All the guitarists would have probably seen or might have heard of a guitar capo. This is a small yet essential accessory that can significantly change the sound of your guitar, allowing you to delve deeper into the exploration of new chord voicings and reach higher pitch of sound without needing to retune the guitar or relearn the chord structure. In this guitar capo buying guide we’ll dive into everything one needs to know about capos, including how to use them, what to look for when buying one, types of guitar capos and the best guitar capos brands for beginners as well as pros on the market today.
What Is A Guitar Capo?
Guitar capo is a clamp-like tool that fits across the fretboard of a guitar, which helps in shortening the strings and raising the pitch of the music. By placing a suitable caption on a certain fret, a guitarist can play the guitar in different keys using the same easy chord shapes.
Capos are commonly used in various music genres, from folk to pop and country to rock n roll and even in metal, and are indispensable tools for both beginners and the professional guitarists. Keep reading you’ll find more details about this in our guitar capo buying guide.
Did You Know?
British Singer-Songwriter Ed Sheeran often uses capo during live performances, that allows him to quickly change the key of the songs with right vocal pitch, This helps many singers to play complex chord shapes easily and to focus on their vocals
Various Types Of Guitar Capo
Numerous types of guitar capos are there, each has its own unique design and functions. Here is an overview of the most commonly used capos along with how they work, their pros, cons and what are they best for.
1. Spring-loaded/Trigger Capos
- How it works- These capos use a spring mechanism to clamp the capo on the fretboard with one single hand. They are quick to place and remove.
- Pros- These capos are easy to use and can be changed fast easily.
- Cons- Some models of such capos apply uneven pressures which can often cause unnecessary buzzing sounds.
- Best for- These are best for live performances and casual playing.
2. Screw Capos
- How it works- These capos use an adjustable screw to apply precise tension to the strings. It prevents the buzzing sounds or intonation issues like that of pitch, tone, modulations, sound patterns etc.
- Pros- These are best for precise control and have minimal string tension issues.
- Cons- These capos are comparatively slower to adjust.
- Best for- They can be used best for studio use and for precise playing.
3. Strap Capos
- How it works- Strap capos use a strap with a locking mechanism usually to hold the capo on the fretboard of a guitar helping it to stabilize.
- Pros- These capos are extremely lightweight and are also cheaper in price which can be affordable.
- Cons- Such a capo is not as durable or reliable when it comes to prolonged use.
- Best for- These are best guitar capo for beginners as it has a light use.
4. Partial Capos
- How it works- Partial capos clamp only some of the strings and not all the strings. It allows for the alternative tunings and unique chord voicing of the guitar.
- Pros- They enhance creative freedom, and open up new musical possibilities for a guitarist.
- Cons- Such guitar capos can be a bit tricky and tough to use especially if you are a beginner.
- Best for- Such a capo can be extremely useful for you if you’re an intermediate or an advanced guitarist who are prone to experiment with new sounds.
5. Shubb Capos
- How it works- These use a lever and adjustable screw in order to clamp down on strings and are known for providing consistent pressure without affecting the tuning of the guitar.
- Pros- They are most reliable, durable and adjustable when it comes to capos.
- Cons- They can be slightly more expensive as compared to other capos.
- Best for- These are the best if you’re a professional guitarist and if you’re concerned with tuning stability.
Best Guitar Capos
Here is a list of some of the best guitar capos brands which are currently there in the market:
- Kyser Quick-Change Capo- From its invention in 1970’s Kyser guitar capo brands has been one of the most consistently manufactured capos. This is a spring loaded capo which is lightweight, durable and quite easy to use with one hand. This can be used by the performers who need quick changes when they are doing a live show. Legendary blues player John Mayer uses Kyser quick change capo for his live shows and recordings.
- Shubb C1 Capo- This capo is the one with a lever along with adjustable screw which has precise tension control and excellent built quality in it. This is best for studio recordings and a high-level performance of the professional artists. Players like Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Mark Knopfler, Pete Townshend use Shubb capos.
- G7th Performance 3 Capo- This is a type of capo which is tension-adjustable trigger which has adaptive radius technology for perfect fit, has a strong grip and is excellent when it comes to tuning stability. Professional players who want superior quality can definitely opt for this.
- Planet Waves NS Capo Pro- It is a screw capo with a lightweight, adjustable tension and a very compact design. It is usually for the musicians who need versatility without an added bulk.
Buying Guide – What To Look For In A Guitar Capo
Whenever you purchase a capo, consider the following factors while making a purchase:
- Type of Capo- The type of capo largely affects how quickly and easily you can place it on your guitar and adjust tension of it. You need to understand what fits your requirement. For example – Trigger capos can be a great choice for speed on the other hand screw capos mostly offer precision based on the kind of music a musician makes and the level of music they know as advanced for just a beginner.
- Build Quality- Whenever you buy a capo you must look for durable materials such as stainless steel or high-grade plastics, as cheap capos often tend to break or wear out easily and quickly.
- Tension Control- One of the most important factors while purchasing a guitar capo as some capos provide more control over the amount of tension applied to the guitar strings, which can help in preventing issues like fret buzzing, tuning instability etc.
- Guitar Type- Make sure that the capo you choose is suited to your guitar’s neck and fretboard radius, like acoustic and electric.
- Price- You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good capo, but investing in a reputable and well known brand will pay off in the long run for you and will be profitable.
Guitar Capo Chart: How A Capo Affects Chord Shapes
One of the most useful and important things about a capo is that it allows one to use the same chord shapes to play in various keys. Following is a simple capo chart which will help you to understand how it changes the key of common open chords.
| CAPO POSITION | OPEN CHORD | KEY PLAYED |
| 1st Fret | G Major | G# Major |
| 2nd Fret | G Major | A Major |
| 3rd Fret | G Major | A# Major |
| 4th Fret | G Major | B Major |
| 5th Fret | G Major | C Major |
| 2nd Fret | C Major | D Major |
| 3rd Fret | D Major | F Major |
Capo Benefits For Guitar Players
Using a capo offers numerous advantages like-
- Simplified Playing- It allows beginners to play difficult songs in very easy chord shapes.
- Versatility in Keys- Capos allows one to play in various different keeps without affecting the changing fingerings, which is especially helpful in syncing with vocals.
- Brighten the Sound- They raise the pitch of the guitar, often making the sound of the music brighter and crisper. This is especially useful for acoustic guitar performances.
- Avoid Barre Chords- One can use a capo to play songs in a higher register without needing to perform the difficult barre chords.
- Creativity and Exploration- Using partial capos or experimenting with capo placement can lead to various new, interesting and different pleasant sounds, which will lead to creativity.
Famous Guitar Songs That Uses Capo
Here are history’s some of best songs recorded originally with using capo-
- Hotel California (Eagles) capo on 7th fret- Higher placement of capo in this song provides it a distinctive tone in the key of E min as the original key is B minor.
- Here comes the sun (Beatles) capo on 7th fret- George Harrison clamped the capo on to the seventh fret playing D chord, creating a sound of A chord.
- Wonderwall (Oasis) capo on 2nd fret- Noel Gallagher placed capo on 2nd fret playing F# minor with fingers playing minor.
- No Surprises (Radiohead) capo on 15th fret- This song has one of the best intros of all time that played throughout the song. Radiohead needed a higher pitch so they placed capo on the 15th fret, an unusual position that provided a higher pitch to every note.
- The Sound of Silence (Simon and Garfunkel) capo on 6th fret- I guess this is one of the best songs that uses capo. This song features capo on 6th fret giving access to reach F chord with higher tone.
- Losing my religion (R.E.M.) capo on the 5th fret- The main riff of the song was played on the mandolin but the chord structure was played with capo on the 5th fret.
Capo Placement Tips
- Close to the Fret- The capo should be placed as close to the fret as possible without being directly on top of it. This helps in minimizing buzzing and tuning issues.
- Straight and Even- Make sure that the capo applies even pressure across all strings. If it is angled or too loose, some strings may buzz.
- Avoid over tightening- If too much pressure is applied it can cause the strings to go sharp and affect intonation of the sound.
- Experiment with Placement- It is not necessary that you always have to use the capo on standard frets. You can place it higher up the neck for a more mandolin-like tone.
Best Guitar Capos For Beginners
If you are in the beginning phase of playing a guitar and using a capo, things that you will keep in mind would be ease of use and affordability as they should be the key aspects to be seen. Here are a few recommendations that you can preferably count on.
- Kyser Quick-Change Capo- This capo is easy to use with one hand. It is affordable in pricing and it also offers reliability to the buyer.
- Donner DC-2 Capo- This capo is mainly preferred as it is a budget-friendly option. The capo is simple and gets the job done quicker.
- Planet Waves NS Capo Lite- This capo is lightweight and it is easy to adjust variably and is considered perfect for new players and artists.
Without going into the debate of whether using capo is a cheat or not, let’s just all agree that capo is a valuable tool for experimenting with the sound of guitar. A tool which can be used by beginners to start their journey and professionals to open up new possibilities to showcase their skills and by selecting the perfect ones to match your playing style one can achieve greater limits. Hope this guitar capo buying guide helps you to find all your answers regarding the use, placement and selecting the best guitar capo your use. Happy playing people!
FAQs
1. What is a Guitar Capo?
Guitar capo is basically a clamping tool which is placed onto the fretboard and it allows changing in the pitch of the guitar. Capo is also helpful in playing complex barre chords easily.
2. How to use a Guitar Capo?
First step is to place or clamp your capo onto the neck of the guitar. Make sure to place the capo in a position where every string is clamped by the capo.
3. What is the best Guitar Capo?
Like guitars and other music instruments, there is no specific best, but based on their functions and use, Kyser Quick change capo is best for its ease, Shubb capos are best for studio recordings and other works which require more précised sound.
4. How to choose a Guitar Capo?
You can categorize the guitar capo on the basis of their mechanism also, it will help you to choose the right capo for you. There are loads of brands which offer various types of capo but one has to know a few things before buying any capo, like the tension control of capo to provide tuning stability, manufactured quality.
5. How to put on a Guitar Capo?
First of all check your capo type, if it's spring loaded, clamp it to the desired fret and secure the capo snugly but not too tight, as over tightening can cause tuning issues or string buzzing. Once set, you are absolutely ready to play in a desired key.
6. Do you need a capo for guitar?
You don’t always need a capo to play guitar, but is considered as a useful tool because it allows you to easily change keys as well as it helps you to play songs with simpler chord shapes.
7. How to transpose with a capo?
To transpose with a capo, place it on the fret that matches the correct pitch you want to raise the key.
For example, if a song is in the key of G and you want it in key of A, place the capo on the 2nd fret and play the same G chord shapes, but the sound will now be in the key of A.
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