Capo 3 chords

Capo on the third fret raise the key a whole and a half step. For example, a song in C major will now be in Eb major. A capo on the third fret will create possibilities to play some chords with easier fingerings in contrast to the otherwise common barre shapes. For example, Cm can be played with an Am shape and D#/Eb can be played with an C shape (see diagrams below).

Chord with capo 3

C

Cm

Cm7

D#

F

Gm

Gm7

A#

Comments

Fm is also possible with an Dm shape in this capo position.

What happens in capo 3?

Concerning the common open chords, the capo on first fret will change chord as follows:

C > D#
Am > Cm
D > F
E7 > G7
Gmaj7 > A#maj7

This is just a few examples.

Which means, among other things, that the key of A, for example, will shift to the key of C with capo on the third fret.