What you’ll learn
- Understand what a capo does.
- Choose a suitable fret.
- Distinguish the shape from the sounding chord.
Before you practice
A capo shortens the vibrating part of every string and raises the pitch. At fret two, any shape sounds two semitones higher.
A capo lets you use familiar open shapes in keys that might otherwise need barre chords. Try alternatives with the CifraAgora capo calculator.
Place it just behind the fret wire and check your tuning afterward. Too much pressure can make notes slightly sharp.
Lesson exercise
- Play a G shape first without a capo and then at fret two.
- Use the calculator to find an easier shape for a chord sheet.
- Play a whole song without moving the capo midway.