![capo key chart capo key chart](https://images.sampletemplates.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/29093628/Guitar-Capo-Transposition-Chart.jpg)
When played with a capo the same chord shapes will play in a different key.
![capo key chart capo key chart](https://guitaralliance.com/e-z-strummer/online/private/tutorials/legend2.gif)
The sections below show, each of the CAGED chords, along with all the chords in the key. For the guitarist, it will still be a C shape, but the actual sound has moved up one semi-tone. If a capo is added at the first fret, the C chord shape will play a C♯ chord. For example, a C chord shape plays a C chord when in the open position. But these shapes only play that chord when in the open position. Guitarists often think in terms of chord shapes. All of these are included in the Capo Chord Chart below, with the musical chord sound at each chord position. Therefore, there are 8 chord shapes you absolutely need to know. There is plenty of time to learn those once you’ve got the basics sorted. Cm and Gm are barre chords, so we’ll forget about these for now. There are minor versions of these 5 chords, however only Am, Em and Dm are easy to play open chords. Most guitar chords are a derivative or an extension of these 5 basic chords shapes. There are 5 basic chord shapes on the guitar C, A, G, E and D (hence why they are called the CAGED chords). This is where a Guitar Capo Chord Chart comes in useful. Or let’s suggest the key of a song is D♭, which combination of capo position and simple chords could you use? Also pretty tough, right. Where does the Capo go? Unless you’ve been playing guitar for a while, it’s not such an easy answer and takes quite a bit of thought. But here is the question… where do you put the capo for each key? Let’s say a song is originally in the key of G, but the singer wants it in B♭. To transpose the chords correctly, you need to move each chord by the same distance that you've moved the F, which is three semitones (three frets).With a capo you can play almost any song using simple open chords. In like manner, every other chord in the key needs to be transposed in the same way, so let's do that too. This means that anytime the song has an F chord written, you need to play a D chord instead (with that capo on the 3rd fret, of course.) Therefore, if you capo at the third fret, you can play an open D major chord shape and it will give you an F major chord.
![capo key chart capo key chart](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/9d/41/8c9d416531806b3e8fc811874231876d.jpg)
That gets us closer, but we need two more frets to get to F (the distance from E to F is a natural semitone - if that doesn't make sense please watch this). If open position gives you a D, then if you placed the capo on the first fret, it would turn that D into a D#, right? Everything moves up by one semitone. Then you place the capo at the indicated fret, and play the right column chord while reading the left column. Then, you can select what chord form youd like to use. To figure this out, you need to find a location on the fretboard where an open D major chord shape becomes an F. To use this tool, you first select the key of the song, using either the key signature if youre using sheet music or knowing the root chord. The capo is an invaluable tool for those who play acoustic guitar. Thankfully, you have a capo that you can use to transpose the chords with, and you have a clever idea to use the chords from the key of D, transposed up! Featuring Ryan Dahl Posted on October 1, 2013. Say the song is in the key of F, but you don't want to deal with those pesky bar chords. The whole idea is to remain in the same key right? The only sense in which you're changing keys is in that you're changing to the open chord shapes of a particular key. This might be a bit confusing, but keep in mind you're not actually changing keys. If you move the capo UP X number of frets, you need to transpose your guitar chords DOWN by the same number of semitones.Įach fret is a semitone, right? So in order to maintain the balance, if you go up with the capo, you need to go down with the letter names of your open chords.