Capo calculator
Type the chords of any song and see what to play at every capo position from 0 to 9. The row with the most open, barre-free shapes is highlighted — so you can play songs in awkward keys with chords you already know.
How to use the capo calculator
- Type the song’s chords separated by spaces, for example “Bb F Gm Eb”. Sharps and flats both work (F#m, Bb, Eb).
- Read the table: each row is a capo position and the shapes you would play with it.
- Choose the highlighted row — it has the most open shapes. Click any chord to see its diagram.
- Put the capo just behind the fret shown and play the shapes; the song sounds in the original key.
- Use “Capo + shape” at the bottom to find out what a shape sounds like with the capo on.
How a capo works
A capo clamps all six strings at one fret, raising every open string by the same number of semitones. A G shape played with the capo on the 2nd fret sounds as A; on the 3rd fret it sounds as B♭. The calculator does that arithmetic in reverse: from the chords you need to hear, it finds the shapes to play.
Capo chart for common shapes
What the five most common open shapes sound like at each capo position:
- Capo 1: C→C♯ · A→B♭ · G→A♭ · E→F · D→E♭
- Capo 2: C→D · A→B · G→A · E→F♯ · D→E
- Capo 3: C→E♭ · A→C · G→B♭ · E→G · D→F
- Capo 4: C→E · A→C♯ · G→B · E→A♭ · D→F♯
- Capo 5: C→F · A→D · G→C · E→A · D→G
- Capo 7: C→G · A→E · G→D · E→B · D→A
Choosing the best capo position
The easiest position is usually the one that turns the song into the key of G, C, D, A or E, where most chords are open shapes. Flat keys such as B♭, E♭ and F are the classic capo keys: B♭ becomes G shapes with capo 3, E♭ becomes C shapes with capo 3 or D shapes with capo 1.
Sometimes two positions score the same. The lower one keeps a fuller sound; a higher one sounds brighter and closer to a mandolin — handy as a second guitar part.
Capo for singers
If a song is too low or too high for your voice, keep the same shapes and move the capo. Each fret raises the key by one semitone. Try a few positions until the melody sits comfortably.
Capo tips
Place it close to the fret. Just behind the fret wire, not in the middle of the fret, so strings do not buzz or go sharp.
Retune with the capo on. A capo can pull strings slightly sharp. Check your tuning after clamping it.
Count from the capo. With a capo on, chord charts treat the capo as the nut — “3rd fret” means three frets above the capo.
Keep a list. Write the capo position next to each song in your songbook.
Capo questions
What does “capo 2” mean?
Put the capo on the 2nd fret. Chord names in the song sheet are then the shapes you play, not the sounding chords.
Which chord types does the calculator understand?
Major, minor, 7, maj7, m7, sus2, sus4, dim and more — anything written as a root note plus a suffix, with sharps or flats.
Can I use it for ukulele?
The maths is the same, but the “open shapes” score is based on guitar chords.
Is it free?
Yes, with no account or download.
Why is my chord “not recognised”?
Make sure it starts with a note letter A–G, followed by # or b if needed, then the chord type, e.g. F#m7.