It's time to level up your Transcribing skills and approach a common real-world challenge!

It's a topic that I found ultra frustrating when I started transcribing: how do we know whether the guitarist is using a capo or not?

And what's even more frustrating is that it's quite tricky to give step-by-step advice. There's no simple answer! You gain this skill through tons of trial and error, and it'll get easier with experience and the following tips! They'll steer you in the right direction. :)

💡 Before getting started, ensure you've completed the previous Transcribing lessons from my Beginner Guitar Course - Grade 3. Learning a new skill will be easier if you take it easy first, and then build up your competence!

Now let's get stuck and learn my tricks to figure out the right capo position when transcribing a song to the guitar.

The Secret To Figuring Out The Capo Position

Once we take a trip into capo land, things get confusing. Play the same chord in five or six ways on the neck? Ahh! Yes, it's overwhelming at the start.

The key to nailing this is to train yourself to hear the difference between shapes in different positions. Let's see how.

Top Tips For Figuring Out Chords And Capo Position

My top tips are to listen for the bass note and the highest note in the chord. Know either, and it'll help you figure out the chord and its position on the neck. Know both, and you're almost guaranteed success!

Also, listen out for the number of strings! Does the chord sound full (lots of strings) or thin (fewer strings)?

Embellishments are super common in acoustic playing. You'll hear certain ones used a lot, and they all have distinctive sounds. It can give away both the chords and the capo position!

And finally, look out for two high strings that ring throughout the sequence. A typical example is the G, Cadd9, Dsus4, and Em7 sequence, where the notes on fret 3 of strings 1 and 2 ring out. Wonderwall is an excellent example of a song with this kind of sequence.

💡Learn All About Suspended Chords! Sus chords are easy embellishments and will open up a world of possibilites for you. :)

Use The Shape To Figure Out The Capo Position

If you identify the shape the guitarist is using, say a C shape, try to find the bass note. Then you can locate the correct fret for the capo!

For instance, if you know the chord is a C shape, and find that the bass note is at fret 8 on string 2, then the capo has to be at fret 5.

Playing Chords Around The Neck With A Capo

Let's look at playing an F chord in various positions on the neck and explore the tips we covered above. Can you work out all the ways to play F Major as an open chord using a capo?

The first option is to put the capo on fret 1 and play an open E chord (022100). It is a full sound. Notice that the bottom and top notes are the same, and listen out for this in songs.

Let's move the capo up two frets (to fret 3) and play an open D (XX0232). It's still an F chord, but it sounds very different. The first sounds big and bold; the second sounds smaller and higher. There's less distance between the bass note and the top note.

If you can hear sus2 and sus4 chords, it's likely a D shape chord. Play the Dsus2 (XX0230) and Dsus4 (XX0233) a few times. They have a unique sound – you'll hear them ALL the time!

Then move the capo to fret 5 and play an open C. This chord is also an F – can you see why? The C shape is ultra common, and it has its sound. It's easy to play embellishments – try the sus2 (X30010) and sus 4 (X33010) – and bass riffs. Play around and see what you can find!

In the CAGED System, there are two more positions (can you figure them out?), but It's unlikely you'd hear them in a song, so we won't cover them in depth.

Can You Figure Out The Chords And Capo Position For These 10 Hits?

Homework time! Here are 10 popular hits that use easy open chords and a capo.

🚨 Don’t click the Tip button unless you really can’t work them out yourself. Spend as much time as you can on your own – that’s how you’ll benefit most! :)

See if you can figure out where the capo goes and what chords they use.

🎧 Blowin' In The Wind by Bob Dylan

Song #1 Tip

🎧 Teardrops On My Guitar by Taylor Swift

Song #2 Tip

🎧 Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran

Song #3 Tip

🎧 Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield

Song #4 Tip

🎧 Photograph by Ed Sheeran

Song #5 Tip

🎧 Let Her Go by Passenger

Song #6 Tip

🎧 Counting Stars by One Republic

Song #7 Tip

🎧 That's Entertainment by The Jam

Song #8 Tip

🎧 Pink Bullets by The Shins

Song #9 Tip

🎧 Free Fallin' by Tom Petty

Song #10 Tip

Go Further!

These ten songs all use a capo and quite easy chords, so start exploring the idea of working out chord shapes and embellishments. If you have song suggestions, let me know in the Discussion section.

We're looking at crucial ideas here! Transcribing is one of the most powerful tools for unlocking your musical potential! Good luck with these songs, and take care. :)

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