Is There Any Alternative To Using Capo?

THINGS TO EXPECT: SAME KEY

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:

In A Good Range – after transposing the song will be the same
Too High – after transposing
Too Low – after transposing

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.

HOW TO TRANSPOSE CHORDS

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)

Starting Chord	C
1 half step	C#
2 half steps	D
3 half steps	D#
4 half steps	E

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.

HOW TO TRANSPOSE NOTES

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”.

Posted by Gregg Gascon

musician, singer/songwriter, & teacher