Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on July 17, 2011 at 10:42pm

Actually, when B.B. King was young, he was known to go the pencil-capo route. I don't know if he used them later... no JIHAD on capos that I know of, probably some sort of Sunni fatwa.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark on July 17, 2011 at 10:56pm

The only rule is "there are no rules"

and I'm sure I've played a 7-bar blues...indeed 7 bars is often about as far as I go before I screw up.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hip Bone Bellaire on July 18, 2011 at 12:03am

Ok I started this thread to see what others think. MAINLY... Again I can't play shit BUT do make one guitar with a mean sound."Texas Electric".. Now I already said I can't play so get that out of the way... And no one has the money for multiple guitars in different keys... So I understand...

Funny about a NO NO for JAZZ... OMG  really... Why Not? Are there rules? 

 

As for the pencil and rubber band... Looks way better then a peace of preformed plastic painted black that acts to be part of the instrument...  Honesty works for me!

Great discussion!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on July 18, 2011 at 12:35am

There are no rules...but at jazz gigs you do need to be really familiar with loads of different chords, substitutions and voicings, in pretty much any key.  Most jazzers tend to be way more than just 'competant' players..they don't shun the capo...they just don't need one...

 

It's a dead giveaway if, as a guitar player you turn up at a jazz jam and use a capo or play barre chords.....that definitely labels you as being not of the true persuasion of the jazz fraternity.  It's a funny old world!

 

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Seaman Jay on July 18, 2011 at 12:41am

Plastic?? 

Nope, sir!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hip Bone Bellaire on July 18, 2011 at 1:13am

Like I said...Great discussion!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark on July 18, 2011 at 1:47am

Love those Shubb capos. Mine's almost worn out.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 18, 2011 at 2:47am

Something a woman guitarist whom I respect once told me: "A capo is like a man- most of the time, it's just a handy tool."

;-)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hip Bone Bellaire on July 18, 2011 at 4:52am

A Man called "IT"  LOL

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeff "Sweet T" Tinsley on July 18, 2011 at 8:06am

I use a capo for 2 main reasons. 1 is to lower the action a bit to better suit my stiff, arthritic fingers. The other is to free up open chord runs. I can make the same runs sans capo, but they "ring" with a capo where they sound clipped or muted without.

 Oh, the capo on my 3 string was for a different reason initially. I bought it from a very experienced builder (the only one I've ever owned that I didn't build). Still, it dis-chords pretty badly on the first 2 frets.  I know it was just a fluke and I'll fix it someday (he would have if I had asked).  The capo make this otherwise excellent git a joy to play.

And I agree..... this is a great discussion.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on July 18, 2011 at 9:42am

If you tell a bluegrass picker you sing in E-flat, he'll promptly get out his capo and off you'll go.   All of those standard open-string chords would sound dreadful transposed into the complex shapes you'd need to play E-flat.

 

That's the primary reason for the capo....To accommodate the singer while letting the guitarist play in "guitar friendly" keys.

 

Now, if you're doing straight lead work, then not so necessary.  It's no harder to play blues scales at the 12th fret than it is to play 'em at the 1st.  

As noted, you can change the timbre of the accompanyment as well.  In a lot of ensemble groups, it's common to see one or another guitarist capo up to a different register to avoid "stepping on" the other players.

As well, if you buy one  or two of those clever "Third Hand" capos, which can depress individual strings, you can go instantly lnto altered tunings without tweaking a tuner.

I jam occasionally with a bunch of bluegrass guys and quite a few of them de-tune their elderly, vintage guitars by a half-step or so and then use the capo to bring 'em up to concert pitch.   Easier on the old neck.....

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim Yates on July 21, 2011 at 3:38am

The way to decide if a capo is a worthwhile tool is to listen to the results, 
preferably in a blindfold test. 
 If it sounds good, it is good, no matter how you get it.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• Next ›
• Page