We printed this chart and taped it to the wall of our rehearsal room years ago. It's the single most-asked question from guitarists on our team who are still learning: "We're playing in Bb — where do I put my capo?" The answer: Capo 3, play G shapes. Capo 1, play A shapes. Once you know this, you can play in any key using only the four or five open chord shapes you already know.
The capo is one of the most underrated tools in worship guitar. It lets a beginner guitarist play in the keys your vocalist needs without having to learn barre chords — and it lets an experienced guitarist choose the voicing and position that sounds richest on their particular instrument. A G shape with Capo 2 doesn't just transpose — it also changes the texture, the resonance, the way the open strings ring.
Our worship team rule: if two guitarists are playing the same song, one plays without capo using barre chords and the other uses a capo with open shapes. The result is a fuller, more layered sound than both playing identical voicings.