Guitar capo chart

Free guitar capo chart

Find the capo fret for the key you want to hear, then play the song with easier open chords.

Key of the song

Chord shapes to play

Capo

2

Put the capo on fret 2 and play G chord shapes. They will sound in A.

You play

G

It sounds

A

You play

C

It sounds

D

You play

D

It sounds

E

You play

Em

It sounds

F#m

G, C, D, A, and E are the easy open keys. The four chords are I, IV, V, and vi of the shape key. Clamp the capo just behind the fret wire, then play those shapes.

How to use a capo chart

  1. Set the key of the song. That is the key you want to hear, or the key on the recording.
  2. Pick the chord shapes you want to fret. Start with G, C, D, A, or E if you want open chords.
  3. Read the capo number. Fret 2 means the capo goes just behind the 2nd fret.
  4. Play the song with the shapes you picked. A G shape now sounds higher. The chart tells you the new name.
  5. If the number is high, use the easier option. A lower capo is easier to press and stays in tune.

A capo raises every string by one half step per fret. Capo 2 raises the guitar by two half steps, so G shapes sound as A. No capo means the shapes and the sounding key are the same.

Look up the fingering on the free guitar chord chart. Tune after the capo is on, with the free online guitar tuner. A capo often pulls the strings a little sharp. Then practice the changes slowly with the free online metronome.

Capo fret chart

Find the sounding key in the row for your capo. The column is the open-chord key you are playing. Capo 1 with E shapes sounds as F. Capo 2 with G shapes sounds as A.

Capo C shapes G shapes D shapes A shapes E shapes
None C G D A E
1 C# Ab Eb Bb F
2 D A E B F#
3 Eb Bb F C G
4 E B F# C# Ab
5 F C G D A
6 F# C# Ab Eb Bb
7 G D A E B

The same count works past the 7th fret, but the strings are harder to press and more likely to buzz. A sliding capo is useful when you change fret between songs, because it stays on the neck.

Questions about capos

How do I find the right capo fret?

Match the key you want to hear with chord shapes you can already play. If the song is in A and you play G shapes, the capo goes on fret 2. If the song is in F and you play E shapes, the capo goes on fret 1.

Does a capo change the chords I play?

You keep fretting the same shapes. The sounding pitch moves up. With the capo on fret 2, a G shape sounds as A, a C shape sounds as D, and an Em shape sounds as F#m.

What is the easiest capo position?

The lowest fret that lets you use C, G, D, A, or E shapes. No capo is easiest when the song is already in one of those keys. Otherwise capo 1, 2, or 3 is usually enough.

Should I tune after putting the capo on?

Yes. Clamping the strings can pull them sharp, especially on a high fret. Put the capo on first, then tune each string. Check again after the first song.

Does this chart work for acoustic and electric guitars?

Yes. The fret count is the same on both. An acoustic needs a firmer capo so the strings do not buzz behind it. Place it close to the fret wire, not in the middle of the fret.