Free tool
Capo Transposer
Transpose guitar chords for any capo position — in both directions — with chord diagrams for the shapes you’ll actually play.
1Direction & capo
2Song chords (concert pitch)
3Play these shapes (capo 2)
Chord diagrams
Standard open voicings for each unique shape above. Dots show finger placement; the number under each diagram is the starting fret.
Capo transposition chart
Find your concert chord in the left column, read across to your capo fret for the shape to play.
How it works
The rule
Concert pitch = played shape + capo frets (in semitones)
Each fret is one semitone. With a capo on fret 2, everything you play sounds two semitones (one whole step) higher than your fingers suggest. So to make the audience hear a G chord, you play the shape two semitones lower: F. Going the other way, if your fingers play a C shape with the capo on 2, the room hears D.
Why use a capo at all?
- Match a singer’s key while keeping easy open-chord shapes.
- Change the voicing — the same progression sounds brighter and janglier with a capo than as barre chords.
- Simplify hard keys. A song in B flat becomes friendly G-shape territory with the capo on 3.
Tips
- Retune after clamping the capo — capos pull strings slightly sharp, especially on the bass strings.
- Place the capo just behind the fret (on the headstock side), not in the middle of the fret space, for the cleanest tone.
- Slash chords (like D/F#) transpose both the chord and the bass note.
Common questions
Play F shapes. Everything sounds two semitones higher than the shape: F shape → G concert, Dm shape → Em concert, B flat shape → C concert, C shape → D concert.
Subtract the capo fret number (in semitones) from each chord. Capo 3: an A chord becomes a G shape (A → G#/Ab → G). Add instead of subtract when going from played shapes back to concert pitch.
Add 3 semitones: G → B flat, C → E flat, D → F. You’re in B flat major. This is exactly what the “Shapes I play → concert key” mode computes.
Yes — both parts move by the same interval. D/F# with capo 2 becomes C/E: the D drops to C and the F# bass drops to E.
Follow the key: flat keys (F, B flat, E flat) read naturally in flats; sharp keys (G, D, A, E) read naturally in sharps. The tool’s Auto mode matches whichever accidental style your input already uses.
Related tools
Transposition follows standard 12-tone equal temperament and assumes standard guitar tuning. Chord diagrams show common open voicings; alternate voicings of the same chord name are equally valid.
What Is a Capo Transposer?
A capo transposer converts guitar chords between concert pitch (the actual key the audience hears) and the chord shapes your fingers play when a capo is clamped on the neck. It works in both directions: give it a song’s real chords and your capo position, and it tells you which shapes to play — or give it the shapes you’re playing with the capo on, and it tells you what key you’re actually in.
Every guitarist who uses a capo has done this math by hand: “capo 2, song is in A… so I play G shapes.” It’s simple for one chord and error-prone across a whole song, especially with slash chords (D/F#), sevenths, and suspensions. This free tool transposes entire progressions instantly, preserves your line breaks and section labels, draws chord diagrams for the resulting shapes, and includes a full capo transposition chart for quick reference.
How to Use the Capo Transposer
- Choose a direction. “Song chords → shapes to play” when you know the real chords and the capo is on. “Shapes I play → concert key” when you’re already capo’d and want to know what key you’re in (handy when jamming with other musicians).
- Set the capo fret (1–11).
- Paste or type your chords, separated by spaces or line breaks — e.g.
G Em C D. Section labels like “Verse” and bar lines like|pass through untouched. Try the example chips for one-tap progressions. - Pick sharps or flats (or leave it on Auto to match your input).
- Read the result: transposed chords with the changed chords highlighted, a breakdown of the interval and accidentals used, and chord diagrams for every unique shape. Use Copy, Share, or Print to take the result with you.
The Rule Behind It
Each fret equals one semitone:
Shape to play = concert chord − capo frets · Concert pitch = played shape + capo frets
With the capo on fret 2, everything sounds two semitones higher than your fingers play. To make the room hear a G chord, your fingers play the shape two semitones lower: F. Flip it around: fingers on a C shape with capo 2 produce a D chord for the audience.
Worked Example
Song in G major — chords G Em C D — and you want the capo on 2 for a brighter voicing:
| Concert chord | − 2 semitones | Shape to play |
|---|---|---|
| G | → | F |
| Em | → | Dm |
| C | → | B♭ |
| D | → | C |
You play F – Dm – B♭ – C shapes with the capo on 2, and the audience hears the original G – Em – C – D progression. Slash chords transpose fully too: D/F# at capo 2 becomes C/E.
Capo Transposition Chart (shape to play)
| Chord | Capo 1 | Capo 2 | Capo 3 | Capo 4 | Capo 5 | Capo 6 | Capo 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | B | B♭/A# | A | A♭/G# | G | G♭/F# | F |
| D | D♭/C# | C | B | B♭/A# | A | A♭/G# | G |
| E | E♭/D# | D | D♭/C# | C | B | B♭/A# | A |
| G | G♭/F# | F | E | E♭/D# | D | D♭/C# | C |
| A | A♭/G# | G | G♭/F# | F | E | E♭/D# | D |
(The tool’s on-page chart covers all 12 roots × 7 frets.)
Why Guitarists Use a Capo
- Match a singer’s key while keeping comfortable open-chord shapes instead of barre-chord marathons.
- Change the voicing. The same progression sounds brighter and more jangly capo’d high than played as low barre chords — it’s an arrangement choice, not just a crutch.
- Simplify hard keys. A song in B♭ becomes friendly G-shape territory with the capo on 3; E♭ becomes C shapes at capo 3.
Tips
- Retune after clamping. Capos pull strings slightly sharp — check tuning with the capo on, every time.
- Place the capo just behind the fret (on the headstock side of the fret wire), not mid-fret, for clean tone without buzz.
- Mind the diagrams. The tool draws standard open voicings for the shapes it knows; for exotic extensions it still gives you the correct transposed name — use any voicing you like.
- Communicate in concert pitch. When the tool says you’re “in A,” tell the band “A” — they don’t need your capo math.
Disclaimer
Transposition follows standard 12-tone equal temperament and assumes standard guitar tuning. Chord diagrams show common open voicings; alternate voicings of the same chord name are equally valid. Always confirm the final result by ear against the recording or the other musicians.