A Song Tab Requires A Capo. Can I Play It Without A Capo?

The answer is yes, you can play the song without a capo. However, keep in mind that the chords and single notes will be in a different key from the original key of the song. You have two options if you play without a capo:

If you choose not to use the capo, you will be playing in a different key. The following are a list of things to expect from playing without a capo:

Playability

The overall sound of the song will be different because of the different key.

Chords

The arrangements of the notes of the chords give a certain overall sound. If you were to play the same chord.

Single Notes

All of the single notes will move down.

Sing-ability

If you are singing and the original song is:

Play Along

You will NOT be able to play along with the original song.

If you choose not to use the capo AND want to match the original key, you will need to transpose the music. The following are a list of things to expect from playing a song in this transposed way.

Playability

The overall sound of the song will be different because of the different arrangements of notes

Chords

For example, if you were to play a G chord with the capo at the 2nd fret (which makes the G chord turn into an A chord), this would sound slightly different from playing an A chord without the capo. This is because the notes of the two A Chords are exactly same BUT the notes are rearranged.

Single Notes

Some passages might become a little bit more difficult to play

Sing-ability

If you are singing and the original song is:

Play Along

You will be able to play along with the original song, but it will sound slightly different

If you are unsure of how to transpose chords and notes, check out the ways of doing this below.

There are two different ways of transposing chords to be played without a capo.

1st Method

To transpose chords so that you can play without a capo, all you need to do is count half steps from the chord forward the same amount as the number fret the capo is supposed to be on.

For example, let’s say the capo is supposed to be at the 4th fret and the chord that is to be played is a C chord. All you would need to do is count forward 4 half steps from C. You will find the chord you will need to play without the capo. In this case, it will be an E chord (no capo)

2nd Method
Another way of figuring it out, is by looking at where the root note of the C chord is when the capo is on. You can see that the root note (your 3rd finger) is at an E note on your A-string. You would play an E chord without a capo.

To transpose the notes so that you can play without a capo, all you would need to do move each note on the tablature up by however many frets the capo is supposed to be on.

For example, let’s say the tablature is “0 2 0” at the 5th fret. All you would need to do is add 5 frets to each of the numbers and you will be playing in the original key without the capo. The tablature will transpose to “5 7 5”.