How to Transpose Using a Capo
- 1). Decide the appropriate key and the relationship of that key to the current guitar arrangement. For example, if a singer wants to play the song in E, and the arrangement is in C with the open C, F and G chords, then the arrangement needs to be moved up two whole tones. On the guitar, each fret is a half tone, so that would be four frets.
- 2). Count up to the fourth fret on the guitar. Secure the capo at the fourth fret.
- 3). Play the song using the C, F and G chord shapes, as though the capo was now the nut, which is the bar at the headstock where the strings normally end without the capo.
