Capo at fret 12
With the capo at fret 12, every open shape sounds 12 semitones higher than it would without a capo. The shape key for any target key is the target key 12 semitones lower.
- Capo position
- fret 12
- Transposition
- 12 semitones up. A shape played as written sounds an octave higher.
- Shape key rule
- target key minus 12 semitones
- What the shape families sound as
- C → C · A → A · G → G · E → E · D → D
- First-position note
- The higher the capo, the shorter the vibrating length, so bends become harder and the sixth and fifth strings are easier to press.
Major keys
| Target key | Shapes to play | Notes of the shape key | Relative minor |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | C shapes | C D E F G A B | A minor shapes in A |
| C# | C# (movable shapes) | C# D# E# F# G# A# B# | Bb minor shapes in Bb |
| D | D shapes | D E F# G A B C# | B minor shapes in B |
| Eb | Eb (movable shapes) | Eb F G Ab Bb C D | C minor shapes in C |
| E | E shapes | E F# G# A B C# D# | C# minor shapes in C# |
| F | F (movable shapes) | F G A Bb C D E | D minor shapes in D |
| F# | F# (movable shapes) | F# G# A# B C# D# E# | Eb minor shapes in Eb |
| G | G shapes | G A B C D E F# | E minor shapes in E |
| Ab | Ab (movable shapes) | Ab Bb C Db Eb F G | F minor shapes in F |
| A | A shapes | A B C# D E F# G# | F# minor shapes in F# |
| Bb | Bb (movable shapes) | Bb C D Eb F G A | G minor shapes in G |
| B | B (movable shapes) | B C# D# E F# G# A# | Ab minor shapes in Ab |
Minor keys
| Target key | Shapes to play | Notes of the shape key |
|---|---|---|
| C minor | C minor shapes | C D Eb F G Ab Bb |
| C# minor | C# minor (movable shapes) | C# D# E F# G# A B |
| D minor | D minor shapes | D E F G A Bb C |
| Eb minor | Eb minor (movable shapes) | Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db |
| E minor | E minor shapes | E F# G A B C D |
| F minor | F minor (movable shapes) | F G Ab Bb C Db Eb |
| F# minor | F# minor (movable shapes) | F# G# A B C# D E |
| G minor | G minor shapes | G A Bb C D Eb F |
| Ab minor | Ab minor (movable shapes) | Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb |
| A minor | A minor shapes | A B C D E F G |
| Bb minor | Bb minor (movable shapes) | Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab |
| B minor | B minor (movable shapes) | B C# D E F# G A |
Common progressions at this position
The first, fourth, fifth and sixth chords of each open shape key, and the chords they sound as with the capo at fret 12.
| Shape key | Chord 1 sounds as | Chords 4, 5 and 6m sound as | Shapes played |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | C | F, G, Am sound as F, G, Am | shapes played: C, F, G, Am |
| A | A | D, E, F#m sound as D, E, F#m | shapes played: A, D, E, F#m |
| G | G | C, D, Em sound as C, D, Em | shapes played: G, C, D, Em |
| E | E | A, B, C#m sound as A, B, C#m | shapes played: E, A, B, C#m |
| D | D | G, A, Bm sound as G, A, Bm | shapes played: D, G, A, Bm |
Related
- CapoCapo chart
- HubCapo reference
- ReferenceIntervals
- ReferenceKey signatures
- ReferenceNashville number system
- CapoCapo at fret 1
- CapoCapo at fret 10
- CapoCapo at fret 11