The chords below are the easiest to play on guitar. Thousands of songs use these chords. With the use of a capo you can play songs in any key.
Using The Capo
If you try to sing a song and the key doesn’t fit your voice you may want to use a capo to raise the pitch. When
playing with other musicians, you’ll inevitably find people do songs in differing keys. A male singer will usually sing in a different key than a female vocalist. Fiddlers are fond of the key of D and A. Horn players love Bb and F. Banjo players love G. Mountain dulcimer players love D. With the chart below, you can play in any key. If someone throws a key at you that you aren’t familiar with, don’t panic. Just whip out the trusty capo and place it on the appropriate fret.
When playing in the key of G:
Place the capo on the 1st fret to get the key of Ab
Place the capo on the 2nd fret to get the key of A
Place the capo on the 3rd fret to get the key of Bb
Place the capo on the 4th fret to get the key of B
Place the capo on the 5th fret to get the key of C
When playing in the
key of C:
Place the capo on the 1st fret to get the key of Db
Place the capo on the 2nd fret to get the key of D
Place the capo on the 3rd fret to get the key of Eb
Place the capo on the 4th fret to get the key of E
Place the capo on the 5th fret to get the key of F
When playing in the key of E:
Place the capo on the 1st fret to get the key of F
Place the capo on the 2nd fret to get the key of F#
Place the capo on the 3rd fret to get the key of G
Place the capo on the 4th fret to get the key of Ab
Place the capo on the 5th fret to get the key of A
When playing in the
key of D:
Place the capo on the 1st fret to get the key of Eb
Place the capo on the 2nd fret to get the key of E
Place the capo on the 3rd fret to get the key of F
Place the capo on the 4th fret to get the key of F#
Place the capo on the 5th fret to get the key of G
To understand how a capo works we need to be acquainted with the chromatic scale. The notes of the chromatic scale are:
C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C [1]
When playing in any given key we need to remember when sliding up one fret with the capo we have moved up one note of the chromatic scale. For example, if you play a C chord with the capo on the first fret you are in the key of C#. If you slide it up to the second fret, you are in the key of D. The third fret is D# and so on.
[1] Two notes with the same name are called enharmonic tones. C# is the same as Db. D# is the same as Eb. F# is the same as Gb. G# is the same as Ab. A# is the same as Bb. The choice of name depends on the key you are in. Visit www.guitarlessonsbybrian.com.For more on this subject.