The Capo (Page 1 of 2)

Not to be a smart alec, but when you feel like it. 

You've got a couple options, change the key by playing different chords until you find a key that you can sing in properly or play the chords as written and capo to a fret that fits your singing range.  Each has pros and cons. 

I sing in a baritone range as well and just mess with the chord changie thing until I get a song to "D".  I can usually sing in "D" reasonably well.    Then again, I don't own a capo.  If I had a capo, I'd try both ways to see what I liked.

- Zurf

While I respect rstauffe's opinion, mine varies a little.  If it works, use it.  He's right about the capo changing the tone, but that's surely not the only usefulness of the little wonder. 

- Zurf

Playing guitar should be fun. No matter what level you are at. There is nothing better (for me) than learning a favourite song and then hearing it coming from my fingers. I'll admit to still being uncomfortable with a couple of chords and if I can make it easier to have fun by simlpy using a capo then I'll not hesitate. Same for changing key. Some may think it's cheating but while I'm still working on perfecting some chords then in order to have fun, rock out or sing-a-long then I'll capo when I feel like it.

Of course all this doesn't mean I'll not keep practicing the uncomfortable chords. Of course I will. But in the mean time it's nice to end a hard session with a bit of fun. Or it's fantastic to have a sing song with your friends and family. Capo please!

Cheers

Exactly dead on Russell. Sometimes it's the "best sounding way" I can play most any chord reasonably well with practice...sometimes a capo just "seems' like the best way to go. I've always disliked people calling it cheating. It it feels good, sounds good and it's fun then it's all good. Please do NOT apply this theory to other aspects of life.

Dead ON!!!!!!!!

Randy,
    I hate to pile on in the slam fest but this is a pretty empty statement. I used to have a similar "I don't need no stinkin' capo" attitude towards guitar too. Guess what happened? I grew up and became smarter. I realized that one's life as a guitarist can be much easier with a capo. When you start playing 4 hour gigs 5 or more nights a week a capo can be a great little helper. The use of a capo not only saves ones fingers and joints but adds a nice texture variation to ones musical presenatations as well. Join the capo gang, you know you want to..............

I bet they work good Al, but for that price they bleeding well better
£20 for a capo? I thought my "KYSER" capo I got for a tenner was good enough. it works fine on my 6 string guitars and my 12 string.

I tihnk on ebay ye can get a kyser for £12 -13 inc. p&p

but if they are really good I might consider one of these sometime

Ken

Shoot, if I'm playing bluegras in F, I'm pulling out my bass! 

You know, I actually have capoed my bass.  It was pretty cool.  The lead guitarist has some chord charts he pulled out 15 minutes before the start of the gig.  We all thought the song was cool and wanted to give it a go.  Unfortunately, the chords were all written for capo on 3.  I'm not good enough with transposing on the fly to put together a line raw and play well enough for being on stage.  So we decided to capo the bass and give it a go backstage.  Worked like a charm.  I play a fretless, so I used a tuner to get the capo in just the right spot, but it worked just dandy.   We had the rhythm guitarist do a little stage banter while I diddled with the tuner and the capo and when I 'accidentally' bumped a note while she was speaking, we started. 

- Zurf

I know all  the basic chords, but I'm not that good at transposing on the spot, so I use a capo for that and when you're for instance playing E on 7 and 9 and you leave the bottom string and top two open, but you play F or something. things like that.

i checked out the performance capo i cant see blowing that much on a capo mine works fine