I had quite a few people ask me about capos recently, so I did a quick little video on how they work, and what you might want to do with them…
Download this video – MP4 | WMV
And if the strumming type stuff in this video is more your thing… check out Strumming And Rhythm Mastery.
79 replies to "How To Use A Capo"
great lesson….The most recent Guitar world issue also had a great lesson on using capos from the capo crusader and in regards to keeping everything in tune when you apply the capo…in my 65 years I never thought of and that is with your right hand in they karate chop position just press down on the strings near where the sound hole would be on an acoustic guitar for example, press them down and then apply the capo… when you release the strings everything’s in tune! I never thought of that before and it works great! Also, Kyser offers a light sprung capo that reduces the chance for messing up tuning…I just bought one and like it alot. Again, great lesson and look up that guitar world lesson.
Now that was very intewresting….
Thanks Griff…
A very good lesson for all…lots of ideas floating about and creating inspiration for all and isn’t that what it’s all about anyway. Personally I use a capo ” all the time ” and can’t imagine not using one when required…
BUT….think on this if you are playing with your band or even recording for that matter and say there are 2 other guitarists besides your self, perhaps you are playing acoustic rythmn…then why not use your capo so as to play your parts in such and such a position to increase the tonality of said song. I do this often when recording to great effect… give it a shot; you might be surprised at the outcome.
thanks again
It seriously annoys me when some say using a capo is “cheating” in some way.
No it isn’t…As you mention, it did Albert Collins no harm.
I use one frequently,for the reason you again mention..you can use open strings in positions where you couldn’t without one. And I like the sound of open strings and chords it enables.
It creates melodies you can’t really get without one, unless you have more than 5 fingers.
And you do kinda need to know what you’re doing to get the best from a capo.
Thanks Griff, today is my Laura’s birthday so today’s lesson was well appreciated.
greetings from Austin , Texas hope you make it this way some time.
I had tried to play night moves in standard tuning but sounded wrong . Then I put capo on the first fret and wow I got it. I did not see the lesson something wrong but felt I should share my findings .
The lesson took a bit to play. I see that You started to play two of my favorites . Been playing them wrong . So it would be . Is there a way to read the music sheet to determine the key ? I ask because it has always been a issue . I had music class I think my teacher said that a key can be determined at the beginning of the tune . A c shape around the line on which the tone center is. Am I right ?
Griff, I’ve only been playing a couple years and have never used a capo. Can you explain to me a little better how you know what key you are in after placing the cap. For instance, I think you said when you were playing a Beatles song that when you played a D shape chord with the capo placed on the 7th feet, you are playing an A sound with the D shaped chord. How do I know that. So for instance, if I take my capo and place it on the 5th fret and play an A minor chord, how do I know what chord sound I’m getting. I’m moving up 2 1/2 steps so would my Am now be be a D chord. Takes a lot of brain power to figure out every time i move the capo if that’s how it’s done. Thanks for any advice you can give me.
The Am shape played with a capo at the 5th fret is a Dm
I wonder if Albert Collins was lazy or smart!!! 🙂
Having seen Albert Collins twice I would lean towards BRILLIANT!
Another awesome lesson
Many Hardcore guitar players will always knock capos, and that is fine. But if you sing and you want to strum or fingerpick with nice sounding chords in the keys that suit your voice not using a capo is stupid.
I regularly play a couple of old country blues type things that sound way better by putting the capo on the second fret but leaving the sixth (low e string) open to act like a drone. Gives a really cool sound.
Hey Keith… Yeah, Ive used that trick for years to mimic playing a “drop D” sound but of coarse its actually “drop” E (I think) …. Ive used that to play Norwegian Wood by the Beatles
Hi Griff
Totally freaky!!!
I have gone all of my guitar life never having owned or used a capo, but yesterday I was getting my strat set up at the local guitar shop and I decided to buy a capo.
How did you know that, are you following me.
Wow You have an uncanny ability to send me emails just when I need to know something relevant.
Luv ya work.
check it out
Hello people
Depending on what you play, lead or strum it can make your playing easier not a cheating thing. If your playing a lead and there are no notes below the third fret for just one example put the compo there , it is not going to change the key as long as the unplayed strings are not to be used. It also. Sets the strings down closer to the fret board and makes it truly easier to play what ever you are playing. In reality it is why most guitar players use a “Capo”. To save there strenght for playing. It is not being a sissy. A qwick look at your music sheets will designate the possion of the Capo. Setting the capo at any fret does not change the key as long as you do not play the open strings at were the capo has been set at besides standard tuning. Short capo is a good trick.Double is also a good one.
Hi Griff,
I rarely (if ever)disagree with you, but on this occasion, sorry, but capos (or Crappos) as we used to call them in the 50s/60s, are for players who have yet to master barre’ chords!! I played in a 16 piece danceband for nearly 7 years, 4 nights a week, in the days when 2 million people went ballroom dancing every week – if I had ever produced a capo during that time the bandleader would have fired me on the spot – master the fundamentals of the instrument, never mind taking the easy route with a capo!!!!
Keep up the good work, and very best wishes,
Hi Topaz
I disagree with you. Not all guitarists are inclined to learn 2000+ chords just to make music and most music genre’s use specific type’s of chords i.e. Rock, Jazz, Blues etc. that doesn’t require them unless what you play demands them, such as yourself with ‘old time dance band’ music and session guitarist etc.. Not all guitarists like them (I’m one) who – with small hands, an ultra short ‘pinky’ and an index finger shaped like a banana – have always found barre chords difficult ( I would love hands like Griff). I developed Carpel Tunnel Syndrome – in both hands -in the ’80’s, with a weak wrist and with arthritis setting in now, the capo is and always has been a useful tool, try finger-picking the melody of “Streets of London’ using only barre chords! A lot of what I play (Country, Rock Generic etc.) uses little fills within or between chords; and barre chords are useless for that. Strumming away and blending in with a load of musicians around you is fine. Try standing in front of a crowded club/bar on your own and you’ll find strumming barre chords all night will sound a little bit ‘bland’ and mediocre’. It’s horse’s for courses Topaz, you don’t need an HGV truck licence for a Sunday drive out in the car. I know my barre chords (those I need), I just can’t play them and use ‘thumb over’ instead, but my finger-picking style requires open-chords. Great lesson Griff and very useful for all us non-barre players.
Where I have a problem with the capo is what chord formation to use.My friends will put it on the 3rd fret and play G formation.So would you explain that to me.
Thank You Rob.
When you put the capo on the 3rd fret, a G shape chord becomes the chord 3 half steps (or frets) up from G, which is A#. Just like an F chord, is an E shape using a capo on the first fret. You need to know the chromatic scale.
Another way to think about this, is if you’re comfortable with chords in the key of G (mostly G, C and D, and often also Am, Em and Bm), but you need to play in the key of A, then since A is two half steps up from G, put the capo on the 2nd fret and use the key of G chord shapes.
Thank God for the Cappo being here, as it will help me immensely when I play my Guitar.
I’ve even seen guys use two capos to create a drop tuning.
I use a capo all the time to move the key around and keep the chords relatively simple. But recently I tried something that gave that a new twist. If you put the capo at the 2nd fret, but from the bottom side of the neck, and put it across all but the low E string, it gives you the ability to play in drop D tuning (although now it’s E) but you can still play a standard G chord, or any bar chord with regular fingering and that string will be in sync with the rest of the chord. And it’s still possible to more that arrangement up the neck by using two capos with the second one just for fretting the 1st string. It opens up new possibilities with the dropped tuning.
Hey, Griff. I also occasionally use a “short-cut capo” that sets two frets above the nut (or above a regular capo). The short-cut capo does not change the key–it only covers the A, D, & G strings. So without touching the neck at all, you strum an Esus (unless, of course, you use a regular capo with it).
It does require learning new fingerings for chords, but they are not hard to remember (a chart for them can be found online). The short-cut capo creates some beautiful, easy-to-finger alternative phrasings to popular chords.
Griff, very nice and neccasary. I am just beginning to experiment with the capo by placing it at the 6th fret ( Bb ). The Bb repeats itself at the 12th fret. The bar chord at the 10th fret is handy. just move it up to the 16th fret, etc. More! WLB.
Hi Griff,
Just saw the video of Bruce Springsteen playing “Purple Rain” to honor Prince. He’s using a capo at the third fret…this surprised me until I looked upped the chords myself…Bbsus2, Gm11,F and Ebadd9,,with the capo it was wildly simpler to play G, Em7,D and C.
Possibly you could do a lesson on this as well…best regards, Ned
By the way , what brand capo. Was liking the simplicity of the screw nut.
Really sweet lesson. Opens up a whole lot of possibilities
Hi Griff,
It looks like I have already made comment when I got this sometime ago. Now with a bit more experience I have a Capo that just clips on and off much easier than having a little screw. Find it better to get as close as you can to the Fret but not on it. The only problem you may have is playing Chords in different Keys with Capo, have to be careful the strings are still in tune when you play a solo, if you remove the capo for the Solo remember what Key you are in….But definitely the Capo makes chord playing so much easier. Especially on Acoustics.
Maybe it would be good to give some advice on what Capos are best for Blues Rhythms in view of playing Blues in E but how does it work for the V chord B . Am I missing something here?
Great lesson as always.
Michael-Sydney-Australia 24 April 2016
Cheers Griff
For the lesson I use it when I play some James Taylor
My 2 friends that gig regularly together use capos on each guitar so that they get a wider sound in the same key. For example one guitar on 2nd fret the other on the 5th fret. Easier than using say open position on the first guitar and bar chords on the other.
When I decided to get back into learning guitar, I made the mistake of getting an electric with a bigsby vibrato arm… When it came time to change the strings, I had a heck of a time keeping tension on the bigsby pegs that you attach the strings too. This caused the strings to slip off.. so i bought
a capo to apply pressure to the strings right after I attached them to the pegs on the bigsgy. This allowed me to use my hands and fingers to place the other end of the stings onto the tuning pegs with out the strings slipping off the pegs on the bigsby. Oh, i am not good enough yet to even think about using a capo for what it is designed for but i am happy I have a tool to help with changing out the strings
Fred, ability doesn’t matter. It just makes it sound different:)
it would be helpful to get a few more examples on why and how chords “change” when a capo is used.
Same goes for scales. Griff kind of addressed this; but too quick and short. Griff, do you address this in one of your courses? Do you have a link to an online explanation?
Hey Griff, I use a capo on a few songs, but I NEVER place the capo like everyone eles. If I place it in the fret, as everyone does, I find that I ALWAYS have to retune a bit, so I’ve started placing it right on the fret. You have to be a little more careful to not mute or muffle the strings, but I no longer have to retune.
Have you seen this before?
Thanks Griff. I have been playing for 40 years and have used the capo quite a bit over those 40 years. I have met a lot of guitar players who have a negative opinion about the capo and I see there are some here also. So I really appreciate your opinion. I will continue to use the capo because it makes my guitar playing a lot more fun. By the way, I play a Les Paul standard pro, and a Wasburn classical guitar, both with capo. I also play an Oscar Schmidt mandolin…..occasionally with a capo.
Hi Griff,
I have already used a Capo from my local music teacher who showed me how to Play I am a Wanderer…Obviously Capo on 5th Fret changes the Key. It then becomes hard to undertake the solo ( which is a Sax but compensated with a Guitar version) it is much harder to bend the strings I found. ) So here is my question before the solo I guess remove the Capo but make sure you get the key right… Is this a on the spot logistic nightmare or better to play a simple solo?
But the Capo is great for easy Key changes and is more effective on Acoustic Electric Guitar where Bar chords are a struggle for me, but much easier on my other Fenders etc. All Good Great lesson.
Michael-Sydney Australia
I bought a capo not long ago as an aid when setting up a guitar. It’s very difficult to make truss rod adjustments without using one, as you have to “fret” the strings at two different places while simultaneously making a string height measurement in between. In doing this, I made an interesting observation: If you “tighten” a capo in between two frets (those metal wire things), it stretches the string (and the notes) more than it should, as it pushes the string all the way down to the wood. However if you instead place the capo right at the fret, you are only pushing the string down just enough to “hit” the note without bending the notes further than desired.
I have a problem figuring out where the different keys are with the capo like how do I find b flat or e flat what fret and what key?
Griff, Thank you for another inspiring video. I’ve used one since the 70’s, off and on, thought you had a nice way to describe possible uses! Always enjoy your video’s! John.
Where you put the capo is your new nut for open strings only. If you put it in the 4th fret, the open low string is an Ab so when tunning tune that string to Ab. If you press the 5th fret, that note is still an A because you are ahead of the capo. You see ppl play open chords alot with the capo. For chords all your notes would move up 4 semitones. As far as I know I just recently figured all this out that’s why I’m sharing use your tuner to see what the notes are
I should clarify any chords that you would play below the Capo at the 4th fret the notes now move 4 frets up. An A minor bar chord at the 5th fret is still that chord because you’re ahead of the Capo at the 4th fret
Thanks Griff. Always wondered about “Little Darlin'” and “Fire & Rain”. Now I know!
Thanks… A super coincidence on the capo lesson in general as I just bought one, which I did to help change up my practice with your Strumming & Rhythm Mastery Course. However, the best surprise was toward the end of the video when you brought up Albert Collins – Wow, I have been struggling to try to play any of his riffs or tunes in standard tuning and can’t wait to try this!!!
What’s the status on finding your equipment
I hope U and group/band have been blessed..Amen
Thanks Griff! How about something on what can be done with a half capo? I like em on acoustic once in a while…
USED A CAPO A LOT WITH SONGS THAT WHERE TO LOW, OR TO HIGH FOR MY VOICE TO SING. AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH ONE. THANKS FOR THE “HERE COMES THE SUN” CHORDS. NEVER SOUNDED RIGHT WITH OUT THE CAPO.
I use the capo also for my voicing. I am a neophyte when it comes to music theory but I know what my voice can do with a guitar. Capo is the only way to go when I can’t hit it.
I really like what was said. Never understood why someone would use a capo. Now I know why and it is a tool for the tool box.
Finally someone explains how to really use one of those things. Thnx
Great lesson – thanks. Do you have any recommendations on what types of capos may be better to use? Or if capo selection matters based on electric guitars versus acoustic?
Thanks Griff that really clears up the use of capos the hotel Calif thing as well like the guys were saying it was done on a 12 string as well and Keith Richards was an avid user of capos with alternate tunings and even removing the low E string as well
The capo, or flamenco cejilla to give it its proper Spanish name, was developed long ago to allow flamenco guitarists to accompany the flamenco singer in the singer’s key and still have ‘open’ strings etc available for the guitarists solos, or falsetas. It was never meant to be used as a substitute for the grand barre or bar formed by the fretting hand index finger. Any guitar player, now matter what style of playing, should strive to develop the grand barre. There are over four thousand chords available on the guitar neck, many of which require the grand barre or the even more difficult partial barre, say over the top three strings. A technique well worth the effort, especially if you wish to become a professional player.
Sometimes though you need those clear ringing open tones Griff spoke of . Griff’s examples were good ,and some others using the capo are the Steve Miller Band , on Big Ole Jet Airliner, the Stones on You cant always get what you want,and Simon & Garfunkles , Mrs Robinson, and Gordon Lightfoots , In the early morning rain, for examples. ln some bands one guitar uses capo ,and others play without one.
Bruce:
I believe “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” was recorded in an open E tuning and capoed. So was “I Got the Silver”, “Prodigal Son” and others. What I’ve done is tune to open D for Elmore James songs (“Dust My Broom”, etc) then put the capo on at the 2nd fret for the Stones songs in open E.
If you learn how to play barre’ chords early on you won’t need a capo! Not easy to start with, but it opens up the full keyboard spectrum once you crack it. If you use a capo in your early days you get to rely on it very quickly, and the further up the fretboard you place it, the greater the limitations on the range of your playing.
Sorry, capo users, if you are going to play, do it properly and learn what is one of the very basic (but more difficult) of guitar techniques, rather than rely on something which is just another gizmo.
I played in an 18 piece commercial dance band for many years, and would never have got the job in the first place if I had produced a capo at the audition when the bandleader said “Quickstep medley in Bb”!
Respectfully, you are wrong!!!!
Ron, I agree, I love to use a capo for certain songs. You get tones with open chords that you don’t get with barre chords. I use barre chords when appropriate or desired.
not everyone has fingers long enough or flexible enough. at my age and ability — the capo opens up a whole lot of options I can use immediately — I am not going to live long enough to become a professional. I much appreciated this cap video.
I agree with everything you say. When I first started playing 58 years ago my dad called the capo a “crutch” and said if I ever wanted to be taken seriously as a guitar player I had to learn barre’ chords and how to form as many chords as possible. Well, there were many times in my life I didn’t heed his advice, but thank goodness that was one time I did! A few years ago a bass player said to me that I “wrote the book on chords”. I considered that quite a compliment.
In defense of the capo I will have to say that it has its place and without question many great guitar players have used them as will the greats yet to come!
Old School & Still Rockin’
Topaz, I respectfully disagree with your assessment of the capo as your assessment overlooks some the characteristics of the guitar that make it such a wonderful instrument. In the acoustic world, from classical guitar to flamenco, to bluegrass, to folk, acoustic blues, there are open chords that each have there own sonority due to the differing arrangements of the intervals within the chords, end each of the varieties lends a special sound to different kinds of styles of music. The ability to add open strings within a chord to get a special effect for the song being played. Examples: Bluegrass pickers really favor playing using an open G formation because the character of the music lends itself to the runs and solos that fall in the G -C – D7 framework. So if the fiddle player wants to play in A, the guitar can retain the characteristic sounds by placing the capo at the 2nd fret and using the G formation. While it would be physically possible for the guitar player to play the song using the open A – D – E7, it doesn’t sound the same!
The Classical guitar pieces such as Leyenda (aka Asturias) would not sound the same in any other key but Em. Recuerdos del Alhambra would not send the same in any other key but Am, which modulates to A major. Drop D thing has its own “sound”, DADGAD tuning has its own special sound, and it is often the case that the effect of the tune is better when capo’d up the neck. A good example of this phenomenon is “Renewal” by Doug Smith. He capos at the 3rd fret. That’s the sweet spot for that song. Capo’d at the 2nd does not have the same character, nor does capping at the 4th fret. I could go on, but I rest my case.
I used to think of capos as “key changers” only. When I was a young guitarist, and learned how to transpose keys, I thought capos were for cheaters ! Until I learned the very song Griff just demo’d – Here Comes the Sun! It shows what a TONE changer a capo is. And certain songs only sound “right” when you use that capo-created tone.
Hey Griff, totally kool, Im a seasoned player of 45 years and your a fantastic teacher. Wish I would have discovered you many years ago, ofcoarse, you would have been 2 years old, lol
Just wanna also mention, even tho its not really a blues oriented trick, that one can also do a faux “drop D” effect by flipping the CAPO upside down at the 2nd fret but only putting it on the 5 higher strings & leaving the low E uncapo’d … Ofcoarse that would put you in the key of G flat which is a tad strange but I beleive the Beatles may have used that on Norwegian Wood.
Your a fantasic teacher, would love to meet you some day, but alas, Im in the mountains near Albuquerque!
CHEERS!!
Im wrong, it would still be the key of E but playing a D form chord, sorry bout that, lol
Griff
Thanks for the lesson on capos. It clears a lot of things up.
The lesson also makes it clear as to how important understanding the fundamentals of the guitar is.
thanks, Mike Iris
Using a capo for both rhythm and descending arpeggio patterns at the end of Hotel California in Bm (7th fret) or Am (5th fret)takes advantage of open strings and ease of play.
Wayne:
I play it on a 6-string acoustic with the capo at the 2nd fret, using the A minor shape to start. This keeps it in the original key on the record. It’s impossible to arpeggiate the cords and get that ringing tone using barre chordings.
Funny how the capo can be considered ‘cheating’ by some self appointed ‘proper’ guitarists. I’m in your camp – if you can make it easier, delivery almost always will be better executed. The player will then be happier and a happy player sounding good is surely the goal! Thanks for the reminder.
Funny how the capo can be considered ‘cheating’ by some self appointed’proper’ guitarists. I’m in your camp – if you can make it easier delivery almost always will be better executed. The player will then be happier and a happy player sounding good is surely the goal! Thanks for the reminder.
Using a capo for Hotel California in B(min)- 7th fret or A (min)- 5th fret gives access to open string harmonics(?)during rhythm passages and it is much easier to play the descending arpeggio patterns at the end of the song.
I used to use a capo a lot when I first learned on an acoustic guitar but once I started to play electric I usually did not use one. It seems to me that I must have read something to the effect that using a capo on electric’s was considered incorrect. I will say that I have seen guitarist using a capo with an electric guitar and that many times it is for pop/rock or country songs not so much for hard rock or heavy metal.
Stephen:
Keith Richards – certainly a prominent player – uses a capo routinely. “Midnight Rambler” is one that comes to mind, using a capo at the 7th fret on his old Telecaster. If you watch videos of the Stones you will see that all the time. “Sweet Virginia”, “Love in Vain”, “Let it Bleed”, and on and on are done on the original recordings with a capo.
Going from just a rhythm guitarist to a lead, I know the subtle eases of using the capo. I’ve always heard that if you can play 3 chords, then you can use a capo and play anything. In my experience, it,s true.
So many people make a big deal about buying (playing) a guitar with a specific scale length (24 inches, 24 3/4, 25, 25 1/2). They say it changes tone and string tension which is especially important in bending. Then others use a capo and change the scale of the guitar up to a foot with no complaints.
When I listen to a song I couldn’t tell you if the guitarist was playing an instrument with humbuckers, single coils, string size of 9, 10, or 11’s, parallel of series wired pick-ups, semi-hollow guitar, or what wood the body is made up of.
Are there any blues songs that you regularly play using a capo?
Thanks Griff
I don’t know why Guitar players don’t us it more then they do! When you play the 12 bar blues, the I, IV & V are right there!! Change keys in a instance!
Jeffrey Goblirsch
Thanks griff, all good information cheers.
Ps thanks for all the emails.
When I was a lad we could not afford no capo so us good old boys just went a huntin’ an got us a nice juicy woodchuck, take that ol’ boy home , dry him out and cut out his ol’ sphincter and jes stretch it over the neck, slide it us and down as needed and bingo you got you a good ol’ boy capo. when it broke we just went downtown Toronto an got us a new one . keep on pickin’ PS try pickin Red haired Boy with barre chords…good luck.