About the Capo Calculator
This capo calculator tells you where to put the capo and which chord shapes to play so a song sounds in the right key. Pick the key the song is in, then either choose a capo fret to see which shapes you will be playing, or choose the shapes you are comfortable with (G, C, D, A or E) to find the capo fret. Paste the song’s chords and they are converted to the shapes you play with the capo on.
It is ideal for guitarists who want to avoid barre chords in keys like B♭, E♭ or F♯, for singers moving a song to suit their voice, and for two-guitar arrangements where one player uses a capo to get different voicings of the same chords. The capo chart lists every fret from 0 to 11 and highlights the positions that give easy open shapes.
A capo raises the pitch of every string by one semitone per fret, so the shapes you play are the song’s chords moved down by the capo fret number. Higher capo positions (above about the 7th fret) work but sound brighter and thinner.
How to use the capo calculator
- 1Select the key the song should sound in and whether it is major or minor.
- 2Choose the chord shapes you want to play, or enter a capo fret.
- 3Read the capo position and the shape key.
- 4Paste the song chords to convert them into the shapes you play with the capo on.
- 5Check the capo chart for other easy positions.
Formula and method
Each fret raises a string by one semitone, and a capo frets every string at once, so with the capo at fret n every shape sounds n semitones higher than its open name. To sound in the song’s key you play shapes from the key n semitones lower.
If you know the shapes you want, the capo fret is the number of semitones from the shape key up to the song key, wrapped into 0–11. Chords you paste are moved down by the capo fret to give the shapes you finger; the chord types (m, 7, sus4 and so on) do not change. Keys C, D, E, G and A (and Am, Dm, Em for minor songs) are marked easy because their main chords are open shapes.
- capo fret
- Fret where the capo sits (0 = no capo)
- shape key
- The key whose chord shapes you finger
- song key
- The key the music actually sounds in (concert pitch)
Worked examples
Song in B♭ using G shapes
B♭ is three semitones above G, so put the capo on fret 3. Each chord moves down three semitones: B♭→G, F→D, Gm→Em and E♭→C — all easy open chords.
Capo 2 on a song in E
With the capo on fret 2 every shape sounds two semitones higher, so D shapes produce E. The chords E, B, C♯m and A become the shapes D, A, Bm and G.
Minor song in F♯m with Em shapes
F♯ is two semitones above E, so a capo on fret 2 lets Em-key shapes sound in F♯ minor: F♯m→Em, D→C, A→G and E→D.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know where to put my capo?+
Count the semitones from the key of the chord shapes you want to play up to the key the song is in. To play G shapes for a song in B♭, count G→G♯→A→B♭ = 3, so put the capo on fret 3.
What key am I in with a capo on fret 2?+
Two semitones above the shapes you play. G shapes sound in A, C shapes in D, D shapes in E, E shapes in F♯ and A shapes in B.
Does a capo change the key?+
Yes. A capo raises the pitch of all open strings, so the same chord shapes sound in a higher key — one semitone per fret. It cannot lower the key; for that you need to transpose or tune down.
What are the easiest keys to play on guitar?+
G, C, D, E and A major, and A, E and D minor, because their main chords are open shapes without barres. That is why capo charts aim for one of these shape keys.
Is there a highest fret I should use a capo on?+
You can capo anywhere, but above about the 7th fret the strings get short, the tone thins out and chords crowd together. If a key needs a high capo, try another shape key with a lower capo fret.