Published by PitchChanger · Updated · How these guides are made
How to use this workflow
Tune the open strings first
Remove the capo and tune to the intended open-string tuning. The Standard preset expects E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4, using A4 = 440 Hz. Fit the capo according to its instructions, close behind the intended fret, then recheck. Excess pressure or uneven contact can alter the actual result.
Check sounding notes in Auto
A full capo raises every open-string sounding note by the fret count in semitones. Use Auto to read those raised notes against a written map. A locked low-E target remains E2 even when the capoed sixth string sounds F♯2 at fret 2. Do not loosen that string toward E2 just to center the wrong target.
Original fret-two sounding-note map
For a standard-tuned guitar with an ideal full capo at fret 2, add two semitones to every string. The intended frequency ratio is 2^(2/12), approximately 1.122462. The notes below are calculated targets; no physical capo or guitar was measured for this table.
This map assumes the capo covers all six strings. A partial capo changes selected strings and needs its own map. The tuner hears the resulting pitch, not the chord shape name a player uses. A G-shaped fingering with a capo is therefore not evidence that the sounding key is G.
Swipe or scroll sideways to read all columns.
| String | Without capo | Full capo at fret 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | E2 | F♯2 |
| 5 | A2 | B2 |
| 4 | D3 | E3 |
| 3 | G3 | A3 |
| 2 | B3 | C♯4 |
| 1 | E4 | F♯4 |
Remove the capo before returning to open targets
If one string is unexpectedly sharp after fitting the capo, check placement and pressure before turning its peg. Reposition and repeat. If you choose a small final adjustment for performance, remember that the open-string setup may need rechecking when the capo comes off.
The browser tuner has no automatic capo compensation control. A raised sounding note is not an error message and does not mean the tuner detected the wrong octave. Keep capo position and tuning written beside the arrangement.
Common questions
Does a capo change the tuner’s reference frequency?
No. The tuner still uses A4 = 440 Hz. The capo changes the vibrating string length and therefore its sounding pitch; it does not recalibrate the browser tuner.