Find the perfect capo position to match any song's key using easy open chords.
The actual key the song is in.
The "easy" chord shapes you want to use.
Place capo on fret 4 and play C Major chords.
A capo (short for capodastro, Italian for "head of fretboard") is a clamp that presses down all strings at a specific fret. This effectively shortens the string length, raising the pitch of the open strings.
Semitone per fret
Keys accessible with 5 shapes
Common capo positions
| Original Key | Capo Position | Play Shapes |
|---|---|---|
| Eb Major | 3rd Fret | C Major |
| F Major | 1st Fret | E Major |
| F Major | 5th Fret | C Major |
| F# / Gb Major | 2nd Fret | E Major |
| Ab Major | 1st Fret | G Major |
| Bb Major | 3rd Fret | G Major |
| B Major | 4th Fret | G Major |
When you place a capo on fret 2 and play a "C" shape, you're actually playing a D chord. The capo raised everything by 2 semitones (C → C# → D).
Why use a capo?
The 5 open chord shapes (C, A, G, E, D) can be played anywhere on the neck with a capo. This is the foundation of the CAGED system for guitar theory.
A capo clamps across the fretboard, raising the pitch of all strings by one semitone per fret. This lets you play open chord shapes in higher keys without learning barre chords.
Open chords (C, G, D, E, A shapes) have a brighter, fuller sound because open strings ring freely. Barre chords can sound more muted. Capos also make certain songs easier to play.
Yes, but higher fret positions (past 7th) can cause intonation issues and the sound becomes more 'mandolin-like'. Most songs use capo positions between fret 1-5.
Look up the original chords online, or use your ear—the chord that feels like 'home' (usually the first or last chord) is typically the key. Many song sites list the original key.
Trigger-style capos are quick and easy. Spring capos are compact. Kyser, Dunlop Trigger, and G7th are popular brands. Any capo that applies even pressure will work fine.