Then we'll use the capo to refine the change by putting it on one fret at a time until we've raised it to the right key. If I'm playing in the key of C, on the other hand, ie C F G Am, then I would capo at the 9th fret. Not sure if I am preaching to the choir, but - In the key of E, and open E and a D shape with the capo at the 2nd fret are the same chord. If you don’t have a capo you can choose to either play this song with Am, C, G & D however it will not be the same key … However, you’re struggling to sing it properly. So fret one equals the key of G#, fret 2 equals the key of A and so on. HOWEVER, if we look at where the capo would have to go in order to play C shapes, it’s not so bad. I put the capo on the third fret and then I used the chord shapes for G, Am, Em, and C/B. You will now be in the key of F even though you will playing the Key of C chords. Well, if you play the same chords now, they are in another key than you would have without the capo! The final is just a hybrid of the first two, where you are both changing the key and the shapes. The key has now changed from G … Basic major and minor chords which have open chord shapes in the 1 st position are: C, D, E, G, A, Am, Dm and Em. ( Am is 1st string 2nd fret.) Below, I have provided a capo chart, where there is all kind of chords name and fret numbers, so that you will be able to find out require fret number and chord pretty easily. Fret 8 F F# G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E Fret 9 F# G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E F Fret 10 G Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# Fret 11 Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G Fret 12 A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab Example. In simple words, you must play thinking that the fret below the capo is the first fret on the guitar’s neck. The other guitarist can play the chords in, say, the key of G with a capo at the fifth fret, sounding in C. The difference in timbre between the two instruments creates a striking effect. that way, open strumming will be a B on the E string, and you can work a B scale from an open position (using strings without having to push the frets down for all of them.) That being said, you might not understand the chart now, I am explaining below, it will become very easy. If you’re a keen singer-songwriter, a capo is your best friend. A minor chord's alternative names: A guitar in standard tuning makes the classic EADGBE (from the fattest to the thinnest strings). Any notes together make a chord. IF THE CAPO IS ON THE... 5th fret 6thfret 7thfret 8th fret ...THEN THE CHORD WILL BE 9th fret A#/Bb D#/Eb F#/Gb G#/Ab 10th fret A#/Bb D#/Eb F#/Gb G#/Ab 11th fret C#/Db D#/Eb F#/Gb G#/Ab A#/Bb 12th fret C#/Db D#/Eb F#/Gb G#/Ab A#/Bb F#/Gb G#/Ab A#/Bb D#/Eb F#/Gb G#/Ab A#/Bb G#/Ab A#/Bb C#/Db D#/Eb F#/Gb G#/Ab If you do not have a specific key you have in mind, you will need to figure out the key after you have found a spot that you like. key of A without having to re-learn it. In folk-guitar playing, the combination of open strings and fretted ones is the essence of the style. Now you are still in the same key as the recording, but the chords are much easier to play. I am trying to determine what key this would be, so that I can start working on a melody using notes from the appropriate key. if you want open to be based on a root of B (on the lowest string) you're probably going to want to put it on the 7th fret. Finally we need to know which fret to place the capo on. By playing Am you will get Bm, and by playing Dm you will get Em. Before you start reading this, I assume that you have little or absolutely zero knowledge about the topic. Move the capo to 4th fret and your C chord sounds like an E chord. And so on… Transposing With a Capo: There are only a few “key shapes” that will be used with a capo, so figuring out where it needs to be and what shapes to play should be pretty easy. Your song is written in the key of C. You put your capo just below fret 5. This is where a brief lesson in changing the key of a song will come in handy. For example, Bb is a weird key for the guitar, but if you stick a capo on the 3rd fret, you can use the open G C D Am and Em shapes. A capo, or capo tasto in full length, is a device used for change the key without changing the tuning. Capo 1 is the first fret, Capo 2 is the second fret, etc. Step 2: Put the capo on a higher fret where the songs sounds the best. If you want to stay in the key of A, but you prefer the chord voicings found in the key of E, place the capo at the fifth fret, and using fingerings for E, A, and B. Going back to “A Thousand Years,” we transposed the chords to the key of G. If we want to bring the key back up to the original key, simply place the capo on the 3rd fret and play the exact same chords in the key of G. And just like magic, the chords you play will sound like those in the original song. This is because moving the capo up just one fret will raise the chord half a step while moving the capo up two frets will move up the tone a full step. The question as written doesn’t make sense by itself, since a key is related to the chords you’re playing and that isn’t mentioned. G, on a string (low string 6 fret 3) and then on that SAME string counting up the frets until you hit the note of the key the song is in. 3) Use A Capo To Change The Key of A Song. The open chord pattern (which results in your chosen chord) is shown under fret number for capo placement. In order to get back to the same key you can put a capo on the first fret and also play the Am chord. Using the capo chord chart you can see that with your fingers on an A minor chord shape and a capo at the second fret the sound your guitar will produce is that of a B minor chord. Place it on the second fret to play Radioactive by Imagine Dragons; you only need to know Am, C, G & D.. You would just put a capo on the 2nd fret, and play the chord shapes G, C, and D. These chord shapes will now sound a whole step higher. The string 5 (A) is left open. Chords (original): G, C, Am, D = Key of G; Chords (capo V): G, C, Am, D = Key of C; NO KEY IN MIND. 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