How to Use a Capo on a Guitar

Using a capo on a guitar requires first choosing what pitch or key you want to play in. Every fret is a half-step difference, so placing the capo on the first fret will make the E string an F. This holds true for all the strings! Putting a capo on the first fret will also make the A string into A# (Bb), the D string into D# (Eb) and so on. The pitch will get higher the further up the neck you place the capo. Importantly, once you place the capo, you cannot play any frets or notes that are behind the capo.  

Use a Capo for an Effortless Key Change  

Now let’s look at a good real-world example of how to use a capo—playing a song you already know and love in a different key! Let’s say you start with your song that uses open strings, in one particularly key—like G. But your friend wants to sing it and can only hit notes in the key of A. Instead of having to learn different chord shapes to play the song, all you need to do is use the capo. Imagine the distance between your hand and the nut – you want to keep that distance from your hand to the capo in your new key. In this case, you would clamp the capo on the 2nd fret and move your chords two frets up – now you’re playing the song in the key of A!

If you don’t know or understand keys, no problem. You can still use a capo on a guitar by moving it fret by fret up the fretboard, until you like how the chords sound, or they fit with how your friends or fellow musicians’ sound. 

SHOP ALL CAPOS