Hi all,
Bit of a problem that I suspect I already know the answer too, but looking for some confirmation really........
Ever since I owned my first guitar (quite a while now) I've always brought medium gage strings - but I recently tried out a set of extra lights.....
Well, things seemed brilliant to be honest, suddeny I could play every bar chord I wanted to etc and they all sounded perfect, so I was well happy and thought I was converted to extra lights for life - but now the down side.
Ive found that when I put a capo on my guitar its almost impossible to get the strings sounding correct, esp when I go all Paul Simon and play with one on the 7th fret.
This was never an issue for me in the past - so I suspect that it may be a side effect of the extra lights, but then again, maybe my Capo is just not up to the job anymore, and I need a better one.
Has anyone else had this problem? Im thinking maybe I should move up to lights, or poss string one of my acoustics with mediums for fingerpicking
All the best
Steve Saunders
With lights I find you have to be very careful when putting a capo on - all the strings must be pushed down, not sideways-and-down. You have to put it in place, then hold it away from the strings and lower it onto the strings as straight as possible, and tighten it without letting it move.
Also, if you overtighten it, you can cause the strings to raise in pitch too, more so if you have especially high frets - so only tighten it as much as you need to eliminate buzz and keep it in the same place, don't just tighten it as much as you can 'just in case' :)
A common cause of over-stretching strings is to place the capo too near to the fret - in other words, if you're putting a capo on at the second fret, put it half-way between frets 1 & 2. I have a simple mnemonic - Not 2 near 2 fret 2....not too near to fret two.
(Came to me one day when I was playing "Wonderwall"....)
:D :D :D
Vic
(I use 9's, BTW.....)
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
I find if I'm using a capo that I have to touch up the tuning also . You might try going up just one gage? --ken
When changing string gauges, doesn't that effect intonation which could effect the use of a capo?
Bish
"I play live as playing dead is harder than it sounds!"
I was assuming It was an acoustic Guitar, but it will on an electric. I don't seem to have that problem on the acoustics.--ken
