Capo calculator
Type the chords of a song. The calculator finds the capo positions that let you play it with the easiest open shapes, or tells you what your shapes sound like with a capo on.
How a capo works
A capo shortens every string by the same number of frets, so every shape you play sounds that many semitones higher. A G shape with the capo at fret 2 sounds like A; an Am shape at fret 3 sounds like Cm.
To play a song in a hard key, move the capo up until the chords turn into shapes you know: C, G, D, A, E, Am, Em and Dm. To match a singer, keep your shapes and move the capo until the key fits the voice.
Easiest capo for every key
For the four most common chords in each major key (I, IV, V and vi):
| Key | Chords | Best | Also good |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | C F G Am | Capo 5: G C D Em | No capo: C F G Am |
| C# | C# F# G# Bbm | Capo 6: G C D Em | Capo 1: C F G Am |
| D | D G A Bm | Capo 7: G C D Em | No capo: D G A Bm |
| Eb | Eb G# Bb Cm | Capo 8: G C D Em | Capo 1: D G A Bm |
| E | E A B C#m | Capo 9: G C D Em | Capo 2: D G A Bm |
| F | F Bb C Dm | Capo 3: D G A Bm | Capo 5: C F G Am |
| F# | F# B C# Ebm | Capo 4: D G A Bm | Capo 6: C F G Am |
| G | G C D Em | No capo: G C D Em | Capo 5: D G A Bm |
| Ab | Ab C# Eb Fm | Capo 1: G C D Em | Capo 6: D G A Bm |
| A | A D E F#m | Capo 2: G C D Em | No capo: A D E F#m |
| Bb | Bb Eb F Gm | Capo 3: G C D Em | Capo 1: A D E F#m |
| B | B E F# G#m | Capo 4: G C D Em | Capo 2: A D E F#m |
Let the hands play it with the capo on
Paste your song into the player, set the capo, and the 3D hands play the shapes at the right fret.
Open the player