Using the Capo to Change Guitar Keys

When the guitar is properly tuned it has a compatible range with many singers and other instruments, but sometimes the key must be changed. Many guitarists will elect to use a capo to clamp down across all six strings at a given fret raising the pitch by one half step for every fret position higher up the neck. If a capo is placed at the second fret then a regular C chord would become a D chord and every similar chord or note played as if there was no capo would sound a whole tone higher than before.

Musicians that learn how to quickly transpose in their head can shift chords and melody quickly so that there may be no need for the use of a capo. A capo allows for you to play in other keys, but using a capo beyond the fifth fret is generally not as acceptable. When the capo is placed higher than the fifth fret all the open strings of the guitar are playing rather high pitched tones and the guitar tends to lose the rich lower tones it is capable of playing. Some rare songs can sound better, but these would tend to be songs that might be played on a music box etc.

In the playing of classical guitar or finger style guitar the preservation of open strings can be important to the overall sound and it is certainly appropriate to use a capo. Sometimes when several musicians are playing in a "jam" session the use of a capo can confuse other players that are not using a capo. The players not using the capo may be trying to follow the chords being played on the guitar using the capo and they will have to first identify the chord and then do the transposition in their head.

There are different versions of capos and you should try some different types to see how it works in your situation. Some may become a bit of a block to your hand movement. In some cases you may need to slightly re-tune your guitar when you use the capo or after you remove the capo. The capo will push all six strings down behind the fret and this does stretch the strings. Since the strings are different diameters, the amount of stretch is different on each of the strings and this can cause a change in pitch.

When you capo an instrument like a 5 string long neck banjo you may need to have an additional capo for the 5th string on the banjo. You could of course retune the 5th string each time you use a capo on the other four strings. Every time you tune and retune an instrument you are changing the tension on the strings and you may eventually increase the chance of a string breaking.

The graphic shows 5 keys and 5 capo positions.