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Why refuse a capo?
It seems that some guitarists think that using a capo is in some way cheating and therefore refuse to use one. I don't understand this as in my opinion many songs sound better when payed with capo chords rather than playing the "real" equivalent of those chords.
Does anyone else have any experience of this?
Does anyone else have any experience of this?
Tags: capo, capo chords, capo worship, cheating, worship
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Harold Fields on -
Many (if not most) capos in use today are the spring clip on style.
This type of capo does not permit adjustment to tension it applies to fretboard.
Capo Tension should only be tight enough to note cleanly (without buzz) allowing strings to move when bent. I 'twang' strings to accentuate chord changes w/o problems. Too much tension will eventually cause early fret wear. There are various types of manual capos, I've used Shubb for 30 yrs.
I also use it (often with the cut) on my Heritage acoustic electric. It helps maintain the 'flow' of Worship. I understand it is not for everyone, and that drop tuning may feel more pure, however not everyone can afford multiple (quality) guitars.
http://www.shubb.com/capos.html
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Permalink Reply by Pete Brower on -
Ok, everyone here seems to be 100% on the "why wouldn't you use a capo" side of the fence. I am firmly there too, now. I used to think the other way. That was because when I started playing guitar I played all electric and mostly lead. Playing lead guitar I just slid my lead playing formations to the right place on the neck and played. When playing chords I was mostly expected to play power chords which are based on bar chords. Someone else always played the acoustic and rhythm guitar parts. Boy was I naive back then. Since then God put me in the position of leading worship. This is one of many reasons I'm convinced God has an amazing sense of humor. Anyway, I had to go buy an acoustic guitar and really learn a lot of new styles and techniques of playing. I've now gotten so wrapped up in voicing differences that I would be dead without my full and cut capos. Like everyone here says, using a capo can add so much texture and depth to the chord voicings. I can understand the thinking that using a capo is cheating but I think that's a short sighted view based on inexperience and placing the importance on technical mastery of odd chord formations rather than focusing on providing the best possible worship experience for God's people. I will try anything now that I think may help me engage people better in worship. If it glorifies God it's not cheating.
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Permalink Reply by Shezz on -
I think it also kinda depends on ur style, if we play songs with clean electric guitar or acoustic then a capo is great. But for heavier stuff not so much. Power chords with a capo is a bit pointless i think?? But there's definitely nothing wrong with using a capo where it sounds cool :)
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Permalink Reply by Charles Wolff on -
Well, one reason NOT to use a capo is that, especially for those using thin strings, a capo can throw your tuning off. Even if the guitar still sounds in tune to itself, it may be out of tune with bass, keyboard, etc. Depends on your guitar, strings you use, etc., but this is a major peeve for me (I'm the bass player) in our band.
Also, capo'ing at the first fret tends to make the out-of-tune problem particularly bad. If you want to play a song in Eb, rather than capo'ing at the first fret and playing in D, capo to the THIRD fret and play in C. Detuning issues will be less severe that way.
Somebody mentioned that they play with a capo all the time, and, especially if you just put a capo on, tune up, and don't move it up and down the neck, that could work. If I was leading a band that had horns (or even a keyboard player who is more comfortable with "flats" keys), I would be tempted to play everything with a capo on the third fret - then when I'm playing in E, the piano is in G; when I'm in A, the piano is in C, me in D, piano in F, me in G, piano in Bb. Yeah, I'd have to write up separate chord charts for the guitar and the piano, but if it meant fewer missed chords on the piano, I'd do it. And, as above, I would put the capo on and then tune up, so that my guitar capo'd to 3, is still in tune with the rest of the world.
Charles
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Permalink Reply by MIke on -
Hey bro. If your capois throwing off your tuning, check out the shubb capo. I just bought one and it NEVER throws my guitar out of tune! just make sure you're not bending the strings when clampingit and you're good!
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Permalink Reply by Nick Johnson on -
One place that I think that capos need to be used more often is when there are multiple guitars involved in leading worship. Why have 3 guitars all playing open chords together when you can have guitars capoed at different frets. A lot of our congregational songs are in the key of B, so we have the electric playing open in B with the piano, and the acoustics capoed at 2 in A and 4 in G, giving different voicings to the song (Or in C, open, 3, and 5). This allows for a different blend of guitars, and avoids having everyone playing the exact same thing, which is a little hard to listen to and worship to in the congregation.
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Permalink Reply by gary mitchell on -
i have been playing worship 20plus years ive never used a capo myself,but have played with people who have, the only thing that bothers me if they forget their capo they seem to be lost. i just use good old bar chords are the real equivalent,and it works for me. if your going to use a capo thats fine but also learn to play with out one. remember be cool cause GOD RULZ
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Ritzema on -
Haha, the only time I refuse a capo is when it makes a song far too high for congregational singing...which, when playing with my band, is many times. One of my band members is a high tenor and likes to sing things waaayyyy up in the rafters. Unfortunately, congregational singing tends to put a limit on how high the capo can be.
I like the sound of capo on guitars though. :)
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Permalink Reply by Elman Authement on -
I'll use it to enhance the song, not because I can't play in a certain key. I like playing a C song with capo on the 5th fret and playing in G. Always adds if you've got a couple of guitar players in your group.
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Permalink Reply by Kat Newland on -
I play acoustic guitars, 6 and 12 string and I have been using a Capo for a long time and have had people in the past say I'm cheating. I look at it as making it more simpIistic; so when using the G, C, D chords and using a capo on the 3rd fret, I am now in the key of Bb (easier key to sing in for me) I don't have to worry about playing Bb, Eb and F which are harder chords to play, so when leading worship, who wants to worry about more difficult chords? I want to worship!
So, I have two reasons. 1. As some of you have said, a song sounds better when played with a capo. 2. A LOT of songs that I love to use in worship are written by men and therefore NOT IN MY KEY! Example, Matt Maher wrote a song that Chris Tomlin made popular "Your Grace is Enough" and Matt Maher plays it in the key of G without a capo too low or high for me and Chris Tomlin plays it in the key of A using the capo on the 2nd fret. I use the capo on the third fret and it is now in the key of Bb; not much of a difference going up one step further than Chris Tomlin but he sings high which is good for me when leading with his songs.
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Permalink Reply by Gary Trobee on -
Great points from everyone,
I use a capo but I also know the theory and different chord inversions. Acoustic guitars sound best with open strings. The voicing point is valid but sometimes using a capo misses the beautiful sound of playing the A chord with the root on the "B" string in the 10th fret. The first chorus of "Mighty to Save" in A is very pretty when you play the E/A with open strings. So if you need to play the song in another key a capo allows you to have the same affect.
I'm all for capos if you know the theory behind it or if you are continuing to learn. Don't let it become a crutch and limit your ability to grow. 1 Chronicles 15:27.
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Permalink Reply by daniel cash on -
I second that. I know of many guitar players that have to have "capo chord charts" in order to play songs that are capo'd. It's not a sin, but it does limit you in some ways because you not aware of what you're really playing (which can cause bass and piano players to hurl things at your head!)
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