What is your capo for?

I don't use one, thats what my index finger is for but .......... I play mostly electric and see myself as more of a guitarist than singer. If you play acoustic guitar (hard to barre strings) and need to play in a key you can sing in (like a real singer) the capo allows you to play the open chords and take advantage of "open" strings while you sing and play in a key that suits your voice or the particular song you are playing. When I think capo I think acoustic guitar, ballads and someone with a nice voice. (None of those are me :mrgreen: )

My capo is to clip onto the headstock, to make me look like everyone else? :lol:

I agree with you, but it works both ways. Sometimes, you can use a capo to be creative, when you play along with other people, who are using the open position.

So, if you know your stuff and are creative (I have seen a guy who is wonderful at this) - they do NOT use a capo; and you may use a capo to create different voicings and sounds with some of the notes of the chord in a different octave? :shock:

Now if you're planning on playing any Michael Penn and want to take the easy way, umm... there's where a capo is handy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pmTruFmrAU&feature=related

Well it might make sense if he's a singer to be able to change keys quickly to find the right range for his voice. Just a guess.

It sounds like he is using it so he doesn't need to learn new chords or patterns, but guitar is a lot like golf, no one asks how, just how many.

This:
the capo allows you to play the open chords and take advantage of "open" strings while you sing and play in a key that suits your voice or the particular song you are playing.

+1, also for cnev's comment - let's you play in the range of your voice.

Regarding open chord voicings, take a look at David's lesson on the Melissa, at the end of this article (hasn't yet been removed by the copyright gestapo!):
https://www.guitarnoise.com/lessons/double-your-pleasure/

I use those open ringing chord voicings every chance I get when I play acoustic at church, even on a 6-string. Adds a richness to the sound that is missing with barre chords. If the song I'm playing is in E, no problem. But if it's in F? Well, capo on 1 and play the open chords in E. Song's in G? Capo on 3, play it open in E. Of course you have to transpose, but it's worth the effort to me. So, that's what "my" capo is for. 8)

Sometimes it's just easier to play, for instance, G/Em/C and D than it is to play Ab/Fm/Db and Eb....to play the latter, you'd capo at the first fret and play the first set of chords. That's generally the reason most people use a capo!

:D :D :D

Vic

Well I can say I use my capo for all the reasons given above. I like to sing along to a lot of songs, and I sing terrible in my low range. I'll stick it on to raise the pitch to a level where the lowest note I have to sing can be sung without my voice cracking.

Sometimes I do it to brighten up a song, Bob Marleys - Three Little Birds sounds better higher up the freboard for instance.

Sometimes I do it when fingerpicking a fast song so the open strings dont ring as much (I'm prone to overpicking when getting tense! TWANGGGG!). I feel they sound more like fretted notes. sometimes I do it just for a change when playing the same song over and over.

Sometimes I'll use it to raise the pitch of a song to match a backing track or whatever, without tuning my guitar differently.

Mainly though, it helps me play in other keys without relearning it. This is definitely a shortcut and crutch that I'll have to get rid of.

I play mainly acoustic at the moment but I played for a year and a half on electric prior to that.

Steve Earle once said, "The only key I know is 'G'." :lol:

He has written some really beautiful, nuanced guitar melodies, full of slash chords, etc., but they're basically built off G, C and D open forms and then capoed accordingly.
:)

I hardly ever use a capo. When I do, it's for singing. If I'm only strumming chords and singing, I just transpose. But sometimes I play a fingerstyle arrangement and alternate with singing while playing a simplified fingerstyle version. Using a capo is a lot easier than transposing for that.

Another thing you can use a capo for - stick it on the 12th fret of an electric guitar, and play the same chords the rhythm guitarist is playing....

:D :D :D

Vic

I never use a capo.....& unfortunately, I feel it's something I should learn to play comfortable with.

example....Scarborough Fair....7th fret.....that's the only one for me......Alice's Restaurant was originally in the key of Eb.....but I think he changed it & I don't play it anymore, so it doesn't matter.

I bought a capo once to adjust the height of the bridge (or something like that) as directed by an old guitar manual. I forget the details. It involved putting a capo on the first fret and measuring the height of the strings at the 12th fret with a metal ruler. It's the only time it's ever been used. It didn't seem to make much difference so I never tried it again (which is why I don't remember the details).

I don't like them because putting the capo on and then fretting a string on top of that makes the note a little sharp. I know people who argue that point, but tune your guitar, adjust the intonation of the bridge, put a capo on, and play a note above the capo with your finger. Look at the guitar tuner, it will be sharp.

Of course, whether it is too sharp is up to you.

I started playing guitar by playing barre chords, so I never had a need to use one. In fact, I prefer not to play those open string chords, and only do so when the music requires those chords. Fortunately, most of the music I play works better with barre chords so I can control the amount of sustain with my left hand.

But there is more than one right way to play music. I don't want to dis a capo user, it's just not for me.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Notes, it sounds like your guitars need some attention. If you're sharp when fretting over a capo, it stands to reason you'll be sharp when fretting over barre chords.

Myself, I use capos on acoustic guitar all the time, but rarely on electric. With two acoustic guitars, or acoustic guitar and mandolin, the capo allows arrangements that take advantage of open-string harmonics and interesting combinations of chord voicings. It makes the sound livelier.

On electric guitar, I used a capo once to overdub a rhythm part on a densely layered track. It saved time and money and got the job done, which I think is the point.

+1 on Notes' guitar, capo or capo use requiring some modification/adjustment.

I've never needed a capo to help me play a chord, but … it is a great voicing tool, and partial capoing creates instant alt tunings.