Capo Positions and Tuning Down

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Copyright 2008 Don Adams

Table of Contents
Capo Positions ............................................................................................................................ 2 Tuning Down ............................................................................................................................. 3

Copyright 2008 Don Adams

guitarwebapp.com

Capo Positions and Tuning Down

Capo Positions
These graphics show the shift of chord root notes that happen when you place a capo at various frets. The top row of each graphic contains the chord root notes as they appear in the original music. The bottom row contains the new root notes to use. As an example, if the chord in the original music is F7, place a capo at the 5th fret, and you can play this chord using the fingering for a C7 chord.

Table 1. Capo Positions

The following table lists some of the original chords provided by the sheet music for a song. The second row of the table lists chord fingerings to use when a capo is placed at the second fret. Use the capo position graphics to determine the chord fingerings to use when a capo is placed at the seventh fret.

Table 2. Capo Position Exercise

Original Chords: Capo 2nd Fret: Capo 7th Fret: Dm6 Cm6 _________ A7/C# G7/B _________ Bm7 Am7 _________ E7sus D7sus _________

Copyright 2008 Don Adams

guitarwebapp.com

Capo Positions and Tuning Down

Tuning Down
These graphics show the shift of chord root notes that happen when you tune your guitar down below standard pitch. Tuning down is a technique used by many twelve-string, fingerstyle guitar players. The top row contains the chord root notes as they appear in the original music. The bottom row contains the new root notes to use. As an example, if the chord in the original music is Csus, tune your guitar down 4 halfsteps below standard pitch, and you can play this chord using the fingering for an Esus chord.

Table 3. Tuning Down

The first row in the following table lists the pitches of the open strings for a guitar in standard tuning. The remaining rows list the pitches of the open strings when tuning your guitar below standard pitch.

Table 4. Pitches of the Open Strings When Tuning Down Your Guitar
Standard Tuning: Tuned Down 1 Halfstep: Tuned Down 2 Halfsteps: Tuned Down 3 Halfsteps: Tuned Down 4 Halfsteps: Tuned Down 5 Halfsteps: E Eb D Db C Cb A Ab G Gb F Fb D Db C Cb Bb Bbb G Gb F Fb Eb Ebb B Bb A Ab G Gb E Eb D Db C Cb

Copyright 2008 Don Adams

guitarwebapp.com