Guitar Tip on the Use of Capo

Before we start discussing the use of a guitar capo, let’s first explain what a capo is. Is is a simple devise which is attached on the fretboard of a stringed instrument. It locks across the neck of the instrument and raises the pitch. For every successive fret that we move the capo to the right, we raise the pitch of the strings by a semitone. Example: If you put the capo on the first fret of the guitar all of the open strings will now sound a semitone higher.

The guitar capo was introduced by flamenco guitarist Jose Patino Gonzalez.

Is it useful? You bet it is! Let’s take a simple example: Suppose we play a particular song in C but we now have to play it in D. Rather than rearranging the song and working out all the new guitar chordings and fingerings all we have to do is to put the capo on the second fret. We still play and use the same fingerings as in C but now the pitch has raised… we are in the key D but our playing has not been changed.

A singer who needs to find his/her best key would find the use of capo extremely important. By clamping it on any fret a pitch will be raised until the most comfortable key for his voice is found.

In other words, the beauty of the capo is that it allows the musician to move into any key and maintaining the same chording and fingerwork.

Some guitarists choose to use a partial capo on the first four strings while leaving the bass strings open. This approach provides lots of room for creativity and unique tunings for specific songs.

Capoed chords have a different harmonic quality and add a unique color especially when played against open and barred chords.

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