Capo on the 2nd Fret: Key and Chords
With a capo on the 2nd fret, every string sounds two semitones (a whole step) higher than open. You finger the same shapes, but the chord you hear is higher: a G shape sounds as A, a C shape sounds as D, a D shape sounds as E, and an Em shape sounds as F#m.
In short, the key you hear is the key of your shapes plus two semitones. Use the tool below to check any shape, or read the chart.
Chord chart with the capo on the 2nd fret
Left column: the open shape you play. Right column: the chord that actually sounds with the capo on the 2nd fret. Every row follows one rule: the scale has 12 notes, and each fret raises the pitch by one semitone.
| Shape you play | Chord you hear |
|---|---|
| C | D |
| A | B |
| G | A |
| E | F# |
| D | E |
| Am | Bm |
| Em | F#m |
| Dm | Em |
To transpose a whole progression, change every chord the same way. A progression of G, C, D, Em played with the capo on the 2nd fret sounds as A, D, E, F#m. Want a different pairing of shapes and frets? The full capo chart covers every fret from 1 to 9.
Why players put the capo on the 2nd fret
The second fret is the most common first stop. It lifts every open shape by a whole step, so the friendly open keys of C, G and D come out as D, A and E. That gets a song into a new key for your voice without leaving the chords you already know. Your fingers stay on the same shapes, and the open strings still ring. Put the capo just behind the fret, not on top of it, so the strings do not buzz.
A capo acts as a new nut: it lets you play in a different key with the same fingerings as open strings, as the Wikipedia article on the capo explains. New to it? Read how to use a capo, and if you need one, browse our guitar capos.
Try another fret
Or open the capo chart and transposer to pick any shape, fret or target key.
Frequently asked questions
It raises every string by two semitones, a whole step, so the same open shapes sound two semitones higher. A G shape sounds as A and a C shape sounds as D.
The key is two semitones above the shapes you play. Play in G shapes and you sound in A. Play in C shapes and you sound in D. Play in D shapes and you sound in E.
Clamp the capo just behind the second fret, then play the chord shape exactly as you would on open strings. The chord you hear is two semitones above the shape: an Em shape sounds as F#m and an A shape sounds as B.