Capos and Trasposing.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by anderson maples on February 16, 2012 at 7:45pm

I think you hit the nail on the head. Some folks stay away from capos because they are not good at transposing on the spot.  I have been using capos for years.  It is a great way to enhance the music if you ask me. I grew up playing bluegrass and I oftened capoed to fill out the sound better. I also use a capo on the second fret with the low string open. It gives me a drop D sound without actually dropping the D.  Ever try using more than one at a time.  I was watching Phil Keaggy and he sometimes uses two at one time and I tried it.  It is amazing how creative you can get with a capo. I don't mind barre chords. I can play them. But I would rather hear some open strings ringing out and that is another great use of the capo.  Chris Tomlin and Paul Baloche use the capo a lot in their sets so if it is okay for them, it should be okay for us. 

Permalink Reply by Benjamin Luce on March 28, 2012 at 5:05pm

Right on, Anderson!

Permalink Reply by Stevo on March 28, 2012 at 5:36pm

Well said. It's all about the disposition you want. If you can't get the exact pattern you want with one position, you might find it in another. Using the capo will free up your fingers to do things you can't otherwise do. Anyone who is a "no capo bigot" doesn't understand why they're used. You can't do everything you want by just using barre chords. 

Permalink Reply by Steven DeMott on April 2, 2012 at 4:54pm

I love capos. They can really change the feel of the guitar (and an arrangement). I actually keep a handful of capos in my case (all Shubb) with notches cut out of the rubber sleeves so it "misses" certain strings. This allows me to imitate alternate tunings just by slapping a capo (or 2) on the guitar.

I can't say that I always use a capo...probably less than 50% of the time, but I have no problems with guitarists who like to use capos. Go for it.

Permalink Reply by David Loeffler on July 10, 2012 at 4:52am

I have a short, 3 string capo also, just haven't learned how to use it very well yet.

Permalink Reply by David Loeffler on July 10, 2012 at 4:51am

I hear people say a lot of bad about useing a capo but every time I see a video with some famus worship leader useing one I always point it out and say see even he uses one. I love to use the capo on any song that I can't play the bar chords on. I have an electric guitar also that I am useing to try to learn some bar chords but for the most part if its not a standard chord I use a capo. Plus it gives a different sound than just the basic chords or even the bar chords, so every song doesn't sound the same as far as playing style. So I say use it when you need to, thats why they make them. I've been playing for about 8 1/2 years now so I use what I can to learn new songs, and if it takes a capo to do it, so be it.

Permalink Reply by Stevo on October 14, 2012 at 1:53am

There's a stigma for some that using a capo somehow means you're not a good player. But they couldn't be farther from the truth. If Michael Hedges and Tommy Emmanuel etc. use one, you can hardly say it's a sign of mediocrity.

Permalink Reply by David D Waggoner on October 15, 2012 at 10:55am

I completely agree on that.  I mean, if Keaggy uses a capo, could anyone charge him with not being a good player?

It is all about the sound.  IMO most acoustic guitars do not sound that good when you use all barre chords. (makes it sound too much like an electric) So if you are playing in flats, using a capo is a must if you want a real acoustic sound.

Also, if you have 2 acoustics and both players are strumming chords; capoing one at the 5th fret and transposing the key to the dominant will give you  a much fuller sound.

Permalink Reply by Sandra Elizabeth Gomes on February 4, 2013 at 3:07am

Yup! I agree.

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