A capo on a ukulele works the same way as on a guitar: it clamps the strings at a chosen fret and raises the pitch by one semitone per fret, so the shapes stay the same and the key changes. A capo on the 2nd fret raises a C shape to D major, and a G shape to A major, just as on guitar.
How does a capo work on a ukulele?
A capo on a ukulele works the same way as on a guitar: it clamps the strings at a chosen fret and raises the pitch by one semitone per fret, so the shapes stay the same and the key changes. A capo on the 2nd fret raises a C shape to D major, because C plus two semitones is D, and a G shape to A major, because G plus two semitones is A, just as on guitar. The ukulele capo is smaller, because the ukulele neck is narrower and the strings are closer together, but the principle is identical, and the maths is the same: one semitone per fret, every string raised by the same amount. The ukulele capo is used for the same reasons as the guitar capo: to change the key of a song without changing the shapes, to make a song easier to play by using open shapes in a hard key, and to match a singer's voice. A song in Eb major needs barre chords on ukulele, but with a capo on the 3rd fret you can play it with C shapes, which are open and easy. The ukulele is tuned G, C, E, A, with the G string tuned high, a re-entrant tuning, so the capo raises the G string to A at the 2nd fret, and the open strings become A, D, F#, B. The capo calculator works out the fret for any key, and the ukulele tuner checks the tuning after you place the capo.
How a ukulele capo changes the sound
A ukulele capo changes the sound in the same two ways as a guitar capo: it raises the pitch, and it changes the tone. The pitch rises by one semitone per fret, so a capo on the 5th fret raises the ukulele by a perfect 4th, five semitones, and a capo on the 7th fret raises it by a perfect 5th, seven semitones. The tone changes too, because the strings are shorter, so they sound brighter and thinner, with less bass and more sparkle, and a ukulele with a capo on the 7th fret sounds very bright and jangling, which is good for shimmering, open sounds but bad for a warm, full accompaniment. The ukulele capo must fit the ukulele neck, which is narrower and flatter than a guitar neck, so a guitar capo will not work well on a ukulele, and a ukulele capo will not work well on a guitar. The pressure must be even, just enough to stop the buzzing and no more, or the strings will go sharp, especially the nylon strings, which are more sensitive to pressure than steel strings. The C major ukulele chord with a capo on the 2nd fret sounds as D major, and the G major ukulele chord with a capo on the 2nd fret sounds as A major.
Worked example — playing in Eb on ukulele with a capo. Eb major is a hard key on ukulele, because its chords, Eb, Fm, Gm, Ab, Bb, Cm and Ddim, are mostly barre chords. Put a capo on the 3rd fret and play C shapes instead: a C shape sounds as Eb major, because C plus three semitones is Eb, an F shape sounds as Ab major, because F plus three semitones is Ab, and a G shape sounds as Bb major, because G plus three semitones is Bb. The open strings with a capo on the 3rd fret are Bb, Eb, G, C, which are the notes of the Eb major scale, and the key of Eb major lists the chords.
How to practise with a ukulele capo
Practise by playing the same song at several capo positions, so you learn to hear the key change without changing the shapes, and the ukulele capo becomes as natural as the guitar capo.
- Play a C shape with a capo on the 2nd fret, and name the chord it makes, D major, before you check it against the capo chart.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major with a capo on the 2nd fret, and listen for the key rising to D major.
- Take a song in Eb major and play it with a capo on the 3rd fret using C shapes, checking that the chords sound right.
- Practise placing the capo quickly and cleanly, just behind the fret wire, so you can move it between songs without a long pause.
- Use the ukulele tuner to check your tuning after you place the capo, and retune if the strings have gone sharp.
Common mistakes
- Using a guitar capo on a ukulele — A guitar capo is too wide and too strong for a ukulele neck, and it will not press the strings evenly, so the ukulele will buzz or go sharp. Use a capo made for ukulele, with a narrower pad and lighter pressure.
- Putting the capo in the middle of the fret — A capo in the middle of a fret will buzz, because the strings are not pressed firmly against the fret wire. Put the capo just behind the fret wire, close to it, so the strings are held down cleanly.
- Forgetting to retune — Putting a capo on can pull the nylon strings slightly sharp, so check your tuning after you place the capo, and retune if necessary, especially the G string, which is the most sensitive.
Quick reference
This table shows what a capo does to a ukulele at each fret, with the chord each shape makes and the open strings it creates, so you can see the maths working on a four-string instrument. The ukulele is tuned G, C, E, A, and the capo raises every string by one semitone per fret, just as on guitar.
| Capo fret | C shape sounds as | G shape sounds as | Open strings become |
|---|---|---|---|
| No capo | C major | G major | G – C – E – A |
| 1st fret | C# major | G# major | G# – C# – F – A# |
| 2nd fret | D major | A major | A – D – F# – B |
| 3rd fret | D# major | A# major | A# – D# – G – C |
| 5th fret | F major | C major | C – F – A – D |
Use the table to find the capo fret for any key on ukulele, and test yourself by covering the second and third columns and working out the chord from the shape and the fret. When you can work out any ukulele capo position without looking, the capo is as natural on ukulele as it is on guitar.
Frequently asked questions
How does a capo work on a ukulele?
It clamps the strings at a chosen fret and raises the pitch by one semitone per fret, so the shapes stay the same and the key changes. A capo on the 2nd fret raises a C shape to D major, and a G shape to A major, just as on guitar.
Can I use a guitar capo on a ukulele?
Not well. A guitar capo is too wide and too strong for a ukulele neck, and it will not press the strings evenly, so the ukulele will buzz or go sharp. Use a capo made for ukulele, with a narrower pad and lighter pressure.
What fret should I put the capo on for a ukulele?
It depends on the key you want and the shapes you want to use. To play in D major with C shapes, put the capo on the 2nd fret, and to play in Eb major with C shapes, put it on the 3rd fret, just as on guitar.
Does a capo change the sound of a ukulele?
Yes. The strings are shorter, so they sound brighter and thinner, with less bass and more sparkle. A ukulele with a capo on the 7th fret sounds very bright and jangling, which is good for shimmering sounds but bad for a warm accompaniment.
Do I need a special capo for a ukulele?
Yes, a ukulele capo, which is smaller and lighter than a guitar capo, with a narrower pad that fits the ukulele neck. A guitar capo will not press the strings evenly, and it can pull the nylon strings sharp.