Capo Chart
See which chord you’re really playing with a capo on any fret, and where to put the capo to play in any key with easy open chords.
Capo chord chart
Find your chord shape across the top and your capo fret down the side. The cell shows the chord that sounds.
| Capo fret | C shape | A shape | G shape | E shape | D shape | Am shape | Em shape | Dm shape |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No capo | C | A | G | E | D | Am | Em | Dm |
| Capo 1 | C♯ | B♭ | A♭ | F | E♭ | B♭m | Fm | E♭m |
| Capo 2 | D | B | A | F♯ | E | Bm | F♯m | Em |
| Capo 3 | E♭ | C | B♭ | G | F | Cm | Gm | Fm |
| Capo 4 | E | C♯ | B | A♭ | F♯ | C♯m | A♭m | F♯m |
| Capo 5 | F | D | C | A | G | Dm | Am | Gm |
| Capo 6 | F♯ | E♭ | C♯ | B♭ | A♭ | E♭m | B♭m | A♭m |
| Capo 7 | G | E | D | B | A | Em | Bm | Am |
| Capo 8 | A♭ | F | E♭ | C | B♭ | Fm | Cm | B♭m |
| Capo 9 | A | F♯ | E | C♯ | B | F♯m | C♯m | Bm |
Where to put the capo for each key
Want to play in a certain key with familiar shapes? These are the lowest capo positions that let you use G, C, D, A or E shapes.
| Key you want | Capo options |
|---|---|
| C major | no capo + C shapes, capo 3 + A shapes, capo 5 + G shapes |
| D♭ major | capo 1 + C shapes, capo 4 + A shapes, capo 6 + G shapes |
| D major | no capo + D shapes, capo 2 + C shapes, capo 5 + A shapes |
| E♭ major | capo 1 + D shapes, capo 3 + C shapes, capo 6 + A shapes |
| E major | no capo + E shapes, capo 2 + D shapes, capo 4 + C shapes |
| F major | capo 1 + E shapes, capo 3 + D shapes, capo 5 + C shapes |
| F♯ major | capo 2 + E shapes, capo 4 + D shapes, capo 6 + C shapes |
| G major | no capo + G shapes, capo 3 + E shapes, capo 5 + D shapes |
| A♭ major | capo 1 + G shapes, capo 4 + E shapes, capo 6 + D shapes |
| A major | no capo + A shapes, capo 2 + G shapes, capo 5 + E shapes |
| B♭ major | capo 1 + A shapes, capo 3 + G shapes, capo 6 + E shapes |
| B major | capo 2 + A shapes, capo 4 + G shapes, capo 7 + E shapes |
For minor keys, use the minor shapes in the same way: Em shapes for an Em-family key, Am shapes for Am, and so on. With a capo on fret 2, Em becomes F♯m and Am becomes Bm.
Transpose a whole song: paste the chords into the chord transposer and pick a capo fret. It rewrites every chord as the shape to play and stars the easiest capo position.
How to use a capo
- Place it just behind the fret, not on top of it, so the strings ring clearly without buzzing.
- Retune after clamping if notes sound sharp; a tight capo can pull strings slightly out of tune.
- Count semitones: each fret raises the pitch by one semitone, so capo 5 is five semitones above the shape.
- Match a singer: find the key that suits the voice, then use this chart to keep the easy shapes. Singers can find their best key with the what key should I sing in tool.
Don’t know the song’s key yet? Get it from the recording with the free key finder.
Capo chart FAQ
How do you read a capo chart?
Find the chord shape you’re fingering along the top and your capo fret down the side. The cell where they meet is the chord that actually sounds. For example, a G shape with a capo on fret 2 sounds as A.
What does a capo do?
A capo clamps across all the strings and raises the pitch by one semitone per fret. It lets you play songs in any key with the same easy open chord shapes, and it changes the tone, making the guitar brighter higher up the neck.
What key am I in with a capo on 2?
Add two semitones to the shape key. G shapes become A, C shapes become D, D shapes become E, E shapes become F♯ and A shapes become B. Minor shapes move the same way: Em becomes F♯m, and Am becomes Bm.
Where should I put the capo to play in B♭ or E♭?
For B♭, use a capo on fret 3 with G shapes or fret 1 with A shapes. For E♭, use fret 3 with C shapes, or fret 1 with D shapes. The table of keys on this page lists the easiest options for every key.
How do I transpose a whole song for a capo?
Paste the chords into the free chord transposer, choose your capo fret, and it rewrites every chord as the shape to play. Its capo helper also suggests the position with the most easy open chords.
Is a capo chart the same for ukulele?
The idea is the same: each fret raises the pitch a semitone. But a standard ukulele is tuned like a guitar capoed at the 5th fret, so ukulele chord shapes have different names. Use the shape names you know and count up one semitone per fret.