To read a guitar tab with a capo, clamp the capo on the fret named at the top of the tab (for example "Capo IV" means the 4th fret), then treat the capo as the new nut: a 0 means play the string open behind the capo, a 2 means two frets above it, and every other number counts up from there. Almost every capo tab you will find is written this way, which is why the shapes look like familiar open-position chords.
The confusion starts when a tab does not follow that convention, or when the chord names above the tab do not match what you hear on the recording. This guide covers both systems, what the chord names mean, and how to convert between them. If you are new to tab entirely, start with how to read guitar tab and come back.
What does "Capo IV" mean on a tab?
"Capo IV" means put the capo on the 4th fret. Guitar music often uses Roman numerals for fret positions, so you will see Capo II, Capo III, Capo V, Capo VII, and so on. The same instruction may also appear as "Capo 4", "Capo 4th fret", or simply "C4" in a chord chart.
The capo marking usually sits at the very top of the tab, next to the tuning or above the first line. It applies to the whole song unless the tab says otherwise. If you miss it and play without the capo, every chord will sound in the wrong key while still sounding like a real chord, which is a common reason a tab "sounds off" against the recording.
Capo-relative vs sounding-pitch tabs
There are two ways a tab for a capo song can number its frets, and the difference matters.
Capo-relative tab counts frets from the capo. A 0 means the capo itself, a 3 means three frets above the capo. This is the standard way tabs and songbooks are written, because it lets you think in open-position shapes. A song in A played with Capo II looks exactly like a song in G with no capo.
Sounding-pitch tab counts frets from the nut, as if the capo were not there. With Capo II, every fret number is at least 2, and an "open" G string is written as a 2. This is less common, but it shows up in some software exports and transcriptions that do not know a capo was used.
| What you play | Capo-relative tab (Capo II) | Sounding-pitch tab |
|---|---|---|
| Open string behind the capo | 0 | 2 |
| G shape, 6th string root | 3 | 5 |
| D shape, top string | 2 | 4 |
| Lowest possible fret | 0 | 2 |
A quick way to tell which one you are looking at: if a tab says to use a capo but contains no 0s, 1s, or other numbers below the capo position, and the lowest number that appears is the capo fret itself, it is probably written at sounding pitch. Play the first bar against the recording both ways and your ear will settle it.
Chord shapes vs sounding chords
In a capo chart, the chord names describe the shapes you finger, not the chords that come out of the guitar. A capo raises every string by one half step per fret, so the shapes keep their names but sound higher.
The rule: sounding chord = shape + capo position in half steps. Some familiar examples:
- "Here Comes the Sun" is usually played with D-family shapes and Capo VII. The shapes say D, but the song sounds in A.
- "Wonderwall" is commonly charted with Em7 and G-family shapes at Capo II, so it sounds a whole step higher than the shapes suggest.
- A worship chart might show G, C, D, and Em with Capo III, which sounds in B flat for the band.
This is why a keyboard player reading the same chart without knowing about the capo will play in the wrong key. Some charts help by printing the sounding chord in brackets, like "G (A)", or by listing the concert key at the top. If you need the sounding chords for another musician, add the capo semitones to each shape name. Going from G: Capo I gives A flat, Capo II gives A, Capo III gives B flat, Capo IV gives B, Capo V gives C.
How to convert between capo and no-capo tab
To convert a capo-relative tab to sounding-pitch tab, add the capo number to every fret. A 0 with Capo III becomes a 3, a 2 becomes a 5. To go the other way, subtract the capo number from every fret. If any result would be below 0, that note cannot be played in that position with the capo, which tells you the tab was written for a different capo fret or none at all.
Converting is useful in three situations:
- You do not have a capo. Add the capo number to every fret and play the same notes from the nut. Open chords become barre chords, so this is harder, but it sounds identical.
- You want a different capo position. Moving the capo changes the key, not just the frets. If you need the song in a different key to fit a singer, the right approach is choosing a new capo fret and shape family, covered in how to transpose a song with a capo. That guide is about picking a capo to change key; this one is about reading what is already written.
- You are entering a tab into software. Guitar Pro and similar programs often have a capo setting. If the tab is capo-relative, set the capo in the file rather than retyping every fret, so playback sounds at the right pitch. Our guide to Guitar Pro files explains what those files store.
Getting a capo tab from a recording
Songscription's guitar arrangements can come with a capo. When they do, the tab shows a capo label at the top in the same "Capo IV" style, the fret numbers are relative to the capo, and the written key is shown relative to the capo too, just like a published capo chart. The PDF printout matches the screen, and you can also export the tab as a Guitar Pro file. Tabs are in standard tuning.
Because the tab reads like a published capo chart, everything above applies directly: put the capo where the label says, read 0 as the capo, and remember the shapes sound higher than their names. If you want the sounding chords for a bandmate, add the capo semitones as shown above. To check chord names against the recording first, the chord finder and our guide to getting guitar chords for any song are good starting points, and how to arrange a song for guitar covers shaping the part once you have it.
Related guides
- Tab basics: how to read guitar tab and what is tablature.
- Changing key: how to transpose a song with a capo.
- Chords: guitar chords for any song.
- Files: what is a Guitar Pro file.
- The bigger picture: the guitar transcription guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you read a guitar tab with a capo?
Put the capo on the fret named at the top of the tab, then read every fret number as counted from the capo instead of the nut. A 0 means play the string open behind the capo, a 2 means two frets above the capo, and so on. Most capo tabs are written this way, so you can play them with the same shapes you would use without a capo.
What does Capo IV mean?
Capo IV means place the capo on the 4th fret. Roman numerals are a common way to write capo positions and fret positions on guitar, so Capo II is the 2nd fret, Capo V is the 5th, and Capo VII is the 7th. You will also see it written as Capo 4 or Capo 4th fret, which all mean the same thing.
Are the chords in a capo chart the real chords?
They are the chord shapes you play, not the chords that sound. With a capo on the 2nd fret, a G shape sounds as an A chord, because every fret raises the pitch a half step. To find the sounding chord, move each shape name up by the number of capo frets. Some charts print both, with the sounding chord in brackets.
Can Songscription make guitar tabs with a capo?
Yes. Songscription's guitar arrangements can come with a capo. When they do, the tab shows a Capo label, such as Capo IV, the fret numbers are relative to the capo, and the written key is shown relative to the capo too, the same way a published capo chart works. The PDF printout matches what you see on screen. Guitar tabs are in standard tuning.
To get a tab from a song you want to learn, try the guitar tab generator.
