Capo Confusion? Use This Trick to Determine Chords & Key of Any Song

[@joshkendrick4728]

FINALLY, SOMEONE EXPLAINS EXACTLY HOW A CAPO WORKS...

[@lucrajamtracks]

Yeah this lesson is amazing! Thanks David.

[@GaryBook]

The capo is a critical tool for every guitarist. Learning open tunings also opens up your world. Many musicians also tuned down. Paul McCartney tuned down an entire whole step on “Yesterday.” It is in the key of F, but he was able to use G forms.

[@tshirtjohn9931]

On an ugly day in news reports...you your lessons and music are the only things today that truly make sense. Something useful to put in my toolbox, been wondering for a while now bout this theory. Great stuff thank you

[@dunrobincourt]

Bingo, some lights went on. Clear, straight forward, very well presented. Thank you.

[@joebrochu4287]

Capo goes up- chord goes down. Genius I knew there had to be a easy way for it to make sense. Thank you sir

[@lesblack413]

I'm not sure what you mean here. When the capo moves up one fret, the chord shape you are play is 1/2 step higher. G shape or sound goes to G# sound.

[@robingladman7783]

Hi this the best video of this I have seen in years I have always struggled with this issue many thanks awesome work.

[@sugandhabagga]

This helped me a lot thank you❤

[@donnar9594]

Finally found someone who explains this in a clear and coherent way! Thank You 👏🏻👏🏻🎼

[@BluesAgave]

David, You are a incredible teacher. I've struggled with this for so long. Thank you. I am very pleased to be a premium member of Song Notes.

[@frankdion2174]

Dude, you just blew my mind. Thanks...

[@SCMatthews]

Great explanation! Your skill in the use of graphics and video editing are awesome. Thank you!

[@Deogratias562]

this was the most helpful video thank you❤

[@kalmah24]

You helped me out so much. 15 years playing and this all made sense. Amazing video. Hopefully will use your online services

[@edcrutchfield3447]

I like how you used the circle of 5ths to count 🎸👍

[@edwardhanson3664]

I've been struggling with this for years, and all of a sudden, it's so simple. I've had a chart for it for a long time, but I never understood why.

[@mikevasquez8270]

Thank you David. You just answered a question that has perplexed me my entire life. And you made it very simple. I love your teaching methods and your channel brother. Keep up the good work. Mike V. Albuquerque NM

[@ramontorres1385]

This is the best explanation I found about the right way to use and to understand capo. Thanks Sir and more power to your channel

[@joeydrew4847]

Thanks

[@songnotes]

You’re very welcome!! Thank you for the kind tip - much appreciated!

[@SavannahMoreland-n2b]

This is the first video that made perfect sense to me. You saved me so much trouble! Thank you sir!

[@steveavant9727]

Thanks, David, this clears up a lot. I never knew the capo can also be used to lower the key.

[@CrysfelDev]

Finally someone actually explain it how it is!! Thank you!!

[@DeadDiverDan]

This is a brilliant lesson, thanks. I got some studying to do now.

[@havindinna4005]

Phenomenal lesson!!! I’ve been looking for this exact video. Thank you

[@johnhurlburt5179]

The best video ever. So helpful. Thanks for making things so clear.

[@Ultimategaming4477]

Thank you so much I needed this for my gig next week

[@sternschnuppe9725]

Vielen vielen Dank für dieses wunderbare Video. So einfach ist das, wenn man es vernünftig erklärt bekommt. Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland.

[@melroberts7987]

Thanks for addressing this. I'm a harmonica player, learning guitar, this was/is always an issue.

[@17hughsie17]

Thanks for this.. Have watched many waffling videos that left me bewildered explaining this..

[@m4tchb0x]

You’re so underrated! Clay, keep playing brother!

[@ryanguffy4739]

Excellent explanation! Chord family/shape versus key is hard to explain/understand to the layman. Thanks for the clarification!

[@GaryBook]

With harmonica, you can either play in the key of the song - song in the key of G would use an harmonica in the key of G. Then you have the option to cross harp. That would mean using an harmonica in the fourth or fifth of the key. Hence playing in the key of G, you would use a harp in C or D. Led Zeppelin did “ When the Levee Breaks” in Open G. But they slowed the tape changing the pitch and key to F. Robert Plant used a harp in Bb.

[@michaelslawinski1821]

I agree. The key of the harp is not the same as the guitar.

[@Hanxyy]

You have totally simplified the capo for me thank you very much

[@williamwofford2503]

thank YOU i ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT A Capo was for and when to use it Johnny cash used one most of the time , i have only been playing a few months now but very helpful info for us noobs 😍

[@elizabethmwaniki5278]

fantastic lesson, thank you!

[@josephtreeby5150]

this is so helpful, now when i play songs i can switch to different keys😁 thank you so much

[@yourstruly8590]

Jesus, this is an eye opening. Thank you for demystified this for me.

[@karmeishghosh2703]

Perfect. G+ fret number + new key. So simple damn!

[@mstargate12]

Always learning. I do like your lessons. Thank you.

[@maxwellescobar3089]

Awesome lesson, I have always wondered about this ❤

[@colinsykes6883]

Excellent, as an in depth and readily understandable lesson on the capo is very hard to find.

[@jakyru1981]

Great basic lesson for a refresher. Excellent animations.

[@ibew1951]

Great explanation !! Thank you

[@tiwariromil]

This video cleared so many doubts I had, thanks a lot!

[@sherristumpf7201]

Thank you! Exactly what I needed to know.

[@HxC_Fragman]

Frickin AWESOME VIDEO DUDE. So good at explainging this. This has jumped my skill and ability up 10 fold!

[@stringman509]

Brilliant lesson thanks Colin UK 🇬🇧

[@tomholytrinity]

Great, just what I need to know, well explained. Thank you.

[@ajs8972]

Just stumbled on your page and subscribed. You have a great way of describing, what are to me, kind of complex themes....Thanks!!

[@TosselMusic]

Is the first note you play the determining factor of the songs key? what if the notes were in the order of CDEFG. Would the song be in the key of C?

[@lesblack413]

Chords used or notes played generally identify the key the song is sung or played in, not necessarily the first note or chord. There can also be accidental notes in the song, which sometimes makes it more interesting to the ear.

[@jaypooler9765]

thanks ..interesting.. makes it easier to understand .. for instance when 2 or 3 players 2 may be capoed on different frts ..and the bass player isnot ...

[@davidmckenna6562]

I have never heard the mysterious capo explained as well. Very nicely done sir. On the discussion of what key your harmonica should be, my understanding is if the song is in a major key you pick a harmonica to match the note in the fourth position. If its a minor key you should use the third position.

[@michaelchappell6570]

Your explanation about the Capo is really good, I often play with a Capo as per the original song and then find out I can't sing in the pitch and then have to lower the Capo from say 5th Fret down to 4th Fret and now in the Key of C but thank goodness the fingering for the Lead guitar is the same. But as I am Lead guitar & singer for my songs some songs with the Capo are only for the lead guitar but not for the Rhythm so How does that work when we are all trying to sing a song together. On other occasions , the original song is in D but our Band Singer wants to do it the Key of G so I then have to try to transpose the Lead guitar notes into the Key of G from D. It seems a minefield. I think that before watching your video the usage of the Capo was in the No Mans Land musical mystery? thks for your lesson.

[@mahodaadikari4116]

Thanks a lot for the amazing tutorial ❤️

[@TheBluesman56]

Hi David. Been looking for something like this for a long time. I’m a guitarist and a harmonica player. I busk harmonica with a pal on guitar and vocals, and he capos a lot, which often throws me! But this will help a lot. By the way, you can get all 12 keys on 10 hole diatonic harmonicas - yes, sharps and flats included! 😊

[@narasimhiah]

thank you very simple terms u hb cracked the capo

[@JudahWardropeMusic]

Super helpful, thanks!

[@ZMan3377]

This rocked my friend thank you!!!

[@johndotson920]

Love the lesson but tried to get these and I have to join to get these PDFs

[@ZionismIsRacism]

It's called earning a living.

[@deepakjoshi1459]

Thanks for beautiful explain

[@isiahchikara]

You made it simole, thank you

[@faithmusic_ke]

Woww..youve made thiss too eaasyyy!!Thank you❤😊

[@AdamBlumer]

Excellent video. Thank you. My question isn't usually the key of the root chord (when I'm using a capo) but what happens to the chords in that root chord family. Your Capo Captain is a game changer for me. So glad I came across your channel. You rock!

[@stringman509]

Just subscribed love it 😊

[@Dendit01]

WOW! I am new to this. Just a beginner. I watched 3 other videos on this. You win hands down! The other videos left me confused. Question Sir: I know for a fact my voice is best suited for key of E. Why couldn't I just transpose every and any song to the Key of E ? Thank you, Denny

[@manghu-omanihrii505]

You nail it 🎉 Thanks Bro...

[@artcomlotus3091]

If I put capo on 2nd fret, suppose capo is the nut, when I play regular form of C (do, mi, sol, do) what do we call this kind of chord (C or D), pls reply. Thank you so much, sir.

[@lesblack413]

Capo on fret two when you are playing the C chord shape means you are playing a D sounding chord.

[@artcomlotus3091]

@@lesblack413 Thanks so much, sir.

[@jayceegee1]

Major light bulb moment right here! Very well explained like I've never heard it before! Thank you!

[@coonguyen7543]

Finally I got it ! Thanks !

[@rishalmibiam1898]

Thank you very much brother😊

[@nirmaladasun581]

Thank you bro for your lesson👍

[@gordonstewart3167]

Wow finally makes sense thank you.

[@benjaminchacko3582]

Great information ❤

[@gloriaorfei_glorify]

THANK YOU!!!!!!

[@dnews9519]

Great lesson!

[@HumbleShallot]

Subscribed, great video!!

[@kevinbrown3017]

Great info, thank you

[@robinganguli1132]

@aviator73 A great lesson on use of the Capo, cleared a lot of cobwebs on the topic. Is it possible to purchase only the cheat sheets, without becoming a member

[@egiptedowner5107]

So helpful hank you!

[@john19655]

well done !

[@FionaMisty]

I find transposing is easy for the typical major and minor chords but it gets tricky when its crazier colourful chord shapes you have to transpose think like jazz chords lol

[@frankb518]

Great advice! And not to mention....what is the guitars open tuning? if you are say, playing with a Piano which is tuned in Natural E MAJ. exg. I always tune my guitars in E flat [ D sharp]

[@mikeburton1703]

very interesting.....i play a keyboard and transpose alot .....say from a C cord on the keys to transposed 6 down.....how can i determine what cord i need on the guitar if i am playing keyboard with the C fingering but transposed 6 down....hope you can enlighten me ....i do this for my singing voice.....thanks

[@Simon-mv2xm]

6 steps down from C would be the key of F#. To play F# chords on the guitar will be tricky, so you can play D-shaped chords on the guitar with the capo on the 4th fret because F# is 4 half steps up from D.

[@lesblack413]

Six down from C note would be F# or Gb.

[@ricpotvin8]

Hey David. Love your channel and lessons. I think the confusion ( with me at least ) the first explanation, (G) you're changing the pitch ( goes up ) but with the second explanation, (E flat) the pitch stays the same but the shape changes. (goes down, making it easier to play) can you confirm?

[@songnotes]

Not sure if I'm addressing the exact parts of the video that your'e asking about (if not, let me know with timestamps so I can find the parts your'e confused by)..... But - with the G example, I'm keeping the same shape (a "G" chord e.g. 320003 where the nut or capo is zero). Even as I add a capo I can continue to use that shape chord... but the pitch will change, one half-step up per each capo fret. For the E-flat example starting at 7:25 - my goal is to stay in key (pitch) with the note E-flat. I can add a capo up the neck fret by ret, and at the same time use "chord families" that go DOWN in pitch half-step by half-step. And this keeps things in the key of E-flat, as far as the ear is concerned. This whole part is tricky... the secret to understanding it (I think) is making sure you understand the idae of "chord families" vs "song key". If there's no capo, and you're in standard tuning, "song key" = "chord family". They're the same. Key of C chord family with no capo = Key of C, by ear. But key of C chord family with capo 2 = Key of D, by ear. Hope that helps!

[@laurak7111]

Thank you soooo much. I'v been getting these 2 capo methods all mixed up in my head. I thought they were same thing so eg when my friend was playing in G & I wanted to play along I'd put Capo on 5 & play C chord cause I counted up. So 1st part of ur video is just changing key, what is d 2nd part called, like what would I Google (play along chords just doesn't sound right) ??

[@lamper2]

I subscribed-good info here

[@kenamick]

I actually play an Ab harmonica on a regular basis. Same as G#, right? There are so many keys in the harmonica world. I own and play 13 harmonicas in different keys. Thanks for this lesson!

[@scarredman42]

There is a G# (or Ab) harmonica. There are 12 diatonic harmonicas for every 12 chords, harmonica players just have to bring those pieces. If you had an E harmonica, you could play a G#(Ab) chord in 4th position.

[@smiley50ish]

brilliant thank you

[@goooys4173]

Hi sorry for this question. but what if, I play G, E, C9, D with no CAPO what is best chords to be harmonize with it using another guitar with a capo/not.

[@Elithia.m]

I have a question, what about chords such as sharp majors?? If you’re trying to play a C#m chord but with a capo so you’re not hurting your wrist so much Thank you

[@lesblack413]

I'm a musician with 60 years of guitar experience. When I play with a band, I only say the key the song is played in - never the chord shape with the capo on fret three. Reason I do this is it stops confusion. G chord shape with capo at fret three is of course A# or Bb. I have found that the reason most novice guitarists use capos is that they are unable to play moveable (barre) chords. Tell me if you think I'm wrong. If you still like to use a capo, then you will exclude yourself from playing many songs that have key changes in them. Unless you physically can't practice moveable chords due to arthritis in finger joints, you can achieve the new moveable chord shapes fairly quickly. My suggestion is to start with an easy chord shape like G barred at the third fret with your index finger. Once you have mastered that shape, it can be played up and down the fret board.

[@hallucinogen4903]

Thanks a lot

[@ConorFenlon]

David, I need your help.... When writing tablature for a piece, and there's a capo on fret 2, and lets say I play all the strings open, should the written tab numbers be all twos? Or all zeros?

[@songnotes]

I would suggest writing it as all zeros - but make sure you note (somewhere) that capo 2nd fret it being used! Which comes with the assumption that "capo = fret zero". I would argue this is the convention you'll find with other teachers & publishers as well.

[@lesblack413]

@@songnotes If the capo is on fret five, then the note on both E string will be A or TAB 5 position.

[@MikeSheasheaDtree]

I play harmonica and guitar, yes at the same time, I can do more if I just play harmonica, If i ask what key it's because I am going to play a melody ( as opposed to cross harp - I'm not that good). If I only have one harp, I may ask the guitar player to play a chord progression in the the key of which ever harp I have on me...

[@louisj6399]

Fantastic

[@sitfu]

Harmonicas not necessarily work like that. There can be found on Google what Harmonica is used for different songs by artists. Other wise good video on the capo.

[@tammieschiller397]

what about major 7 chords and diminished when you have a capo on, here's where i really get confused, any info on that, please 🙏 for ex i want to write a song in the key of em and i want to use the cmaj7 chord, i do not know the voicing with the capo on 2nd fret

[@lesblack413]

Don't use the capo. Just play the cmaj7 chord in it's normal position.

[@JeffinMJohn]

Thankyou

[@jocelynawican8292]

Hi,sir try to play with capo in my company is no capo we try to transpose with song in the first okie but when she step to other note then me I don't know what note I point

[@KTMSparky]

So basically every capo fret is a half step forward so play a regular c chord on capo 6th and you get a F sound? Am i understanding it right? Monumental video if so 👍

[@rowdyaroundmidnight]

You use the 3rd if your playing harmonica