Capos

Session 5

Session 5

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When I first started out I needed a capo, I thought a capo is a capo just that no big deal until I sent my guitar out for a setup the guy at the shop told me the Luthier had discovered a couple of dented frets. The guy at the shop said just don't press so hard on the strings. Well I got to thinking I'm not pressing hard on the strings, then it came to me the capo. I had one of those Keysers with the spring loaded clamp on style. I figured it out I ditched it and started investigating these things. There are tons of these things on the market. After combing through videos etc, I made my decision on the Shubb S1 its stainless steel the things I like about it is this its compact doesn't take up a lot of room on the frets, there are other good ones out there as well but some of them to bulky for my liking. It is not spring loaded it has a little wheel that you tighten just enough tension til you hear the ring out of all the strings. The benefits from this capo stays in tune many of the spring loaded ones pull guitar out of tune. No more dented frets and no scuffed headstock.
 
I have a capo that I use for my acoustic guitar. It's made by D'Addario/Planet Waves. It's a very low profile capo with the thumb screw. I got it for the reason you cite - not pulling the guitar sharp when you put it on the guitar neck.

The black paint on it makes it look like it's plastic, but it's actually made from aluminum and it's very durable.

Planet Waves
 
Session 5 said:
When I first started out I needed a capo, I thought a capo is a capo just that no big deal until I sent my guitar out for a setup the guy at the shop told me the Luthier had discovered a couple of dented frets. The guy at the shop said just don't press so hard on the strings. Well I got to thinking I'm not pressing hard on the strings, then it came to me the capo. I had one of those Keysers with the spring loaded clamp on style. I figured it out I ditched it and started investigating these things. There are tons of these things on the market. After combing through videos etc, I made my decision on the Shubb S1 its stainless steel the things I like about it is this its compact doesn't take up a lot of room on the frets, there are other good ones out there as well but some of them to bulky for my liking. It is not spring loaded it has a little wheel that you tighten just enough tension til you hear the ring out of all the strings. The benefits from this capo stays in tune many of the spring loaded ones pull guitar out of tune. No more dented frets and no scuffed headstock.
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I also bought the Shubb after looking into it. My experience is limited since I only use it to check relief in the neck, but I do like the fact that the wheel allows you to adjust tension based on neck profile
 
Robert Herndon said:
View attachment 11019

I have never used one. I thought a capo was for people who are not proficient with Barre Chords...
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Don’t use a capo often when playing at home since bar chords are our friend. But I will use a capo when playing on worship team. Especially if there is another guy playing acoustic. Just puts me in a different place on the neck which gives me a slightly different sound than the other guy. Or he capos and I play without.
 
texred said:
Someone told me (boy the stuff people tell me) that a capo was used primarily for singing. So this, too, is incorrect?
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Well...I suppose if a male vocalist was having some difficulty with reaching (Iron Maiden's) Bruce Dickenson's upper range, a capo could be used to some effect. Just for example. I’m not a subscriber to this methodology.
 
iblive said:
Don’t use a capo often when playing at home since bar chords are our friend. But I will use a capo when playing on worship team. Especially if there is another guy playing acoustic. Just puts me in a different place on the neck which gives me a slightly different sound than the other guy. Or he capos and I play without.
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I see that a lot in worship music. I was Visalia First Assembly's Lead Guitarist for 7 months in 2011. That's my only worship team experience...Always felt out of place playing in church....maybe because of starting out in places like this????

Dead Rat Saloon.jpg

Dead Rat Sign.jpg
 
Robert Herndon said:
I have never used one. I thought a capo was for people who are not proficient with Barre Chords...
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I used to think the same thing. But, after looking around I little, I saw skilled guitarists use them - pro guitarists who certainly know how to form a barre chord.

The real purpose of a capo is to change the key of a guitar. Think of it as the opposite of detuning. This allows you to preserve chord voicings in different keys.

Ever notice how an open G doesn’t sound the same as a barre G? That’s because of the voicing of the chord. A capo allows you to play in a different key, but keep the chord voicing.

I find them to be restrictive with electric guitar because I don’t play electric like acoustic. But, they can be very useful with acoustic.
 
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smitty_p said:
I used to think the same thing. But, after looking around I little, I saw skilled guitarists use them - pro guitarists who certainly know how to form a barre chord.

The real purpose of a capo is to change the key of a guitar. Think of it as the opposite of detuning. This allows you to preserve chord voicings in different keys.

Ever notice how an open G doesn’t sound the same as a barre G? That’s because of the voicing of the chord. A capo allows you to play in a different key, but keep the chord voicing.

I find them to be restrictive with electric guitar because I don’t play electric like acoustic. But, they can be very useful with acoustic.
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Exactly you hit the nail on the head smitty-p. I use it for these reasons on occasion.
 
smitty_p said:
I used to think the same thing. But, after looking around I little, I saw skilled guitarists use them - pro guitarists who certainly know how to form a barre chord.

The real purpose of a capo is to change the key of a guitar. Think of it as the opposite of detuning. This allows you to preserve chord voicings in different keys.

Ever notice how an open G doesn’t sound the same as a barre G? That’s because of the voicing of the chord. A capo allows you to play in a different key, but keep the chord voicing.

I find them to be restrictive with electric guitar because I don’t play electric like acoustic. But, they can be very useful with acoustic.
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Good point. I don't even own one! LOL!

I do recall seeing Don Felder de-tuning his 12 and using one...and I also recall asking him why one time and his reply was associated with changing the pitch of the song to Bm, to suit Henley's vocals, and to change the chord voicing, as you guys have mentioned....I just never gave this much thought, because we have always played Hotel California in Am.

Note, in this photo - from around 1977-78, Don's at the 7th fret on the 12 string neck:
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Don felder 3 Hole.jpg

And in this photo below, taken recently during Don's solo career, he's using the capo at the 5th fret:

Don Felder Replica.jpg

Still tripping on Don's use of 3 hole TRC's, to such a degree, that Gibson includes the 3 hole TRC's on the "Hotel California" EDS-1275.

Don Felder EDS-1275 Model Gibson.jpg
 
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Robert Herndon said:
And in this photo below, taken recently during Don's solo career, he's using the capo at the 5th fret:

View attachment 11032
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That's an interesting photo. With a capo at that position, he could play a song in C, but have the same chord voicing as if he were playing in open G. (I'm assuming his guitar is in standard tuning).

It's too bad that capos have developed a reputation as being a "cheater" tool for people who don't know more chords. Like I said, that's the attitude I used to have, until I started digging into it more and learned what they really allow you to do.
 
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