The ultimate user's guide - now available in downloadable Audio E-Book format
An introduction to the Capo...
If you own a guitar the chances are that you have a small plastic or metal device stuffed into a pocket in your guitar case, or dropped behind the hi-fi where it lies gathering dust. To the untrained eye it looks like a plastic replica jawbone of a small prehistoric reptile, a medieval instrument of torture,
or perhaps a new type of heavy metal armband. But this neglected piece of guitar hardware is, in fact, a capo tasto (or 'capo' for short) and it's possibly the single most interesting piece of kit you can buy for your guitar.
The capo is quite simply one of the most useful devices ever invented for guitarists. It doesn't run on batteries, it doesn't need a mains supply, and it will fit in your pocket. With this gadget you can play authentic versions of other people's songs, find the key that suits your voice, find new chords and new inspiration, and get new tones from your guitar.
"A 'capo' should only be used by those who find that pieces of music are
written too low for them to comfortably sing while playing. "
J.Sampson's Specialized Course of Guitar Lessons (1946)
Readers of the above book could be forgiven for thinking that a capo was somehow a less than respectable device for a guitarist to be seen using. To this day, capos are thought of as a being bit of a cheat, in the same way that some people have very conservative views about guitar tunings.
I once took an acoustic guitar into a music shop to have some adjustments made. I was writing songs at that time in altered tunings and the guitar was in open D. I was curtly informed that the guitar was meant to be played in EADGBE, as though this were the 11th commandment. Of course, as all enlightened guitarists now know, altered tunings open up a whole new world of sonic possibilities for the adventurous musician, and the same is true of the humble capo.
Capos are considered a cheat because they enable you to play in keys that would normally require a barre chord. As many a beginner guitarist has found to their cost, the finger strength required to hold down a barre is often difficult to develop, and hence those players who resorted to a capo to get round the problem were looked down on by their more accomplished colleagues.
However, irrespective of the technical challenges involved, using a capo simply creates a totally different sound to playing barre shapes. The use of open strings creates a more vibrant, ringing tone that can't be reproduced when all six strings are being fretted. Not only that, but because all your fingers are involved in holding down the barre shape, you won't be free to add the embellishments typical of finger-picking styles.
Our Audio E-Books are based on our ever popular book of the same name and represent the most in-depth look at the humble capo ever published - nothing less than a complete user's guide to this most essential bit of guitarist's paraphernalia. They will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the capo, including its history, design, construction, drawbacks, benefits, and the musical uses to which one can be put. They will tell you the best type of capo for you, and help you get the most out of it once you've parted with your hard-earned cash.
There are musical examples for you to try out and easy reference diagrams to show how to transpose a song into a better key, and how to tell what chords you are playing when you have a capo at the 5th fret. There's even a list of famous songs which need a capo to be played properly.
If you don't own a capo, buy the Audio E-Books first and get all the inside information you need. If you do have one, these Audio E-Books will have you clamping your way to guitar heaven!
To purchase the complete set of Audio E-Books go to the Guitar Audio E-Books page here