Capos and why?

[Jacew]

Re: Capos and why?

It is typically not about tuning to an open chord.

1. If you know a song in a certain key and for a new singer or for any other reason want or need to play the same chord forms in a new key a capo is useful.
2. The capo also allows you to play in the same key using completely different chord shapes elsewhere on the neck ... creating unexpected and therefore unique sounds. For example, with the capo at the 7th fret you can play a G using the cowboy chord C shape with the ring finger on the A string 10th fret and it just sounds like something that has not been played a million times. And yes, you can do the same thing with a barre chord but with less ability (due to one less finger) to throw in a little riffage or whatever.
3. A capo is also useful if you decide to go insane due to whammy bar use related tuning issues.

Cowboy C chord is not hard to play higher on the neck (I mean, if I can do it...). Try G on the other hand...

 

[Undone]

Re: Capos and why?

Wow...I appreciate all of the explanations. Certainly didn't see a capo thread running off the rails though....good grief. Thread closed. Back to TDPRI.........

 

[VinceT]

Re: Capos and why?

One thing that hasn’t been mentioned. Like any tool that’s designed for something simple (changing the open string key without having to retune), I’ve seen players who are using capos in creative ways to attain weird tunings of the guitar on the spot without having to retune. I’ve seen 2 or even 3 capos at a time and, sometimes, a capo cut so it only barres 3 or 4 strings. Kind of cool.

But, as ever, it’s a tool that you can choose to completely ignore (as I do Floyd Rose trems)

And @Undone, this thread isn’t typical of SD forums - so don’t disappear forever!


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[Chistopher]

Re: Capos and why?

One neat trick you can do with a capo is put it on the second fret, but not on low E string. That way you can do an open E power chord without moving your hands. I don't find it very useful, but I've seen people do it in occasion.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Capos and why?

Here’s Maneli Jamal (a wonderful musician) using a capo to barre 5 strings. Also, note that using open string as both drones and in runs.

(Warning: this video may cause severe self-doubt for acoustic guitarists [emoji1])

https://youtu.be/oLTcSDygMIo




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[Lazarus1140]

Re: Capos and why?

Cowboy C chord is not hard to play higher on the neck (I mean, if I can do it...). Try G on the other hand...

Very true

But back to the C shape - If you want to make it a C7 or add a 9 (according to my limited skills) without a capo you will need a spare finger or a friend.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Capos and why?

Our hometown virtuoso, Trace Buddy...

 

[Plessure]

Re: Capos and why?

I wonder if there's a forum somewhere that celebrates new folks being obnoxious.

To expand upon my earlier bluegrass comment, tons of bluegrass songs are in G. As a result, flat pickers tend to learn lots of runs incorporating that position and it's open strings and whatnot. If somebody wants to do a song in A, it's way easier to capo at the 2nd fret and treat it like you're still in G.

Is it or is it not true that capo'd strings sound like open strings? Was i or was i not correct in my correction?

Where does "obnoxious" come into play? Are you saying a relatively new user can't correct a blatantly wrong statement?

I merely held up a mirror to an attitude you had already displayed. Its amazing how quickly that gets the focus of some. You have certainly come in with a strident attitude of your own...as Briguy has mentioned, we've all taken note of it and responded in kind. You're in rarified company - there are not many who've garnered such a negative response as you since I've been here.

"Strident"?

I've made some kinda weird threads and now corrected a dude. You've been at me like a barking dog with zero arguments and all vitriol. Those are not the same things. That's not "responding in kind".

No, you haven't "all" done that. Get a spine.

My goodness, we should change this threads title to "Capo War I"

People could have accepted a simple, clear correction, but since i'm new they need to have this dumb pack mentality.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Capos and why?

Yes, capos and bar chords are indeed different things.

Capo'd strings still are and sound like fretted strings, not open strings. They don't give the "sound of open strings" in all the keys. They give the playability of open strings in all the keys. Then, of course, playability affects sound as we're talking about a musical instrument...

This is where you are wrong and showing a lack of experience. If a capo is placed with the right tension and nearness to the fret, it will ring out just like it was a nut. It's much more stable than barring with a bare finger. A bare finger is much more uneven in composition and downward pressure. The only material differences between strings open at the nut vs capo'd is that string bends/articaulation is more difficult with a capo (shorter string coupled with less give by the clamping of the capo) and sustain is slightly less (shorter strings), but sustain is still longer than barring with bare fingers.

You made a blind supposition without real experience or evidence, convinced yourself you are right with science imagined in your mind, and then turned around and declared everyone else wrong. The problem is the science you made up in your head didn't account for all the variables that are experienced in reality. Maybe next time actually try what's being discussed so you have at least some empirical evidence to support your view. But note that even then having some evidence still doesn't mean you are right. It just means you observed something that probably needs more testing and research.

 

[Undone]

Re: Capos and why?

Closing.....