They will also not be forced to re-learn the song with different chord shapes. This allows for a guitarist to adjust the song rather than the singer adjusting their voice in a way that may be too difficult. For most people, it simply makes their life easier and can open up a whole new world beyond regular open chords.Ĭapos have also proven to be incredibly useful for singers in the sense that you can shift the key up to a scale that suits the vocalist. They can be used for beginners who may have a tough time fingering certain chords as it requires less stretching of the left hand. It is true that the device is used to change keys with ease, but that does not validate the negative perception of using capos. This way, a guitarist can change the pitch of open notes or open-string chord forms, and the fretted notes will not change.Ī common misunderstanding is that a capo is often used for “cheating” when playing the guitar. However, the main advantage is the ability to play songs in different keys without adjusting the tuning keys. If you want to know how a capo changes the note of a string, charts can easily be found on a Google image search. You can use this higher pitch to play in a different key while still using the same fingerings. While this may not be visible to the untrained eye just a little bending is all it takes for a guitar to sound out of tune.Īfter the capo is securely clamped, it raises the pitch of a string. An improper amount of tension could bend the strings. By doing this, the capo can drag or pull on the strings. It’s always important to take care when applying the capo and either picking or strumming the strings once applied to ensure they ring out.Ī very common mistake is releasing the capo’s handle without enough care. It will be very clear when a capo has not been applied correctly as some of the strings will either be completely dulled or twang when picked. It is important to note that it is best applied after a fresh tuning. An improper application could also potentially mark the neck of a guitar. Otherwise, the instrument could sound sharp or out of key. This should be done to avoid any bending of the strings. You want to ensure a smooth and even fit for a uniform position and pressure. It should not be placed on top of the fret or too far back into the fret. The capo should be placed in the fret just behind the fret bar. Simply open it up and move it to the desired fret. The capo can be applied at any point on the fretboard of an instrument. They can also be fiddly, and it can be hard to get the right tension. These capos aren’t great as they can easily slip, put sideward pressure on strings and break easily. The cheapest capos have a strap that wraps around the neck of the guitar and is secured into place with a notch. These capos are probably best for precision but aren’t as easy to use as a trigger capo. There are quite a few other types but they are fairly simple to operate such as a screw capo that just needs screwing into place and a Shubb capo that has a lever system you can flick into place. The pressure from the spring will then keep the capo securely in place. You simply open up the capo with the trigger, place it on your guitar and then release your grip. The most popular type is a ‘ trigger capo’ which uses a spring system. The bar can be fastened to the neck with an elastic or nylon strap, a spring, a screw, or a cam-operated clamp. Most have a rubber-covered bar that is used to hold down the strings. How to apply a CapoĬapos come in different shapes and sizes to fit all the different types of stringed instruments and fretboard curvatures. Unlike the nut, the capo does not have string grooves and instead, presses the strings down onto the fretboard to terminate the vibration. The strings are then secured around the tuning keys.Ī capo could be considered as a movable nut in the sense that it provides termination of vibration. It is a thin strip, usually made of plastic, which contains grooves for each string to be properly placed and guided down the neck. The nut is located where the fretboard meets the headstock. To fully understand how a capo works, it is also important to understand the function of a nut on a guitar. The device was later patented for the first time in 1850 by James Ashborn from Wolcottville, Connecticut. Capos can also be useful on any other fretted instruments such as mandolins, mandolas, banjos, ukuleles, and bouzoukis.Ĭapos have been around for centuries and their earliest recorded use was in 1640 by Italian musicologist and humanist Giovanni Batista Doni. “Capo” is short for “capodastro” or “capotasto,” and it is a derivative of the Italian term ‘head of the neck’.Ī capo is essentially a small device that clamps onto the neck of a guitar to shorten the length of the strings.Ī guitar is not the only string instrument this device can be used on. One can utter the word in a few different ways.
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