Beyond the basic playback controls covered in earlier chapters, Capo offers sophisticated tools for fine-tuning how your song sounds and creating focused practice environments. This chapter explores adjusting pitch and key, setting up practice tools like Count-In and the Metronome, and mastering advanced scrubbing techniques that help you identify notes with precision.
Fine-Tuning Playback
Sometimes recordings aren't quite in standard tuning, or you need to shift a song to a different key to match your vocal range or make it easier to play. Capo provides controls for both subtle pitch adjustments and full key transposition.
Adjusting Pitch for Out-of-Tune Recordings
When a recording isn't quite at standard A440 pitch—perhaps it was recorded slightly sharp or flat, or the original artist tuned differently—you can adjust playback pitch in cents (hundredths of a semitone) to match your instrument's tuning. This keeps you from having to retune your instrument to match an out-of-tune recording.
To adjust pitch, click the pitch button in the toolbar to reveal the pitch controls, then drag the pitch slider left or right. Each semitone contains 100 cents, so moving the slider to +50 raises the pitch by half a semitone. The current adjustment is displayed below the slider.
Common scenarios for pitch adjustment:
- Matching a slightly sharp recording: If your instrument is in tune but the recording sounds sharp, adjust pitch by -10 to -30 cents until it matches
- Avoiding dissonance with chord feedback: When you click a chord or click in the spectrogram, Capo plays the note or chord sound tuned to A440. If the recording is out of tune, this creates unpleasant beating/dissonance against the audio. Adjust pitch to match the recording to A440 so the chord sounds play in tune with the original audio
- Fine-tuning to match other instruments: When playing with others, use pitch adjustment to ensure everyone is perfectly in tune
To reset the pitch to 0 cents, click the Reset button in the pitch controls.
Note: Pitch adjustment affects playback only—it doesn't change the detected chords or key. For key changes that update chords, use transposition instead.
Transposing to a Different Key
Transposition shifts the entire song up or down by semitones, changing both the playback pitch and all detected chords to match the new key. This is ideal when you need to sing in a different range, when the original key uses difficult chord shapes, or when you want to practice in a key that's easier for your instrument.
To transpose the song, click the key button in the toolbar to reveal the key controls, then drag the key slider left (down) or right (up). The slider displays the transposition in semitones below it: +2 raises the song by a whole step, -3 lowers it by a minor third, and so on.
As you drag the slider, watch the detected chords update to reflect the new key. A song in G major transposed up 2 semitones becomes A major—the G chord becomes an A chord, the C chord becomes a D chord, and so on.
Practical uses for transposition:
- Matching your vocal range: Transpose up 2-3 semitones if the original key is too low, or down 2-3 semitones if it's too high
- Avoiding difficult chord shapes: A song in Eb (with lots of barre chords) transposed up 1 semitone becomes E (easier open chord shapes)
- Playing with a capo: Transpose down to match the key you'll be playing in with a physical capo
- Learning in easier keys: Transpose a song in F# down to G or C for simpler chord shapes while you're learning
To return to the original key, click the Reset button in the key controls.
Tip: When playing guitar with a physical capo, set the capo position in Capo's settings first, then transpose if needed. This ensures the displayed chord shapes match what you'll actually play.
When and Why to Transpose
Understanding the difference between pitch adjustment and transposition helps you choose the right tool for your situation.
Use pitch adjustment when:
- The recording is slightly out of tune (less than 50 cents sharp or flat)
- You need to match another instrument that's tuned to a non-standard pitch
- You want to fine-tune without changing the song's key or chords
- The adjustment is small and measured in cents
Use transposition when:
- You need to change the song's key to match your vocal range
- The original key uses chord shapes that are too difficult
- You want to play along in a different key (like with a physical capo)
- You need a larger pitch shift measured in whole or half steps (semitones)
- You want the displayed chords to update to match the new key
Can you use both at once? Yes. You can transpose the song to a different key and then use pitch adjustment to fine-tune it. For example, transpose down 2 semitones to match your vocal range, then adjust pitch by +20 cents to match your slightly sharp piano.
Understanding the Detected Key
Capo analyzes your song and displays the detected key in the HUD. The detected key tells you the tonal center of the song—for example, "G Major" or "A Minor"—which helps you understand what chords to expect and makes it easier to identify when a detected chord might be wrong.
What the detected key tells you: - The tonal center of the song (the "home" chord that feels most resolved) - Whether the song is in a major or minor key - What chords are likely to appear (chords in the key signature) - A reference point for understanding chord progressions
How transposition affects the detected key:
When you transpose the song, the detected key updates automatically. A song detected as G Major transposed up 2 semitones shows A Major as the detected key. This updated key reflects the actual pitches you're hearing after transposition, making it easier to understand the relationship between the displayed chords and what you're playing.
Note: The detected key is analytical—it describes the song's tonal center but doesn't affect playback or chord detection. Changing the detected key manually simply relabels the analysis; use transposition to actually change the song's pitch and chords.
Practice Tools
Effective practice requires more than just slowing down and looping—you need to hear a steady beat, count yourself in before playing, and balance the mix so you can hear what matters.
Setting Up Count-In for Regions
When practicing a specific passage using a Region, you often need a few beats to prepare before the music starts. Count-In gives you a configurable number of bars (with or without the Metronome) before playback begins, letting you get your hands in position and mentally prepare for the passage ahead.
To enable Count-In, click the Count-In button in the toolbar. The button highlights when enabled. To adjust the Count-In duration, click the button again to reveal the Count-In controls, then select the number of bars—1, 2, or 4 bars are common choices.
When you start playback with an active Region and Count-In enabled, you'll hear the selected number of bars before the Region begins. If the Metronome is enabled, the Count-In uses the Metronome sound; if the Metronome is disabled, Count-In plays silent beats (you'll see the count in the Position Display but won't hear clicks).
When to use Count-In:
- Complex passages: A 2-bar Count-In gives you time to prepare for technically demanding sections
- Getting into tempo: Hearing the Count-In at the song's tempo helps you internalize the beat before playing
- Recording yourself: Count-In lets you start recording before the Region plays, capturing your performance from the first note
- Building muscle memory: Consistent Count-In timing trains you to start the passage at the right moment
Count-In duration guidelines:
- 1 bar: Quick passages where you just need a moment to prepare
- 2 bars: Most common choice—enough time to get ready without feeling rushed
- 4 bars: Slow songs or when you need extra time to position your hands
Tip: Count-In only plays when a Region is active. If no Region is active, playback starts immediately even with Count-In enabled.
Using the Metronome
The Metronome provides a steady click at the song's detected tempo, helping you maintain timing when playing along or verifying that you're feeling the beat correctly. The Metronome follows the detected beat grid, emphasizing downbeats (the first beat of each bar) with a higher-pitched click and other beats with a lower-pitched click.
To enable the Metronome, click the Metronome button in the toolbar. The button highlights when the Metronome is active. The Metronome plays during both normal playback and Count-In.
How the Metronome responds to speed changes:
When you adjust playback speed, the Metronome tempo adjusts proportionally. At 50% speed, the Metronome clicks at half tempo; at 200% speed, it clicks twice as fast. This keeps the Metronome synchronized with what you're hearing, making it easy to play along at any speed.
Practical uses for the Metronome:
- Learning timing: Play along with the Metronome to verify you're hitting beats accurately
- Building consistency: Practice with the Metronome to develop steady internal timing
- Checking beat detection: If the Metronome sounds off, the beat grid may need adjustment (see Song Structure and Organization chapter)
- Preparing for performance: Practice with the Metronome at full speed to ensure you can maintain tempo without it
Note: The Metronome volume is controlled separately in the Mixer (see next section), so you can balance it against the song audio and chord playback.
Adjusting Mixer Levels
The Mixer controls the relative volumes of the song audio, chord playback, and Metronome click. Balancing these levels lets you emphasize what you need to hear—perhaps turning down the original guitar to hear your playing more clearly, or raising the chord volume to confirm you're playing the right voicing.
To open the Mixer, click the Mixer button in the toolbar to reveal the Mixer controls. The Mixer displays three sliders:
- Song: Controls the volume of the original audio file
- Chords: Controls the volume of Capo's chord playback (when enabled)
- Metronome: Controls the volume of the Metronome click (when enabled)
Each slider adjusts its level independently. Moving a slider all the way to the left mutes that element entirely; moving it to the right raises the volume. The default position (middle) provides balanced levels for most situations.
Common Mixer scenarios:
Playing along with the original - Song: 70-80% (audible but not overpowering) - Chords: 0% (off—you're playing the chords) - Metronome: 30-50% (present but not distracting)
Learning chord voicings - Song: 50% (background reference) - Chords: 80-100% (prominent to hear exact voicings) - Metronome: 0% (off—focus on harmony, not rhythm)
Practicing without the original guitar - Song: 60% (enough to hear the arrangement) - Use Isolation (Mute mode) to remove the original guitar - Chords: 0% (you're playing) - Metronome: 40% (steady timing reference)
Transcribing bass lines - Song: 80% (need to hear the bass clearly) - Use Isolation (Solo mode, low frequency range) to emphasize bass - Chords: 0% (not relevant for transcription) - Metronome: 0% (bass provides the rhythm)
Tip: Mixer settings are saved with your Project, so you can return to your preferred balance next time you open the song.
Creating Custom Practice Loops
Combining Regions with Count-In, speed adjustments, and Mixer settings creates powerful custom practice environments. Here's a step-by-step workflow for building an effective practice loop for a challenging guitar solo.
Step 1: Create the Region
Use the region controls in the toolbar to create a Region around the passage you want to practice. Drag the Region handles to include a little extra space at the beginning and end—this gives you context for how the passage starts and ends.
Step 2: Enable Count-In
Enable Count-In from the toolbar with a 2-bar duration. This gives you time to position your hands and mentally prepare before the solo begins.
Step 3: Slow down playback
Click the speed button in the toolbar to reveal the speed controls, then drag the speed slider to 60-75%. Start slower if the passage is very fast or technically demanding—you can always speed up later.
Step 4: Adjust the Mixer
Use the Mixer from the toolbar and set these levels:
- Song: 70% (audible for reference but not overwhelming)
- Chords: 0% (you're playing the solo, not chords)
- Metronome: 40% (helps you stay in time at slower speed)
Step 5: Practice the loop
Press Play. You'll hear 2 bars of Count-In (with Metronome clicks), then the Region plays at 75% speed. The Region loops automatically, giving you repeated attempts. After each loop, you get another 2-bar Count-In to prepare.
Step 6: Gradually increase speed
Once you can play through the passage cleanly at 75% speed three times in a row, increase the speed to 85%. Continue raising speed in 10% increments until you reach 100%. The Count-In and Mixer settings remain consistent, so your practice environment stays the same—only the tempo changes.
Advanced variations:
For rhythm guitar practice: - Enable chord playback (Chords: 60%) to hear the correct voicings - Set Song: 40% to hear the strumming pattern faintly - Metronome: 50% to emphasize timing
For ear training: - Set Song: 100%, Chords: 0%, Metronome: 0% - Use Isolation to solo specific instruments - Turn off Count-In and focus on listening, not playing
For transcription: - Enable the Audio Freezer (see Audio Scrubbing Deep Dive) - Set Song: 80%, Metronome: 0% - Slow to 50% speed to hear note details - Scrub through the Region to identify individual notes
Tip: Save different Projects for different practice goals. Create one Project with a practice loop at 60% speed, another at 85% speed, and a third at full speed. This lets you track your progress and return to the appropriate challenge level each practice session.
Audio Scrubbing Deep Dive
Audio scrubbing—briefly introduced in the Learning Songs by Ear chapter—becomes even more powerful when you understand its full capabilities and advanced techniques.
Scrubbing Techniques on macOS
Drag the playhead in the Timeline to scrub through audio, adjusting your scrubbing speed to control how much detail you hear. Learn how to use scrubbing to find exact note boundaries, identify pitches, and verify transcriptions by comparing the frozen audio to your instrument.
Adding the Audio Freezer Toggle Button
On macOS, you can add a button to the toolbar that toggles the Audio Freezer. When enabled, the Audio Freezer continuously plays the current note(s) at the playhead indefinitely, freeing your hands to seek a note on the spectrogram or locate its position on your instrument.
Using Keyboard and MIDI Bindings for Scrubbing
For hands-free control, assign a keyboard shortcut or MIDI controller button to toggle the Audio Freezer on and off. This lets you enable the Audio Freezer with a foot pedal or keyboard press while your hands remain on your instrument, creating a seamless workflow for transcription and note identification.
Combining Scrubbing with the Spectrogram
In the Tabbing Song View, scrubbing becomes a multi-sensory experience: you hear the frozen audio while watching the spectrogram highlight the exact frequencies being played. This visual+auditory combination makes it dramatically easier to identify pitches, distinguish harmonics from fundamentals, and verify that the notes you're hearing match what you're seeing.
Last updated: October 08, 2025