Capo Confusion? Use This Trick to Determine Chords & Key of Any Song
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 มิ.ย. 2024
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Hey there, friends! Today I want to answer an audience question on the topic of capos, and how capo use does (or doesn’t!) effect the chords & key we’re using to play any given song. I’ll also share a handy little “equation” I recommend memorizing on this topic, to ensure you’re able to solve this on your own going forward.
Here’s the question I’ll answer, sent in by Judy:
"Hi! I met a harmonica player who wants to play along with me for Heart of Gold. I need to be able to tell him which chords to play. I'm following your version (Key of G) - but I add a capo on 1st fret because it is easier to sing to. But I'm not sure how the capo will affect thekey & chords for his harmonica part. Can you help give me some guidance so he knows how to accompany me please? He would like to get some practice in before we meet up. Thanks!"
In addition to answering her specific question, I’ll also explain a related situation of using a capo to intentionally change the chords you’re playing - while the staying in the same key as the recording you’re following. This may sound a bit tricky, but it uses the same equation I refer to above! - เพลง
FINALLY,
SOMEONE EXPLAINS EXACTLY HOW A CAPO WORKS...
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.
Bingo, some lights went on. Clear, straight forward, very well presented. Thank you.
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
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.
Dude, you just blew my mind. Thanks...
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.
I agree. The key of the harp is not the same as the guitar.
Great explanation! Your skill in the use of graphics and video editing are awesome. Thank you!
this was the most helpful video thank you❤
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
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.
Great job! Thanks
You are awesome!!
Great info, thank you
Nicely done. Thanks.
Just subscribed love it 😊
Great lesson!
Great explanation !!
Thank you
Subscribed, great video!!
Great information ❤
Awesome lesson, I have always wondered about this ❤
Always learning. I do like your lessons. Thank you.
Nicely done David, very useful! Thanks for sharing!
great job learned a lot
You nail it 🎉
Thanks Bro...
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
Thank you bro for your lesson👍
This video cleared so many doubts I had, thanks a lot!
Finally someone actually explain it how it is!! Thank you!!
Woww..youve made thiss too eaasyyy!!Thank you❤😊
Just stumbled on your page and subscribed. You have a great way of describing, what are to me, kind of complex themes....Thanks!!
Thank you very much brother😊
Great, just what I need to know, well explained. Thank you.
Wow finally makes sense thank you.
Great basic lesson for a refresher. Excellent animations.
Brilliant lesson thanks Colin UK 🇬🇧
The best video ever. So helpful. Thanks for making things so clear.
So helpful hank you!
Frickin AWESOME VIDEO DUDE. So good at explainging this. This has jumped my skill and ability up 10 fold!
well done !
brilliant thank you
Thanks, David, this clears up a lot. I never knew the capo can also be used to lower the key.
Thanks for addressing this. I'm a harmonica player, learning guitar, this was/is always an issue.
Thanks a lot
You’re so underrated! Clay, keep playing brother!
Vielen vielen Dank für dieses wunderbare Video.
So einfach ist das, wenn man es vernünftig erklärt bekommt.
Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland.
I subscribed-good info here
Excellent explanation! Chord family/shape versus key is hard to explain/understand to the layman. Thanks for the clarification!
Capo goes up- chord goes down. Genius I knew there had to be a easy way for it to make sense. Thank you sir
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.
Fantastic
Major light bulb moment right here! Very well explained like I've never heard it before! Thank you!
Love the lesson but tried to get these and I have to join to get these PDFs
Thanks
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! 😊
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!
Excellent, as an in depth and readily understandable lesson on the capo is very hard to find.
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.
Thankyou
Jesus, this is an eye opening. Thank you for demystified this for me.
this is so helpful, now when i play songs i can switch to different keys😁 thank you so much
@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
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]
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
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!
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.
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?
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!
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
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
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.
Understood, but transpost G to E let me tell you it was impossible coz kneck when you're going up is expanding so the capo can't be fixed there,how about that? Help
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?
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.
@@songnotes If the capo is on fret five, then the note on both E string will be A or TAB 5 position.
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
Don't use the capo. Just play the cmaj7 chord in it's normal position.
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.
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...
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?
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.
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.
Capo on fret two when you are playing the C chord shape means you are playing a D sounding chord.
@@lesblack413 Thanks so much, sir.
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
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.
Six down from C note would be F# or Gb.
help me. if i want to change from F#m to something easier how do i do that with capo>
Play F chord with capo on first fret.
yaaay shanks
Original key is D, but I play F, should I put capo 3 which same as D?
Should be 5 if I understand you right.
You use the 3rd if your playing harmonica
I've always been confused regarding how capo's work. After watching this, I'm still confused. Your 1st example was G. Add capo to 1st fret it becomes a G#. That I get. Second example you add a capo to 1st fret an Eb becomes a D chord. That's where I'm confused. Why does it not become an E chord? I get that an E chord with capo 1 would make an F, but why does it become a D chord? A capo raises the pitch, not lowers it.
?????
When you play a G Chord and add a capo while still playing the same G chord, that G chord will sound like a G# because it is a half step up. Likewise, if you play an E chord with a capo on the first fret it will sound like an F because it is a half step up. Now take this logic, and if you play a D chord with a capo on the first fret, it will sound like an Eb, or put the capo on the second fret and it will sound like an E (2 half steps up). I think you got confused because the chord shape stayed the same in the first 2 examples, but in the Eb to D example, he switched the chord to a D chord, rather than keeping the same chord shape and going a half step up. Let me know if this helps!
The 2nd example assumes you tuned your guitar down a half step to Eb.
This is why I never specify the capo position - only the chord in the key you are playing in. Let the other musos work out the chords in the key. Many 12 string players detune all 12 strings by 1/2 step so the standard tuning then becomes Eb. Also, not all instruments will be detuned generally in a band.
It means the work of capo is like transposition
Yes and no. But it does allow some players to play the relevant chords in the song if they have trouble playing barre (moveable) chords.
How does this relate to a bass?
Never seen a capo on a bass, but technically you could use on if you could buy one or make one. It would work, but not sure why you would bother.
yes, harps come in half steps.
I am the key master. Are you the gate keeper? Asking for Zulu.
It's not Zulu, it's Zuul fool.
{(Gfamily +3Capo) = Key C } = {normal Key C }?
Pls give me an answer🙏
You wouldn’t use a g sharp harmonica if you were playing in g sharp.. you would use a B flat harmonica
you might want to if you can buy a G# harp.
Playing a C major chord with the capo at fret 2 isn't a D chord as far as the ears are concerned, it's an actual D major chord, every note you are playing is in the D major, your just using a C major chord grip with a capo at fret 2, I see a lot of guitar lessons on TH-cam where things are over complicated and actual info isn't given to the viewer in the correct manor
Or just look at the the lowest note of the chord you’re playing.
and what is the “note” exactly
Well you don't need a capo at all. Just play the tune in any of the "chord" positions all over the neck.
How bout teachers especially don't call it a g chord when using a capo. This is a huge fail from teachers imo
spot on!!
I’ve never understood. Why a capo at all. If a song is in G. Well just play G. If you need to transpose a song to another key. Why not just play that key.
It allows you to change shapes. This is useful and can allow you to find what's most comfortable for you to play. Hope that helps out!
@@rosswilliams1989 not sure. What you mean by changing shapes. But. Ok. I can understand if someone. Can only play a G shape. Or a C shape and doesn’t know any other chords.
Just preference at that point.
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 ...