Originally Posted by: johnv31552What was confusing me was that I was thinking somehow you play completely different chords to put a song in a different key.[/quote]

Yes, you do play different chords to play the same chord progression in a different key. But the relationship between those chords remains the same.

It's like saying you are going use the distance of 6 inches on a ruler. You can start on 2 & go to 8. But if you start on 3 you'll go to 9. And if you start on 4 you'll go to 10.

[quote=johnv31552]In actuality, you simply move the capo based on the steps or half steps you need, but you play exactly the same chords.

Sort of. Using a capo allows you to use the same fingering shapes to play different chords in different keys. So, yes, moving the capo up 2 frets & using the same chord shapes as the key of A minor would make the sound of the chords now B minor without having to actually play different shapes.

Capos are pretty neat tools in that way. :)