Guitar Capo

The term capo means third hand in Italian. The basic concept is the same as it was long ago. A capo is a device that is clamped to the guitar fret board and acts as a movable bar chord. Playing with a capo allows a guitar player to play easily in some of the tougher guitar keys. If you sing then you should consider mastering the capo. It will allow you to transpose songs to suit your voice range rather than singing in just a few basic keys.

The capo is an invaluable tool once you know how to use it correctly. Here are a few of the more popular capos. Click on the image for more information.

Kyser Quick Change Guitar Capo

Planet Waves NS Capo

G7th Performance Capo

Shubb C1 Original Capo for Steel-String Acoustic Guitar or Electric Guitar (Nickel)

Capo range

A nice broad range for the capo is to put the capo anywhere from the first to the seventh fret. When you play with a capo higher than the seventh fret, the sound becomes high and thin. This is plenty enough range to provide some nice variety and color. Before we learn how to play songs with a capo, I will give you a practical example of why the capo is such a great tool. Before putting the capo on the guitar we will need to learn the CAGED chord method first.

CAGED root notes

The root is the lowest note in the chord and is also the first note in chord notation. For example the root of a C minor 7th chord is C. The C and A shapes have their root on the fifth string, the E and G shapes have their root on the sixth string and the D shape has its root on the fourth string. NOTE: The chords below are are in reference to the nut in the open position and NOT moving up the fretboard.

The slide show below shows the five basic major chord shapes (C-A-G-E-D) up the neck. Each of the chords is a C chord, the difference is in the shape of the chord. Notice that each chord contains the notes C E and G which means they are ALL C Major Chords. Practice memorizing the chord shapes and the CAGED chord connection.

Capo = relief

What if your referecne could move and you could use the open chord forms based on your reference?

The next example shows the CAGED chords being played with a capo. The capo is put on the third, fifth, eighth and tenth frets. These are the same standard open chords with the help of a capo, lending a third hand :). I have removed the notes so you can visualize the shape of the chord form.

NOTE: All chords in the example below are a C chords the only difference is the shape of the chord.

You be the judge

Try stepping through and PLAY the chords up the neck with and without a capo then compare the results. Did you notice how much easier it is to play the chords with the capo? This is only one of the many benefits of playing with a capo. The ultimate goal is to play in any of the 12 major/minor keys and the capo makes that simple.

I hope that you can see (basic chord shapes) and feel (easy bar chords) the benefits of playing with a capo. There is one more thing to learn before we actually start playing songs with a capo. I will show you how to identify the root of each of the CAGED chord types.

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Imagine you have to play a gig in a cover band that plays a lot of different styles and you bring two guitars. The music you will be playing requires you to play in three differnt types of tuning which are standard, flat and down a whole step. In between sets you have to re tune at least one of the guitars.

Your primary guitar is tuned to standard tuning and the other is tuned to drop D. In your haste you leave the standard tuned guitar against your car and accidentally drive over it smashing it to peices. What do you do?

Don't panic! All you need is a capo to save the day. Here is how it works.

With no capo, your guitar is tuned down a whole step D-G-C-F-A-D.

Placing the capo on the second fret changes the tuning to standard tuning E-A-D-G-B-E.

Placing the capo on the first fret changes the tuning to a flat Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb.

Now you can cover all three required tunings with one guitar and a capo. And you wondered why you needed the second guitar AND wasting time re tuning at all.

Benefits of a capo

You can play in any key in music with ease.

You can transpose songs with ease.

You can match a songs key to your voice.

Cover different tunings with one guitar.

One capo is cheaper than two or three guitars.

Using a capo creates a unique timbre.

Each capo location takes on it's own personality.

The beatles and the eagles are just a couple of the bands that discovered the true power of what a capo has to offer. The secret has been revealed.

** I am working on updating this content. Thanks for your patience.