Capo Calculator
Paste a chord chart. Songtive works out the key, then shows every capo position from fret 0 to 11 and the shapes you would play at each one.
Capo positions
Your chord sheet
G D Em C
Capo chart: what every shape sounds as
Find the shape you already know on the left, then read across to the capo position. The cell holds the chord that comes out.
| Shape | Capo 1 | Capo 2 | Capo 3 | Capo 4 | Capo 5 | Capo 6 | Capo 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G |
| A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E |
| G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D |
| E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B |
| D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A |
| Am | A#m | Bm | Cm | C#m | Dm | D#m | Em |
| Em | Fm | F#m | Gm | G#m | Am | A#m | Bm |
| Dm | D#m | Em | Fm | F#m | Gm | G#m | Am |
How a capo changes the chords you play
A capo shortens every string, so a shape sounds higher than it looks. With a capo on the 5th fret, a G shape sounds as C. That is why the same song can be played with easy open chords instead of barre chords: pick the capo position whose shapes you already know.
To keep a song in its original key, transpose the written chords down by the number of frets the capo sits on. To sing it in another key, choose that key here and the calculator combines both moves for you. Slash chords, sevenths and other extensions stay exactly as written.
Frequently asked questions
Which capo position is best?
The one whose shapes you can already play. The calculator ranks every position by how many of your chords become open shapes, so the first result is usually the easiest, and a lower fret wins when two positions tie.
How do I use a capo to play in a different key?
Choose the key you want to sing in. The calculator adds the transposition and the capo together, so the shapes on screen sound in the key you chose once the capo is on the fret shown.
Can a capo make a song lower?
Not on its own — a capo only raises pitch. To sound lower, transpose the chords down and play them without a capo, or transpose down further and use a capo on a low fret with different shapes.
