capo question

how to play in capo?
the whole song is in capo 2...
i assume i have to capo at second fret and start there cause that's what i read from book...haha...i don't know if it's right
but if i do, how do i play the chord C?
i play the C chord the original way as 1st fret 2nd string, 2nd fret 3rd string, and 3rd fret 5th string
so when capo at 2, does it mean i move everything 2 frets back and it's still a C chord??

and will it sound way off if i don't have a capo?
because i dont have a music store around me so i haven't bought it yet

Yeah, I would say that it goes on the 2nd fret.
The familiar open position chord shapes (those that use open strings) still work, but that C major chord in reality becomes a D major. To play an actual C chord with a capo, there's still the root at the 3rd fret 5th string. You just need to find the others. The next most common barre chord is shown below.

These are merely the usual string notes, not the actual notes that ring when capoed at the 2nd fret.
E---3
B---5
G---5
D---5
A---3
E----
Now whether the song you're learning truly intends the chord to be a C or merely the usual C chord fingering moved up 2 frets I dunno. And yeah...usually a song (played with the exact same chord shapes) will sound totally different compared to without a capo.

thank you for your reply

i understand that C is the root that is played on 3rd fret 5th string
but how do you tell where to play on the rest of the strings?

If you place a capo on the second fret, you have effectively moved the nut ( The white plastic peice ) up two frets.
All your open chords will be higher.
A C shape chord will be D
An A shape chord will be B
A D shape chord will be E
An A minor shape chord will be B minor
An E minor chord will be F sharp minor
An E chord shape will be F sharp

A Capo allows you to play more different chords, if you only know a limited amount of open chord shapes

does it work too if i barre the fret that is being cappoed?

so if capo = 2, i should barre second fret?
if i play C, do i play a C major chord by moving two back while my index finger barre the 1st and 3rd string at second fret?

cause this is hard....the barring finger i can only make the 3rd string sound but not the 1st string

i need some help on barring too
sometimes when i want to barre, mostly it's eith 3rd string doesn't sound or the first two strings don't sound
how can i improve on barring?

thanks in advance

barring just takes practice...ull deveop ur finger strength just like any other chord..

The capo is used as a barre - in the case of C you put fingers in the same shape, two frets higher and it becomes a D