Shubb Fine Tune guitar capo

Guitar Capos Reviews – How Guitar Capos Can Change the Way You Sound

 Last update 5/2/2024

The more you play the guitar, the more you should become familiar with some of the finer aspects of music theory. Yes, we know that just mentioning the term can strike fear into the hearts of even the bravest musicians. Nonetheless, things that may not have made much sense at the start may be starting to sink in a little after some time.

One of these concepts is the key to a song. So what are you supposed to do if you want to play a song in, for example, the key of Eb? The last we knew, there were no open chords that fit the bill, and let’s face it – playing barre chords (and playing them the right way) isn’t necessarily the easiest thing to do, particularly for a beginner.

If you’re looking for a way to get a different sound from your guitar. A capo is a no-brainer. Players use capos to get that unique sound that only a Capo can offer.

Guitar Capo Reviews

Guitar capos benefits

Not only that but sometimes the key of a song is just wrong for what the range of your voice can handle. Changing keys to get things comfortable vocally to hit all notes is uncommon. So then what?

The answer to all of this is pretty simple – use a capo.

Today, we’ll look at a capo, how it works, and some tips for correctly using it.

What is a capo?

How to fit a capo 5th fret
How to fit a capo 5th fret

A capo is a small device that acts as a ‘movable nut’ on your guitar neck. It wraps around the neck between two frets and, out of those two frets, makes the one closest to the bridge act as the nut.

You can place the capo between the nut and the 1st fret using our’ key of Eb’ example above. Try playing an open D chord fingering once it is adequately positioned (more on later).

Guess what? You now will be playing an Eb chord instead of a D!

It’s often cited in guitar tab and chord charts when to use a capo as ‘Capo X’ where ‘X’ means the fret that’s, again, closest to the bridge. So in our example above, that would be ‘Capo 1’ since the capo would be positioned between the nut and the first fret.

Capo 2

Let’s take things a step further: place the capo at Capo 2 (it should be located between the 1st and 2nd frets). Play that same open D chord; you now have an E chord.

Do you see the possibilities here? Playing a song on the acoustic may often mean playing some fingerpicking with open chords to let the notes ring out to get a more lush sound.

With a capo, that’s no longer an issue, regardless of the key. And if you do have to change keys to be able to sing? No problem – move the capo to where you need it to be to get the key in your vocal ‘sweet spot.’

A summary Capo Placement and Key Change

Now that you’ve got a handle on the types of capos let’s delve into capo placement and the magic of key changes:

Guitar Capo 1st Fret Key

Placing your capo on the 1st fret shifts your playing one-half step up, transforming the key of E into the key of F.

Guitar Capo 2nd Fret Key

A capo on the 2nd fret bumps your playing up by a whole step, turning your open chords into the key of D.

Guitar Capo 3rd Fret

Take it up another notch by putting the capo on the 3rd fret. Now you’re playing in a key three-half steps higher than your open chords.

Guitar Capo 10th Fret

Going way up the neck with a capo on the 10th fret can create a unique and twinkly sound, perfect for adding sparkle to your tunes.

Guitar Capo on the 5th Fret

On the 5th fret, a capo lands you in the key of A. It’s a sweet spot for many songs and adds brightness to your sound.

Guitar Capo on the 6th Fret

Going up to the 6th fret with a capo gets you into the key of Bb. It’s a unique tonality for some special musical moments.

Guitar Capo on the 2nd Fret

The 2nd fret capo magic shifts your key from E to F.

Guitar Capo on the 3rd Fret

Placing the capo on the 3rd fret takes you from G to Ab, a handy move for songs that need that particular key.

Now that we know what a capo is and the theory of how it works. Let’s look at a few tips to get the most out of using one.

Guitar Capo Chords

Capos and chords go hand in hand. When you use a capo, your familiar chord shapes get transposed to new keys. It’s like unlocking a secret portal to a world of chord possibilities. Amazon has a great book about Capo chords.

Guitar Capo Chord Chart

Feeling lost with capo placement? A chord chart is your trusty map. It shows you which chords you’ll play in different positions, helping you navigate the capo wonderland. Go to thaliacapos.com to download a free chart.

Guitar capo – proper placement

Using a capo correctly doesn’t mean just slapping between two frets; you ask for issues if you do it incorrectly.

How to fit a capo - 2nd fret
How to fit a capo – 2nd fret

A good reference point is the frets themselves – always install the capo parallel to them. Putting it on crooked can keep some open strings from ringing out as they should.

However, it may also crowd your fingers if you are playing chords down by where they are placed.

Sure, things can get tight the higher up the neck you go. Songs like ‘Here Comes The Sun’ (The Beatles) and ‘Hotel California’ (The Eagles) both use a capo at the 7th fret so that it can be done (and done very well, we might add).

Too much (or too little) tension

Most modern capo designs are spring-loaded, so they do not move on the neck after you put them on. That’s a good thing. Except when it’s not!

Some basic capos have pretty strong springs. They can actually have the effect of making your guitar strings go sharp. The other side of the coin can also be an issue – too little tension can leave your open strings muted.

You can get around this by re-tuning your guitar, but it can be a real pain to have to tune it again once you take the capo off. This effect can be even more drastic if you use a capo on an electric guitar, where the strings are typically much thinner.

The answer here is investing in a capo with adjustable spring tension. These kinds of capos have small knobs where you can quickly increase (or decrease) the tension to get it exactly where you need it. They may cost a few dollars more, but it’s worth it.

Types of Guitar Capos

Now, let’s explore the various types of guitar capos, each with its own unique features and advantages:

Guitar Capo Kyser

The Kyser capo might be your go-to choice if you value user-friendliness and quick adjustments. It’s known for its ease of use and reliability.

Unique Capos

For those looking to break free from the norm, there are unique capos, like double capos for 12-string guitars and partial capos that cover only a few strings. These gems are perfect for crafting unconventional sounds.

Large Capos

Wide-necked guitars, such as classical or 12-string guitars, require larger capos for a secure fit and pitch adjustment.

Guitar Capo Nylon String

Classical guitarists fret not! Special capos are designed to cradle your nylon strings without causing any harm.

Guitar Capo Screw Type

Screw-type capos offer precise tension adjustments, ensuring a customized fit for your playing style.

Classical Guitar Capo Use

Classical guitars have their capo options too. You can find capos designed specifically for classical guitar necks, providing a snug fit.

Guitar Capos for Beginners

Capos are a beginner’s best friend. They simplify playing and make learning your favorite songs a breeze, even for those just starting their musical journey.

Guitar Capo Buzz

Capo buzzing can be annoying, but it’s usually a matter of proper placement and adjustment. Don’t let it dampen your capo fun; practice makes perfect!

Remember not to forget you’re using a capo.

Well. Yeah. Of course, you’re using a guitar capo. That should be pretty obvious, right??

“What I do now is all my dad’s fault, because he bought me a guitar as a boy, for no apparent reason.” Rod Stewart

We are referring to the fact that by viewing a capo as a ‘movable nut,’ your overall reference point changes. You must remember that the chord fingering you are playing is sounding out a different pitch than without the capo – and that’s easier said than done sometimes!

Acoustic guitar nut
Acoustic guitar nut

A simple example is this: let’s say you were playing a song in the key of E. Let’s say that the chords are E, C#m, A, and B. The way the song is constructed, you may find it would sound better by using a capo on the 2nd fret (Capo 2).

So, you would typically use without a capo instead of the typical chord fingerings. You’ll now be using a D shape for the E, a G shape for the A, and an A shape for the B (all open chords).

The C#m still has to be a barre chord (ugh). Make sure not to play it up to four frets from the capo, just like you would play a C#m on the 4th fret without a capo. The trick here is that since there are no open strings in a C#m barre chord. However, you must still play it at the 4th fret to get the right pitch.

Yes, they may sound a bit confusing, but if you sit down with your guitar and think about it. You’ll quickly see exactly what we are referring to. It can be a bit of a mind-blower if you are using a capo ‘on the fly. However, you’ll grasp the concept with a little bit of practice.

And – isn’t a little bit of practice’ the answer to conquering most things on the guitar?

Yes. Yes, it is.

Conclusion

A capo is a great device that can easily and inexpensively enhance your playing and increase your options. It can make playing a song in a different key more comfortable and take songs you already know and put a different harmonic spin on them by using different chord voicings that would be impossible to play without its help.

It’ll be time well spent experimenting with everything a capo can do. You may end up asking yourself how you ever played without one in the first place!

Transparency disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that I may earn a commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. This commission comes at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services that I believe are helpful and valuable, and we never let the potential for a commission influence our recommendations.

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