How to Transpose With a Capo
- 1). Use the thickest string on the guitar to establish the relative position for calculating the degree of transposition. In standard tuning, this string is tuned to E. Each fret represents a semitone increment. From open string to the twelfth fret, the notes are named: E, F, F#(G-flat), G, G# (A-flat), A, A# (B-flat), B, C, C# (D-flat), D, D# (E-flat) and E.
- 2). Place the capo at a fret. The fret number can also be called the position number. When you play an existing chord, you can climb the scale of semitones by the value of the position number. Therefore, if the capo is at the third fret and you play an open-G chord shape relative to the capo, start at G and add three. This chord will now be A#, or B-flat.
- 3). Calculate capo position by using this method in reverse. If you wish to play in the key of B, for example and you want to use the open-G chord shape to play a B chord, count backward from B to G, four steps. Place your capo at the fourth position and you are ready to play.
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