Visual capo tool
Capo Transpose Chart and Chord Converter
Move the capo on the neck and instantly see the chord shape you play, the capo fret, and the sounding chord a listener hears.
Guitar neck
C shape with capo 2 sounds D.
Capo on fret 2. C shape sounds D.
Capo Transpose Chart
Use this guitar capo transposition chart to read from left to right: choose the open chord shape in the first column, then follow that row to the capo fret. The cell shows the sounding chord name.
| Shape | No capo | Capo 1 | Capo 2 | Capo 3 | Capo 4 | Capo 5 | Capo 6 | Capo 7 | Capo 8 | Capo 9 | Capo 10 | Capo 11 | Capo 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C |
| C# | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# |
| D | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D |
| D# | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# |
| E | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E |
| F | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F |
| F# | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# |
| G | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G |
| G# | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# |
| A | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A |
| A# | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# |
| B | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B |
Capo Chord Converter
The capo chord converter above works in both directions. Use shape to sound when a song tells you to play a shape with a capo. Use sound to shape when you know the chord or key you want to hear and need a playable open-position shape.
For example, if you play a C shape with the capo on fret 2, the guitar sounds a D chord. If you want a D chord while the capo is on fret 2, the matching open-position shape is C.
The same rule applies to single notes and chord qualities: Am with capo 3 sounds Cm, G7 with capo 5 sounds C7, and F#maj7 with capo 1 sounds Gmaj7.
If you are matching a singer, move the capo up one fret at a time to raise the whole song while keeping the same shapes. Higher capo positions can change the feel and brightness, so the best fret is usually the one that fits the voice and still feels comfortable to play.
How to Read the Capo Transpose Chart
Each capo fret raises the open chord shape by one semitone. Fret 0 means no capo, fret 1 raises the shape one semitone, fret 2 raises it two semitones, and so on through fret 12.
- Find the chord shape you are fingering in the first column.
- Move across to the capo fret used in the song.
- Read the sounding chord in that cell.
Shape Played vs Sounding Chord
A capo does not change the fingering shape under your hand. It changes the pitch of the whole guitar neck, so the same shape produces a higher sounding chord.
That is why capo charts can look confusing at first: the name a guitarist says may describe the shape, while the name a keyboard player or singer needs usually describes the sound. This capo transposer keeps those labels separate so you can see both at once.
Put the capo just behind the fret with enough pressure for clean notes. Too much pressure, or placing it too far from the fret, can pull the guitar slightly sharp.
Capo Transposition Examples
These common examples show the chart logic in action.
FAQ
Quick answers for common capo transposition questions.
What does a C shape sound like with capo 2?
A C shape with the capo on fret 2 sounds like D, because the capo raises the guitar by two semitones.
Does a capo change the chord shape or the sounding chord?
Your fingers still make the same shape. The sounding chord changes because every fretted note is raised by the capo position.
Should I use sharps or flats?
Use whichever spelling matches the song or key. The pitch is the same, but the label can change.
How do I know what key I am in with a capo?
Transpose the song's main chord or key center up by the capo fret. If a song uses G-family shapes with the capo on fret 2, the sounding key is usually A.
What key is G with capo 2?
G shapes with capo 2 sound in A. The common shapes move up the same way: G sounds A, C sounds D, D sounds E, Em sounds F#m, and Am sounds Bm.
Can I use this chart to choose a capo for a singer?
Yes. Move the capo up to raise the song while keeping familiar shapes, or use sound to shape mode when you know the target key and want to find easier shapes.
Does a capo change tuning or key?
A capo does not retune the guitar strings. It acts like a movable nut, raising the pitch of open strings and fretted notes so the same shapes sound in a higher key.
Why use a capo instead of barre chords?
A capo lets you play ringing open-position shapes in higher keys, which can be easier than using barre chords and can keep the original song's guitar texture.
Does this work for minor, seventh, sus, diminished, and augmented chords?
Yes. The capo changes the root note, while the chord quality stays the same: Am becomes Bm at capo 2, and G7 becomes A7 at capo 2.
Does this capo chart assume standard tuning?
Yes. This V1 assumes standard guitar tuning. Alternate tunings can change the notes inside familiar open chord shapes, so they need a tuning-aware chord model rather than a simple root transposition chart.