Capo on the 5th Fret: Key and Chords

With a capo on the 5th fret, every string sounds five semitones (a perfect fourth) higher than open. You finger the same shapes, but the chord you hear is higher: a G shape sounds as C, a C shape sounds as F, a D shape sounds as G, and an Em shape sounds as Am.

In short, the key you hear is the key of your shapes plus five semitones. Use the tool below to check any shape, or read the chart.

Chord chart with the capo on the 5th fret

Left column: the open shape you play. Right column: the chord that actually sounds with the capo on the 5th 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	F
A	D
G	C
E	A
D	G
Am	Dm
Em	Am
Dm	Gm

To transpose a whole progression, change every chord the same way. A progression of G, C, D, Em played with the capo on the 5th fret sounds as C, F, G, Am. 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 5th fret

The fifth fret lifts every open shape by a perfect fourth. G shapes come out in C, D shapes in G, and E shapes in A, so a song that lives in a comfortable open key can sit much higher without a single new chord shape. It is a useful spot for higher voices and for a bright, chiming sound. The frets are closer together up here, so place the capo carefully just behind the fret and check that each string rings.

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

• Capo on the 1st fret
• Capo on the 2nd fret
• Capo on the 3rd fret

Or open the capo chart and transposer to pick any shape, fret or target key.

Frequently asked questions