diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d921626..6ec8154 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ git clone https://github.com/got-feedback/feedback-plugin-notedetect.git note_de
 5. The note's **gem lights up brightly** on the highway when you hit it cleanly — and a sustained note keeps glowing for as long as you keep playing it on-pitch; a miss is flagged on the note too
 6. Running accuracy and streak shown in the HUD
 
+**Capo charts** are read the Rocksmith way: a fretted note's fret counts from the nut (it already includes the capo), and only fret 0 means an open string, which sounds at the capo. A capo-4 E chord is charted `A7 D6 G0 B5`. The expected pitch is `open + fret` for fretted notes and `open + capo` for open ones. A `setVerifyTarget` context that passes `tuning` + `capo` is read the same way.
+
 > **How step 5 renders depends on the active highway renderer.** The plugin publishes a per-note judgment via Slopsmith core's `highway.setNoteStateProvider` hook (slopsmith#254 — honored by the bundled 2D and 3D highways; other renderers can read the same data from the core renderer `bundle`'s `getNoteState(note, chartTime)` method). On the **default 2D highway** the plugin *also* draws its own canvas overlay — the slide-down red ✕ miss markers below the now-line, the EARLY/LATE/SHARP/FLAT diagnostic labels, and the cyan "currently detected" indicator. On a **custom renderer** (e.g. the 3D highway) that canvas overlay is suppressed — the renderer owns the per-note feedback there (the 3D highway shows hit/active glow and a red miss outline + the diagnostic labels itself). The HUD (accuracy/streak), the end-of-song summary, and the optional screen-edge flash are DOM, not canvas, so they show under any renderer. On an **older core** without the hook, the plugin falls back to the 2D-canvas green hit ring / red miss marker overlay near the note regardless of renderer.
 
 ## Audio Input Channel Selection
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 98485f7..c04f63e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "slopsmith-plugin-notedetect",
-  "version": "1.32.0",
+  "version": "1.33.0",
   "private": true,
   "description": "Slopsmith note detection plugin — test harness for detection core",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/plugin.json b/plugin.json
index bb332a3..b5f4e05 100644
--- a/plugin.json
+++ b/plugin.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "id": "note_detect",
   "name": "Note Detection",
-  "version": "1.32.0",
+  "version": "1.33.0",
   "private": false,
   "script": "screen.js",
   "styles": "assets/plugin.css",
diff --git a/screen.js b/screen.js
index bd9025c..148fa49 100644
--- a/screen.js
+++ b/screen.js
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ const _ND_AUTO_ENABLE_RETRY_MS = 1500;
 // exact build that produced it. The script tag has no `import`/`fetch`
 // hook to read package.json at load time, so this is the single
 // hand-maintained constant the diagnostic path keys off of.
-const _ND_VERSION = '1.32.0';
+const _ND_VERSION = '1.33.0';
 
 // Bleed-rescue tuning for the low-bass blind spot. A bass DI's fundamental is
 // weaker than its 2nd harmonic and an open string / neighbour often rings the
@@ -514,7 +514,8 @@ function _ndVerifySigFor(arrangement, stringCount, offsets, capo) {
 //   • `tuning` / `offsets`: per-string semitone OFFSETS from standard tuning
 //     (the chart convention, matching the instance's tuningOffsets). `offsets`
 //     is also accepted so getVerifyContext() output round-trips back in. This
-//     path honors ctx.capo.
+//     path honors ctx.capo, with the chart's fret convention (fretted notes
+//     count from the nut, fret 0 sounds at the capo; see _ndAbsoluteFret).
 // Either array is read BY STRING INDEX — a non-finite entry maps to 0 in place,
 // never reindexed, so one bad string can't shift the others' pitch mapping.
 //
@@ -607,10 +608,35 @@ function _ndMidiToName(midi) {
     return _ND_PITCH_NAMES[pc] + octave;
 }
 
+// Capo charts follow the Rocksmith convention: a FRETTED note's fret is
+// absolute (counted from the nut, so it already includes the capo) and only
+// fret 0 means "open", which with a capo on is the capo fret. A capo-4 E
+// chord is charted A7 D6 G0 B5, not A3 D2 G0 B1. Adding the capo to every
+// fret put each fretted note `capo` semitones sharp, so capo charts barely
+// scored. Returns the fret counted from the nut.
+function _ndAbsoluteFret(fret, capo) {
+    return fret === 0 && capo > 0 ? capo : fret;
+}
+
 function _ndMidiFromStringFret(string, fret, arrangement, stringCount, offsets, capo) {
     const base = _ndStandardMidiFor(arrangement, stringCount);
     const offset = offsets && offsets[string] !== undefined ? offsets[string] : 0;
-    return base[string] + offset + (capo || 0) + fret;
+    return base[string] + offset + _ndAbsoluteFret(fret, capo);
+}
+
+// The desktop engine maps (string, fret) to pitch as open + capo + fret and
+// has no switch for the chart convention above. So hand it capo 0 and
+// rewrite open (fret 0) notes to the capo fret: the engine then expects the
+// same pitches as _ndMidiFromStringFret. Used by both bridge funnels
+// (setChart and scoreChord payloads both carry `capo` + `notes[].f`).
+// Returns the payload unchanged when there's no capo.
+function _ndEngineCapoPayload(payload) {
+    if (!payload || !(payload.capo > 0)) return payload;
+    const capo = payload.capo;
+    const notes = Array.isArray(payload.notes)
+        ? payload.notes.map(n => (n && n.f === 0 ? { ...n, f: capo } : n))
+        : payload.notes;
+    return { ...payload, capo: 0, notes };
 }
 
 function _ndClassifyTiming(timingErrorMs, timingThresholdMs, lateGraceMs) {
@@ -1406,7 +1432,9 @@ function _ndMidiToStringFret(midiNote, arrangement, stringCount, offsets, capo)
         if (dist < bestDist) {
             bestDist = dist;
             bestString = s;
-            bestFret = fret;
+            // `fret` counts from the capo here; report it from the nut,
+            // the way the chart writes it (see _ndAbsoluteFret).
+            bestFret = fret > 0 && capo > 0 ? fret + capo : fret;
         }
     }
     return { string: bestString, fret: bestFret };
@@ -3526,6 +3554,7 @@ function createNoteDetector(options = {}) {
     }
     function _ndBridgeScoreChord(ctx) {
         const a = _ndBridgeAudio(); if (!a) return Promise.resolve(null);
+        ctx = _ndEngineCapoPayload(ctx);
         if (sourceId != null && typeof a.scoreSourceChord === 'function')
             return a.scoreSourceChord(sourceId, ctx);
         if (sourceId == null && typeof a.scoreChord === 'function')
@@ -3540,6 +3569,7 @@ function createNoteDetector(options = {}) {
     }
     function _ndBridgeSetChart(chart) {
         const a = _ndBridgeAudio(); if (!a) return Promise.resolve(null);
+        chart = _ndEngineCapoPayload(chart);
         if (sourceId != null && typeof a.setSourceChart === 'function')
             return a.setSourceChart(sourceId, chart);
         if (sourceId == null && typeof a.setChart === 'function')
diff --git a/test/capo_expected_pitch.test.js b/test/capo_expected_pitch.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95047a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/capo_expected_pitch.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+// Capo charts: expected pitch follows the Rocksmith fret convention.
+//
+// A capo chart writes FRETTED notes at their absolute fret (counted from the
+// nut) and only fret 0 means "open", which with a capo on sounds at the capo
+// fret. A capo-4 E major shape is charted A7 D6 G0 B5: A7 = E3, D6 = G#3,
+// G0 (at the capo) = B3, B5 = E4. Adding the capo to every fret expected each
+// fretted note 4 semitones sharp (A7 → G#3), so capo charts barely scored.
+//
+// The desktop engine computes open + capo + fret itself, so the bridge hands
+// it capo 0 plus open notes rewritten to the capo fret — the same pitches.
+
+const { test } = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const { loadDetectionCore } = require('./_loader');
+
+function loadWithSandbox(before) {
+    let sb = null;
+    const core = loadDetectionCore({
+        sandboxBeforeRun(s) { sb = s; if (before) before(s); },
+    });
+    return { core, sb };
+}
+
+const G6 = [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0];
+
+test('capo 4: fretted notes are absolute, fret 0 sounds at the capo', () => {
+    const { sb } = loadWithSandbox();
+    const m = (s, f) => sb._ndMidiFromStringFret(s, f, 'guitar', 6, G6, 4);
+    // E major at capo 4: A7 D6 G0 B5 → E3 G#3 B3 E4.
+    assert.equal(m(1, 7), 52, 'A string fret 7 is E3, not G#3');
+    assert.equal(m(2, 6), 56, 'D string fret 6 is G#3');
+    assert.equal(m(3, 0), 59, 'open G under capo 4 is B3');
+    assert.equal(m(4, 5), 64, 'B string fret 5 is E4');
+    // Open low E under the capo is G#2.
+    assert.equal(m(0, 0), 44);
+});
+
+test('no capo: expected pitch is unchanged (open + fret)', () => {
+    const { sb } = loadWithSandbox();
+    const m = (s, f, capo) => sb._ndMidiFromStringFret(s, f, 'guitar', 6, G6, capo);
+    assert.equal(m(0, 0, 0), 40);
+    assert.equal(m(1, 7, 0), 52);
+    assert.equal(m(5, 12, undefined), 76);
+});
+
+test('capo + tuning offset: the offset still applies to the absolute fret', () => {
+    const { sb } = loadWithSandbox();
+    // Drop D (low string -2), capo 3: low string fret 5 is D2 + 5 = G2.
+    assert.equal(sb._ndMidiFromStringFret(0, 5, 'guitar', 6, [-2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0], 3), 43);
+    // Open low string under the capo: D2 + 3 = F2.
+    assert.equal(sb._ndMidiFromStringFret(0, 0, 'guitar', 6, [-2, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0], 3), 41);
+});
+
+test('capo 4: display fallback reports the fret counted from the nut', () => {
+    const { sb } = loadWithSandbox();
+    // E3 (52): first match is the low E string. Capo 4 → absolute fret 12,
+    // the fret the chart would write for it.
+    const r = sb._ndMidiToStringFret(52, 'guitar', 6, G6, 4);
+    assert.equal(r.string, 0);
+    assert.equal(r.fret, 12);
+    // A note sounding at the capo maps to fret 0 (open), as charted.
+    const open = sb._ndMidiToStringFret(44, 'guitar', 6, G6, 4);
+    assert.equal(open.string, 0);
+    assert.equal(open.fret, 0);
+    // And the round trip agrees with the expected-pitch mapping.
+    assert.equal(sb._ndMidiFromStringFret(r.string, r.fret, 'guitar', 6, G6, 4), 52);
+});
+
+test('engine payload: capo 0 plus open notes moved to the capo fret', () => {
+    const { sb } = loadWithSandbox();
+    const out = sb._ndEngineCapoPayload({
+        capo: 4, arrangement: 'guitar', notes: [{ s: 3, f: 0, ho: true }, { s: 1, f: 7 }],
+    });
+    assert.equal(out.capo, 0);
+    assert.deepEqual(out.notes.map(n => ({ s: n.s, f: n.f })), [{ s: 3, f: 4 }, { s: 1, f: 7 }]);
+    assert.equal(out.notes[0].ho, true, 'technique flags travel with the rewritten note');
+    // No capo → the very same payload object.
+    const plain = { capo: 0, notes: [{ s: 0, f: 0 }] };
+    assert.equal(sb._ndEngineCapoPayload(plain), plain);
+});
+
+async function flush(turns = 6) {
+    for (let i = 0; i < turns; i++) {
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+        await new Promise((r) => setImmediate(r));
+    }
+}
+
+test('desktop engine verifier receives capo 0 and absolute frets for a capo chart', async () => {
+    let pushed = null;
+    const audio = {
+        isAvailable: async () => true,
+        isAudioRunning: async () => true,
+        startAudio: async () => {},
+        getLevels: async () => ({ inputLevel: 0, inputPeak: 0, outputLevel: 0, outputPeak: 0 }),
+        getSampleRate: async () => 48000,
+        getPitchDetection: async () => ({ midiNote: -1, confidence: 0, frequency: -1, cents: 0, noteName: '' }),
+        setChart: async (chart) => { pushed = chart; return true; },
+        getNoteVerdicts: async () => [],
+    };
+    const intervals = [];
+    const { core } = loadWithSandbox((sb) => {
+        sb.setInterval = (cb) => { if (typeof cb === 'function') intervals.push(cb); return intervals.length; };
+        sb.highway.getSongInfo = () => ({ arrangement: 'Rhythm', tuning: G6, capo: 4 });
+        sb.highway.getNotes = () => ([
+            { t: 1.0, s: 1, f: 7, sus: 0 },
+            { t: 1.0, s: 2, f: 6, sus: 0 },
+            { t: 1.0, s: 3, f: 0, sus: 0 },
+            { t: 1.0, s: 4, f: 5, sus: 0 },
+        ]);
+        sb.highway.getChords = () => ([]);
+        sb.highway.getTime = () => 0;
+        sb.highway.getAvOffset = () => 0;
+        sb.window.feedBackDesktop = { isDesktop: true, platform: 'linux', audio };
+    });
+    const det = core.createNoteDetector({ isDefault: false });
+    await det.enable();
+    await flush();
+    for (const cb of intervals) {
+        if (pushed) break;
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+        await cb();
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+        await flush();
+    }
+    assert.ok(pushed, 'the chart should reach the engine');
+    assert.equal(pushed.capo, 0, 'the engine must not add the capo on top of absolute frets');
+    const frets = Array.from(pushed.notes, n => `${n.s}:${n.f}`).sort();
+    assert.deepEqual(frets, ['1:7', '2:6', '3:4', '4:5']);
+    det.destroy();
+    await flush();
+});
diff --git a/test/verify-target-context.test.js b/test/verify-target-context.test.js
index d5899e3..f5e88c9 100644
--- a/test/verify-target-context.test.js
+++ b/test/verify-target-context.test.js
@@ -133,7 +133,12 @@ test('setVerifyTarget ctx: scoreChord is called with the caller tuning, not the
     const req = env.scoreChordRequests[env.scoreChordRequests.length - 1];
     assert.equal(req.arrangement, 'bass', 'scoreChord arrangement must come from the ctx');
     assert.equal(req.stringCount, 5, 'scoreChord stringCount must come from the ctx');
-    assert.equal(req.capo, 2, 'scoreChord capo must come from the ctx');
+    // The ctx capo reaches the engine already applied: capo charts write
+    // fretted notes from the nut, so the bridge hands the engine capo 0 and
+    // moves only open notes to the capo fret (see _ndEngineCapoPayload).
+    // The target here is fretted, so its fret passes through unchanged.
+    assert.equal(req.capo, 0, 'the ctx capo is folded into the frets for the engine');
+    assert.deepEqual(Array.from(req.notes, n => n.f), [3], 'a fretted target keeps its fret');
     assert.deepEqual([...req.offsets], [-2, 0, 0, 0, 0], 'scoreChord offsets must come from the ctx');
     assert.ok(req.harmonicVerify === true && req.bypassMl === true,
         'still the harmonic-comb DSP verify path');