Entering Chords

In addition to entering notes, Capo also lets you transcribe the chords in your music. Using a powerful chord detection algorithm, Capo tries to save you some time by guessing the chords as you place them in your song.

To drop a chord entry

Capo's chord detection isn't perfect, and should only be used as a guide. Capo includes a very handy free-form chord parser that can recognize many different kinds of chords in an easy to type syntax.

For instance, "E flat major 7" can be entered as "ebmaj7", "F sharp diminished" can be entered as "f#-", and so on. Below you'll find a comprehensive list of shortcut strings that Capo will recognize.

To change a chord entry

To delete a chord entry

Capo's Detected Chords

Capo's chord detection is capable of detecting a fairly reasonable set of chords, but not nearly as many as you can enter using your keyboard. In particular, Capo can recognize the following chords:

Capo's Recognized Chords

Below are some examples of chord entries that Capo will allow you to enter using the keyboard. In most cases, the shortcuts will be obvious.

Capo implements most, if not all, of the chords listed on this handy Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_(music)

Root Notes

The root note of a chord can be entered easily, without requiring you to type a sharp or flat symbol on your keyboard. When appropriate, Capo will turn 'b' into a flat symbol, and '#' into a sharp symbol.

For instance, Capo will do the right thing with the following strings:

"eb", "g#", "c", "bb"

Chord varieties

5 Chords (Power Chords): "e5"

Major: "e", "bmaj", "c major"

Minor: "em", "bmin", "f minor"

Augmented: "e+", "b aug", "baugmented"

Diminished: "e-", "bdim", "co", "a0"

Add9: "cadd9"

Major 4: "e4"

Minor Add9: "fmadd9", "e minor add9", "a miadd9", "gmin add9"

Minor 4: "em4", "fmi4", "g min4", "a minor 4"

Diminished 7th: "e-7", "gdim7", "f diminished 7", "g o7", "a07"

Half-Diminished 7th: "e m7 (#5)", "fm7(#5)", "b halfdim7", "a half diminshed 7"

Minor 7th: "a#m7", "g minor 7", "f mi7", "a min7"

Minor major 7th: "f m(maj7)"

Dominant 7th: "a7"

Major 7th: "f# maj7", "ebma7", "a major 7"

Augmented 7th: "g7(#5)", "a+7", "f# aug7", "b augmented 7"

Augmented Major 7th: "c+maj7", "g maj7 (#5)"

Minor 9th: "cm9", "c minor 9", "emi9", "fmin9"

Dominant 9th: "f9"

Major 9th: "emaj9", "fma9"

Augmented 9th: "e+9", "g# augmented 9", "eb aug9"

Minor 11th: "f m11", "g minor 11", "amin11"

Dominant 11th: "a11"

Major 11th: "fmaj11", "g major 11"

Minor 13th: "e m13", "e minor 13"

Dominant 13th: "e13"

Major 13th: "e maj13", "e ma 13", "emajor13"

7th, Flat 5: "g7(b5)"

Augmented 7th, Flat 5: "f +7(b5)", "g aug7(b5)", "g# augmented7(b5)"

Minor 7th, Flat 5: "am7(b5)", "eb min7(b5)", "f mi7 (b5)"

7th, Flat 9: "f7 (b9)"

Augmented 7th, Flat 9: "g aug7 (b9)", "f+7(b9)"

Minor 7th, Flat 9: "f m7 (b9)", "e minor 7 (b9)"

7th, Sharp 9: "f7 (#9)", "g# 7 (#9)"

Augmented 7th, Sharp 9: "f +7 (#9)", "a augmented 7 (#9)"

Minor 7th, Sharp 9: "e m7(#9)", "eb min7 (#9)"

13th, Sharp 11: "a 13(#11)"

Suspended 2nd: "f sus2", "a suspended 2"

Suspended 4th: "bb sus4", "g suspended 4"

Major 6th: "f6"

Minor 6th: "am6", "eb minor 6"