How to Use Chords With a Capo on the Fourth Fret
Guitar players often use capos to change the pitch on their guitars. A capo is a type of clamp that is placed over the strings of the guitar inside a fret. When a capo is placed on the first fret of a guitar, all strings, when played, are a half step higher than normal. Each time the capo is moved to a higher fret, the sound the guitar makes becomes higher. When a capo is placed on the fourth fret, the sound of the guitar is two steps higher than normal because moving the capo to the fourth fret is four half steps, or two whole steps.
Instructions
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Place the capo on the fourth fret. Securely attach it so that it evenly pushes down all the strings within the fourth fret.
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Choose a song to play. If you are playing a song in the key of G, but need the song in the key of B, place the capo on the fourth fret, and all notes come across as if you are playing the song in the key of B.
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Play the regular chords. Assume the song you are playing has a chord progression of G, C and D. When the song is played in the key of B, or with the capo on the fourth fret, the chords you hear are B, E and F-sharp. This makes playing songs in different keys easier. You easily can bump of the key of a song by placing the capo on various frets to eliminate the need to transpose the song and learn it in another key.
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Transpose notes. Assume you are asked to play a song in the key of E-flat, which normally is considered a difficult key for guitar players. If the chords to the song are E-flat, B-flat and A-flat, place a capo on the fourth fret. Play four half steps down from those notes. By moving four half steps down, you play the chords C, G and F. When played with the capo on the fourth fret, the tones come across in the key of E-flat, but playing the song is much easier.
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References
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