CAPO GUITAR
FINDING THE RIGHT KEY, MAKING ASSUMPTIONS, AND CAPOS | Mitch Bohannon
So, I was preparing for our Easter services and choosing songs. The new Chris Tomlin record released last September, but it really caught more of my attention as I started thinking about what to do for Easter. While setting up my classroom one morning,“ Still the King” came on, and I quickly determined it would be part of Resurrection Sunday.
In my preparation, I made a pretty major mistake. I grabbed the chart from CCLI, and it defaulted to the key of“ Eb.” I just assumed this was the key Tomlin was singing on the record, so as is my typical approach to Chris’ music, I dropped the key. I just chose to start with“ C” and took it to the team, practiced, and practiced again. The song just never had any power. I’ ve struggled with vocal difficulties lately, so I just felt like I didn’ t have any strength singing. My mistake … I never directly compared it to the recorded version that I was learning from! Last night at rehearsal, someone suggested to try a different key because it just felt flat. Exactly! with that shape that just don’ t sound the same with a“ C” shape.
Speaking of“ shapes,” that’ s how I think when playing the guitar. I think of chords in shapes and I think of those shapes through a progression just like it’ s a road map. Turn left and then turn right … up and down. There are so many ways to memorize shapes and progressions.( Please memorize!)
Back to my Easter situation, when I dramatically changed keys from“ C” to“ F,” I had to use a different set of shapes! What? Let me explain. With the Short-Cut Capo, I can play what I call“ E-Shapes” that are modified from the key of“ D”( D, A, Bm, G, Em) and I can also play what I call“ A-Shapes” that are modified from the key of“ G”( G, D, Em, C, Am). It’ s becoming more and more popular to implement the Nashville
Number System with your worship team. It’ s also a great way to think about each of those keys with the Short-Cut Capo. If you learn those as“ 1, 5, 6m, 4, 2m” you’ ll have one set of numbers for both of those keys. Then no matter where your capos are, those numbers stay true to the shapes.
What does all this have to do with finding the right key, making assumptions, and capos? I’ d say, it’ s not about us. It’ s about serving and blessing Jesus. The right key is not about what makes us comfortable, it’ s about what gets the congregation comfortable enough to sing and sing loud. Assumptions reveal a lack of preparation. Capos simplify and allow you to lead with freedom. Leading trumps guitar playing. We are to be our best, play our best, sing our best, strive for excellence … but ultimately, lead.
I finally pulled out my phone, played the recorded song, and low-and-behold, they were playing in the key of“ G #.” What?? I switched to the key of“ F” for me to sing it comfortably and it was the right move … total difference and much better.
1 |
2m |
4 |
5 |
6m |
E |
F # m |
A |
B |
C # m |
The beauty of a capo is that it allows you to move your chord-shapes into a different key without having to change your thinking. I’ ve heard all the jokes about capo-ing a bass or needing a capo for a piano. It’ s so helpful that every keyboard has a capo button labeled“ transpose.” They really ought to just write“ capo” on it IMO.
A Bm D E F # m
I’ ve always taught in my classes how a capo allows you to keep chord-specific characteristics / tricks and use them in a different key. For instance, a“ D” shape sounds like a“ D” shape and there are certain things you can do
Mitch Bohannon Mitch Bohannon and his wife, Noelle have been married for over 33 years with three adult kids and 6 grandchildren! Mitch developed the Short-Cut capo for Kyser and leads worship at Trinity Baptist in Orange, TX and is an English teacher in Louisiana.
66 April 2026 Subscribe for Free...