Q&A for How to Use a Guitar Capo

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I am a beginner. What if the capo is in the way when I'm trying to play a chord? Like suppose there's a capo on fret 2 and the chord is D. How'll this work?

Community Answer

You act like the fret directly below the capo is the first fret and form D normally, using the capo as the 0 fret. The fret right after the capo is fret 1.

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Question

When we put the capo on my daughter's guitar, the chord schemes all sound the same. Ie. it doesn't sound any different when she strums the G, C, or D? What are we doing wrong? We have the Kyser brand clothes pin/spring type. She has an acoustic guitar.

Community Answer

Make sure that it sounds exactly the same and that the tone of the guitar is not changing. When using a capo, chord progressions are going to sound somewhat similar to the untrained ear, but are actually different chords. Listen to the tone carefully, you should notice it go up. If you're certain it sounds exactly the same, it's because the capo isn't actually holding down the strings.

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Question

I can't play in A, but I was told I could put a capo on a certain fret, and it would be in A. What position would it be played in?

Community Answer

You can play in the G chord scheme with a capo on the second fret, and you will be playing in the key of A. So A would become G, E would be D, and B would be A.

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How do I figure out which key to put it on?

Community Answer

You can play multiple keys in any position. For example, the key of G uses the chords G, A minor, B minor, C, D, E minor, and F diminished. It is easy to play these without a capo. You can also easily play the keys of E, C, A, D, and the minors of all of these without a capo. You could also easily play the key of G with the capo on the fifth fret (playing the G with a "D shape"); with the capo on the 7th fret (playing the G with a "C shape"); or with the capo on the 10th fret (playing the G with an "A shape. However, using a capo this high starts to sound odd on most guitars).

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Question

What fret would I put a capo on to make Dflat easier to play?

George Malen

Community Answer

On the fourth fret so that you only press the fifth, the octave and the major/minor third.

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Question

I sing in the key of D, but I play the guitar better in the key of G. Is it true that if I place a capo on the third fret, I can play in the G chord but sing in D?

George Malen

Community Answer

No, that would help if you sing in B flat. The most reasonable thing to do would be to put your capo on the second fret so that every chord you play is in D and not C.

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Question

Suppose I am singing a song in a key of C; if I want to sing in a higher pitch, I can easily put a capo on the first fret and come a note higher. But what if I want to a lower pitch?

Community Answer

A capo cannot give you a lower pitch. You should look into alternate tunings for your guitar instead. Look up a list of lowered tunings and you should be able to find what you need.

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