Guitar Capo Transpose Calculator
Find the key your open chord shapes actually sound in with a capo on any fret — and see the transposition per semitone.
How it works
Sounding note = (shape note + capo fret) mod 12, since each fret raises pitch by one semitone.
A capo shortens every string equally, so it raises the whole guitar by one semitone per fret while your fingering stays the same. If you play familiar open shapes in the key of C with a capo on the 3rd fret, everything sounds three semitones higher — in the key of E-flat. This lets you keep easy open-chord fingerings while matching a singer’s range or another instrument’s key.
Worked example
Playing C-shape chords with a capo on the 3rd fret: C is note 0, add 3 semitones to reach note 3, which is D#/Eb. So the chords sound in E-flat while you finger them as C.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pick the right capo fret?
Count the semitones between the key you can play easily and the key you need, then place the capo on that fret. To go from C shapes up to D you need 2 semitones, so capo on the 2nd fret.
Does a capo change the chord names I call out?
You still finger and often name the shapes as the open chords (a "C shape"), but the sounding chords are transposed up. Many players say "C shape, capo 3, sounds in E-flat" to be clear to a band.
Can a capo lower the key?
No — a capo can only raise pitch, since it shortens the strings. To sound lower you would need a different set of shapes or a lower tuning, not a capo.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.