free editor with a pop beat in A major on A E F♯m D, a nylon guitar playing the chords. With the capo on the 2nd fret, you play them as G D Em C. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.
Keep going
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