Lesson 16: The capo

Week 16 of 27

Goal: You put on a capo and play familiar chords in a higher key.

Review

Last week: G, Em, C, D7. Play Am Lagerfeuer in G – you need it again today.

Step by step

  1. A capo is a clamp that presses all strings down at one fret – like an index finger that never gets tired. More in The capo.
  2. Put it at the 2nd fret, just behind the fret wire and straight. Then check with the tuner: a capo often pulls the strings slightly sharp.
  3. Now you play G, Em, C and D7 as usual – but it sounds two semitones higher: A, F#m, D and E7. New key, no new chords!
  4. In the song Am Lagerfeuer in A, the app shows “Capo 2, play as G”. Above the lyrics you see the sounding chords – you play the ones from G. More in Transposing.

Time to make music: your piece

Am Lagerfeuer in A with the capo at fret 2: you play G, Em, C, D7 like last week – and it sounds brighter. Compare: once without, once with the capo.

Am Lagerfeuer in A Capo at fret 2

To the tuner

Homework for next time

Five days, about ten minutes each:

  • Every day: put the capo on, then retune.
  • Days 1–2: capo at fret 1, 2, 3 – strum G and listen.
  • Days 3–4: Am Lagerfeuer in A with capo 2.
  • Day 5: the same song without capo in G – can you hear the difference?
  • Fun: find the capo position where singing along feels best!

Done when …

  • the capo sits straight and all strings ring clearly
  • you play Am Lagerfeuer with capo 2

If you get stuck

  • Buzzing with the capo? It’s too far from the fret wire or crooked. Push it closer and straighten it.
  • No capo at hand? Play the song in G – or try another key in the app with “−” and “+”.
For teachers: lesson plan
  1. ≈ 10 min Warm-up: the teacher plays the same G without a capo, then with capo 2 and capo 5 – the group hears it getting higher.
  2. ≈ 15 min Practice: put on the capo and retune in pairs; the teacher walks around and checks the position.
  3. ≈ 20 min Together: Am Lagerfeuer – half the group with capo 2 (playing G shapes), the more advanced without capo in A (A, F#m …).

Differentiation: those who are confident play the piece with down-up or help a partner; those who need more time strum only on beat one of each bar.

For the board: openstring.de/gitarre/en/lesson/16/

Learn more