How do I use a capo?

Follow these practical steps to correctly place and adjust a capo, checking the strings to make sure your guitar is still in tune.

  1. Find the fret position. A chord chart that calls for a capo will usually list it next to the key, like "Capo 2." That number tells you which fret to put your capo on.

  2. Place it just behind the fret, not on top of it. Attach the capo directly behind the fret (on the nut side). This should be the same way you'd fret a note with a finger. Placing it too far back toward the previous fret can cause buzzing or a muted tone, and don't place it directly on top of the fret itself.

  3. Clamp down evenly. Most capos use a spring or an adjustable screw to apply pressure. You want enough pressure that all six strings ring clearly, but not so much that you're causing damage to the strings.

  4. Check each string. Make sure the capo is parallel to the fret as a crooked capo may make for an uneven tuning. Then strum or pick each string individually to make sure the strings ring out. If any string sounds dull, gives a buzz, or doesn't ring at all, the capo may be slightly crooked or not pressing down hard enough on that side of the neck.

  5. Check your tuning. Adding a capo can pull the strings very slightly sharp, especially with a stiffer spring. As you work on step #4, you can also tune the strings as needed for an even sound.

Why the shape you play isn't the sound you hear

This is the part that trips up a lot of guitar players. Once the capo is on, the chord shape you play is exactly the same as you would play without a capo. The difference now is that the notes you're playing are higher.

If you play an open G shape with a capo on the second fret, you're not hearing a G chord, you're hearing an A. The capo has effectively shifted everything up so every shape you already know now produces a different, higher chord.

This is also why chord charts that use a capo typically list both the real key (how it sounds) and the capo. On WGA songs, we show you chord shapes you'll actually play based on the key and capo you select.

  • Capo - what a capo is and why guitarists use one
  • Fret - where the capo actually clamps down
  • Nut - what the capo temporarily acts as once it's on
  • Chord chart - where capo position is typically listed for chords higher up the neck
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