3 REAL Reasons To Capo

[@nigelcarren]

I used to write all my songs in A flat, but I now write them in A house!

[@atheathorium]

Yes! YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!

[@19sept76]

LOL

[@adhaniharuna8890]

I love your joke. Do you have a meme acc or something loll

[@nigelcarren]

Hey @@adhaniharuna8890 I hope you appreciate I am giving away my best material on here, but what the hell is a meme acc? Please help me. 😂 I have a website but I make armour nine memes if that helps? www.nigelcarren.com

[@brianralph5036]

that was really bad

[@Megan_44]

My capo was a god send when learning bar chords! I couldn’t mute all the strings up at the 1st and 2nd fret but move the capo down to 3 or 4 and I had no problem muting them and working in transition now they are some of my favourite chords with or without the capo

[@Malc664]

Never heard of that. But you gotta learn without it at some point.

[@Megan_44]

@@Malc664 yeah and I did. It’s a lot easier day 1 to play with the capo and as you acquire more strength in your fingers take the capo off and play it perfectly

[@Doowopsid]

Thank you for that helpful tip

[@itsjustkip108]

When the only capo you got is a pencil and shoe string lmao 😂 the broke life is fun

[@ianjohnson3840]

Does it work?

[@itsjustkip108]

Pheonix27 05 for me it did but it’s not sturdy

[@r3mii-CL]

Yea...I had that broke life.....then I leveled up to a capo. Wish I could show a pic of it

[@avetse]

they're like a dollar?

[@memetherapy]

You can also block only a few strings and create interesting tunings.

[@titmusspaultpaul5]

Good question. Are there specialized capos that you can buy that are made to do this?

[@wilsondetorres1535]

@@titmusspaultpaul5 yes..

[@titmusspaultpaul5]

@@wilsondetorres1535 cool. I will go looking for them on line.

[@connorschrauben5593]

@@@titmusspaultpaul5 It's called the spider capo, I own one and it's great.

[@DonovanDeans]

@@connorschrauben5593 Any clip-on capo can do this, just fix it to some of the strings and leave the rest open. The spider capo just takes it further and allows you to individually hold any combination of strings. But it's a pain in the ass to move around, and the tuning stability sucks compared to a regular solid clip on type.

[@davidgrason161]

Here are two more really good reasons to use capos: 1. For a 12-string, the guitar can be tuned down and then capoed back to pitch. This will relieve tension on the neck making the guitar easier to play. And this is a problem with many 12-string guitars. 2. I work with a singer whose voice is between baritone and alto. Also, my own singing voice is a baritone. We do a number of songs where we use a baritone guitar and capo it back up towards pitch but not all the way to pitch. This gives us the ability to get tunings lower than standard pitch for his particular voice in the same way that your reason number one moves the pitch higher than standard to adjust to the singer. GREAT VIDEO!

[@brycecourtneymusic]

In between baritone/alto... Doesn't that mean a tenor. I mean alto is a low female voice type. I mean I myself am a baritone, and I really don't understand. Do you mean tenor possibly

[@Joe_Maysky]

Awesome Tony. I'm so sick of anti-capo snobbery. One of my favorite reasons to capo, related to the last reason, is capoing on an open tuning for different harmonic movement and content.

[@dunhamchris]

There’s one more world to open up to... the world of the partial capo. It opens up voicings and progressions you wouldn’t normally have access to.

[@melaniewoods]

That's what I was going to say Chris, partial capoing makes some popular alternate tunings quick and easy, e.g. 'drop D' (drop E), 'DADGAD' etc. Fun stuff to explore!

[@kieranstokes33]

Using 2 standard capos as partial capos to get the same effect is quite fun as well. And it looks cool!

[@hughyager701]

this guy gets one hell of a tone when he plays. I love the tone!

[@sagjagegahg]

that is one of the most glorious beard hair combos i've seen

[@Awkwkwks]

Thats one wierd A open chord

[@flatfingertuning727]

Are you talking about the one near 2:20? That looks like a normal A-chord voicing, but with fingers bunched together. Personally, I'm somewhat partial to the A-chord voicing x-0-2-2-2-5, which sounds especially good after an E7 voiced as "0-2-2-4-3-4. Far more satisfying than the cadence 0-2-0-1-0-0 to x-0-2-2-2-0, but I think what he's playing here is the ordinary form.

[@micahm.4713]

I don't think he's talking about the voicing, I think he's talking about the way he places his fingers like a bunched up open d chord.

[@dSYNYSTERb]

you looked way too much into that my dude. he's talking about how his fingers are bunched up all oddly sort of like hes playing an open D chord.

[@Martsapso21]

I find the open E chord even weirder...

[@THEKILLER-uc3vp]

@Iest123 As ur A?

[@theprodigalson4003]

It makes every song you play different and interesting. It’s great

[@s4bre883]

Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo dooo doo doo Edit: lol thanks for the many likes fam

[@guykoplowich4068]

Mommy Shark

[@brendancronin9190]

That's my favourite song but he's missing a couple of do's

[@elmotheprincessparrot9710]

Rage Elixir woah calm down

[@jgraffis]

I think one of the most underrated reasons to use a capo is to play in a different voicing/space when playing with another acoustic player. Two people strumming in the same cowboy chord G,C,D voicings can get real muddy real quick. Capo 5 on one of those guitars and play D shapes and now you get a rich sound that goes together better.

[@DavetheIV]

Certainly I was going to post this myself but you beat me to it. Played as a duo myself & every arrangement was structured in this way to keep them fresh, clear & interesting.

[@appalachiangunman9589]

I do that sometimes in church if our song leader plays in E using a D shape with the capo on the second fret, I just play an open E and it does make it sound a little more interesting.

[@jgraffis]

@@appalachiangunman9589 Yeah! Another fun way is to try using a partial capo. I have the Kyser cut capo that just hits the A,D, and G strings on the second fret so it puts you in a DADGAD style tuning, but a full step up at EBEABE. You can play D shapes and get some really cool voicings because of the open tuning, and then you can just move the cut capo up the neck and put a regular capo two frets behind it to play in different keys.

[@quintas66]

I think you should always play that way with other guitarists.

[@brotherguitarman]

You nailed it tony the reasons on a capo....thanks....

[@ChrisFusina]

Can u teach bluegrass techniques?

[@judayraboy]

Wow, I’ve learned something today thanks! ❤️

[@surfrby8876]

Best explanation I’ve heard thanks

[@nickrkr]

Your explanation and playing is amazing

[@accentontheoff]

Lovely video, especially the Grateful Dead joke :) One question though if I may - does the guitar have to be of a high quality build in order to take a capo on a regular basis. Does the capo place a lot of load on the neck. Thanks!

[@andrewwhite2503]

Hiya, I am a very experienced busker, and I use a capo a lot. Some chords like B Flat and E flat major7 come easy to me as I use my index on the bass note and my pinky to do a partial bar, I find this easy, I also just use the partial F shape for chords like F sharp etc, but like you said, using open G,C, and D shapes with a capo allow all kinds of altered chords to be played pretty much anywhere up the fingerboard. Why make life hard when a capo makes it so easy. I am glad you did a lesson on this, I teach all my students this way. I also use incredibly light strings on my acoustic, 09 to 48's. I have never had one break on me ( Being a brit, I use Rotosounds), these allow the easy bending of all chord shapes. Good lesson!,

[@guitarhiker4449]

Good stuff man! Happy to see someone talking bout the capo more! Your a great guitar player too man! What kinda capo is that exactly? Shubb?

[@noahjackson4094]

Tony going "Do Do" is the best thing i've heard all week.

[@tommyschic1]

what kind of capo do you have?

[@bluestarindustrialarts7712]

Great explanation. But for a more complex song with say like 5 or 6 chord changes, may be problematic?

[@jessietan9312]

lol at the start i thought it was an ad. #bouncyballapproach

[@christianvollenhoven]

*Yousician is the best way to learn and practice music...*

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

you know why because a lot of times when you watch a KZbin video he pops up all the time in like a 30-second ad

[@scotcherton]

You can use the capo as a maintenance tool. If you need to loosen your strings to get into the soundhole to swap a battery, or maybe reseat a bridge pin, put your capo on the 1st fret, then loosen your strings. Since the capo maintains string tension from the first fret to the tuning post, your strings won't get wonky, or twisted.

[@maxyork7174]

Please teach how to play more bluegrass licks : )

[@sc000f]

Yes please

[@mrbricks6]

I am playing The Word is Alive , casting crowns, on Easter. Rehearsals have been difficult with this song. I will be only guitar in the set and the arrangement I have is E, B, F#, G#m, C#m. This is a bar cord nightmare. I play bar chords fine, however, as you can see its a lot of movement across neck and for the opening song I want to make it simple without all these bar chords. Watching how to transpose songs with capo, I'm a bit lost. Can you help? Matt

[@stevef4010]

Very concise and useful. Thanks

[@DonovanDeans]

If you have a clip-on capo and a steady hand, you can change keys & play with modulation mid-song. If you fix a capo to strings 6-2, you can create an artificial "Drop E" tuning, or further for weirder drop tunings. I think the main selling virtue is, if you want to compose or play a lot of diverse songs in a lot of different natural keys without re-orienting yourself with a dizzying amount of modified scale positions, CAPO is good. While it might seem like a crutch, ironically I found that a CAPO made the "visualization" part of my playing 10x better over time. You can't think "this chord at the 3rd fret" , this A arpeggio at the 5th" anymore. The fret markers become irrelevant, you have to actually transpose the entire scale grid & patterns over relative to where the capo is, which is easy if you only play in open position but actually incredibly daunting if you play things very mobile.

[@mattkolberg2409]

Love your background lighting.

[@stefaniehaven6991]

This gave me so much realizations, thanks!

[@juliuspongosjr.4794]

love the cowboy-like strumming pattern. ♥

[@lukemarcello1229]

Dude I love that tattoo on your right hand. I've been wanting to fill up some space on my forearm using like the wood carving fluer type design. What would you call that?

[@LukasK-guitarist]

Great info! I hate when somebody thinks capo is only for unskilled guitarists who need some shortcuts or singers who don't know how to transpose songs. In fact I see it opposite way. My personal preference is hidden in your tips #2 and #3. You can use different tones on open strings and let them ring throughout your playing. Btw love that bluegrass lick!

[@bignappy504]

I've been using a capo for years but I never knew how the name "capo" is pronounced. Great video about a very cool tool. Thanks for sharing

[@xkguy]

Steve Earle uses a capo on all but the low E at the second fret. This allows him to play an E chord (with a D shape...but still have the E in the bass. When he makes the G shape he get his A chord. This gives roughly the effect of a Drop D tuning without the limitations. Check him out on The Other Kind, Have Mercy, Steve's Hammer and most stuff he has done since he learned it (from Guy Clark in the early 2000s. I love the sound of the D shape with the bass string droning. I use this in songs I write and in Lucinda William's I Changed the Lock...Lucinda and Steve were pals from the 70s on so maybe some cross pollination there.

[@fljetgator1833]

..MY favorite... The ' C cape' at around 3:06 😂 ...great vid Mr 😎

[@RobbieLeffel]

What about the rolling capo?! Midsong, you can raise the key by sliding the capo up the fretboard with your thumb. I used it a couple dozen times in worship situations. It's super cool!

[@davestambaugh7282]

If the only available string sets for your instrument are to high tension for you to comfortably play. An alternative to custom wound string sets (expensive and inconveinent ) you can simply capo up a fret or two and then tune down to get a lower tension. I do realize that this video is about guitars for which there are many different brands and gauges available however for the more obscure instruments this can be a help. I see Irish tenor banjo players use this trick.

[@natserog]

great video! where can i buy that capo...looks like a good one!!!

[@tacguitar]

That is an Elliott capo form Texas!!!

[@oneball1926]

Where'd you get that capo? It stays right on the neck? Seriously, I want one.

[@joselezcano8215]

Great video man. Thanks

[@puneetsingh7834]

the capo u were using was very cool....may i know which capo it was....

[@tacguitar]

That is an Elliott capo made in Texas :-)

[@edburner6258]

another is if ur doing finger picking stuff placing capo on 2nd makes the frets closer, making it a bit easier to fingerpick. Oh and tone quality can sound better capoed, to a higher pitch.

[@willbigelow472]

1:36-it's like Grateful Deaddy. 😂 My favorite kind. That's why Bobby and Jerry were so innovative, so they wouldn't have to play the same chord fingerings over and over!

[@edwindungdung1998]

Where can I get the "Do do do do" song? Also awesome vid! sweet and simple

[@adityashrestha2774]

dang the course sounds super cool

[@artemkashtanov540]

the last one is really new and helpful

[@shyammalhotra9628]

If u are an intermediate player and want to strum that "do do do-do-do" part in a higher note just change to chords to A# D# and F that will exactly sound the same

[@titmusspaultpaul5]

Great video... and when you said your do do's sound better that just cracked me up. My backdoor bugle also sounds better when im playing my acoustic guitar with it...lol.... thumbs up from me.

[@steby123]

True, true, I started playing bluegrass in the 60's on a (generously) horrible guitar so; capo lore has become instinctive even on my recording King and my Martin.

[@jamesdinn7333]

Peops, I'm seeing a lot of comments talk about how capos are for beginners and/or those who hate bar chords. Allow me to illuminate what, for me, are thetwo most important aspects of a capo. One: If ever you need to change key on the fly, capos to the rescue. While you may be able to transpose on the fly (kudos btw), it's no great sacrifice of pride to admit that a capo is easier and allows you to use that big musical brain of yours on more important aspects of the song. Save yourself the needless effort! Two: open chords, and open finger-pickings have certain stylistic advantages that would be lost if you merely transposed them or used bar chords. I have an arrangement of "You Got a Friend in Me" in C that relies on open chord fingerstyle guitar. If a singer I was comping decided that C# was more comfortable I would use a capo immediately. No amount of music theory or clever transposing/barre chords would save the deliberated harmony of my arrangement but a capo would. TL;DR: open chords and fingerstyle fit a specific stylistic niche and need a capo in order to survive transposition.

[@dougthompson5586]

capo`s are good for playing lute music on a classical guitar

[@bruce257]

I use my clip on capo to do alternate tuning. Stander tune - capo 2nd fret - 1st through 5th, Double Drop D - capo 2nd fret - 1st through 4th, Double Drop D - capo 2nd fret - 1st through 4th just for a few. Always cheek your tune when you change the positions of your capo.

[@nuberiffic]

That doesn't make any sense. What are your strings tuned to?

[@bruce257]

the 1st one is - Tune your guitar to stander tune then capo the 1st string through the 5th leaving your 6th open (E). The 2nd one is - Tune your guitar to Double Drop D, 1st and 6th (E) down to a D then capo on the 2nd fret 1st string through 4th. The 3rd one is-My bad I put the same one twice! Here is a good, Tune your guitar to Double Drop D 1st and 6th (E) down to a D then capo 9th fret 6th string through 3rd leaving the 1st(D) and 2nd(B) open. I hope this helped! Here is a song we did in that last tune soundcloud.com/blackmon-twins/time-to-dispose

[@nuberiffic]

@@bruce257right, ok. I'll have to give them a go :) Also, you know it's, "Standard tuning" right?

[@bruce257]

@@nuberiffic My bad!

[@nuberiffic]

@@bruce257 All Good :)

[@michaelmusic46]

the capo is my best friend, never leave home without it

[@Rowen170]

What capo are you using?. Make/Model . Thanks

[@willhurt3446]

Cool. Where can I buy the same capo you have ?

[@funnyq7998]

Is it better training to play bar chords or is it unnecessarily hard?

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

Actually "because I want to" is good enough.

[@malaikat3748]

What if we move our finger to the 3rd or 4th fret without a capo, will it be high like when u use a capo?

[@chinh101]

Wow, this was completely over my head.

[@johnconroy8323]

Rhythmitic Chords like jamming Fire on the mountain or eyes of the world are fun as fuck I can have a lot of fun with it. Wow nice blue grass riff pretty cool stuff!

[@KitKatnotthecandylol]

Nice video. Thanks!

[@JeserNoob]

wow man real eye opener! thanks for the advice!

[@ajitasaxena9071]

1:06 he said it’s gonna help my doo doo to sound better XD

[@deormanrobey892]

Let's not forget playing a song completely in the treble range whether alone or getting a fuller sound in a duet.

[@LKDesign]

Man, I need to look up this style of strumming.

[@cindyyeager8627]

Wow. That will help me so much.

[@jasonlieberman9840]

i like hammering on and pulling off all along the neck, and the capo makes my style more adaptable to keys that don't include open strings, and/or modes that work better with those notes

[@SKYGUY1]

Thanks for the insights. The main reason I use a capo now is because, having begun my 8th decade of life any lengthy session of practicing or playing chords or notes near the nut stretches my arthritic shoulder to the point of "discomfort" making the guitar "no fun". Capo anywhere between 3rd and 5th fret and it's easier to reach... PRESTO... Fun again.

[@Happy-Me.]

I use my Capo also for setting my neck relief with the truss rod!

[@myalaynaangel]

That little tune was stuck in my head all day at work. I'm singing it out loud and people thought I was crazy... Lol Do do dodododo do do dodododo dodo dodo do do dooooooo! Thanks for the lesson and the laugh!

[@ligaya8909]

I love your capo, what type of capo is that?

[@tacguitar]

That is an Elliott capo :-)

[@glennfleming]

This playing just makes me want to give up!! Brilliant!

[@gkemp2887]

That actually happened to me when i taught my son to play what took me months to learn and he surpassed me in weeks. I regret the decision to put my guitar down! 20 yrs later here i am

[@monshaobaid1065]

Dude your guitar skills are lit 😘😘

[@GarySchiltz]

I'd like to know details of that particular capo that Tony is using. It is so nice and slim, and seems very easy to adjust. Does anyone know what it it? Also curious about the make and model of the guitar.

[@jakeminor1967]

Tony has a video discussing different capos, probably more than one. I THINK he's using the Paige?

[@tacguitar]

Thanks for watching Gary!!! That capo I am using is an Elliott/Mckinney capo I have had it for 10 plus years and I love it :-) The guitar I am playing is a Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner :-)

[@lilbasedboi]

That guitar is gorgeous

[@kyle2841]

Wow i did not know number 3. Thank you :)

[@hitesh_blues2353]

Who knew! The third reason, I had no idea this was possible! Thank you Tony :) Love your channel. FRETBOARD WIZARD is a beautiful series of lessons..I really appreciate your efforts in making all these amazing videos :)

[@Spacegeezer]

I gave a like for the doodoo joke, but also, thanks for the useful knowledge!

[@ZPX945]

Can you explain what key you are in based on the position of the capo? for example what you would be in on the 1ST fret and so on as it moves up the neck. Thanks :-)

[@tacguitar]

Clarke, Great question here and it really depends on what chord shapes you are using. For example if I am playing in the key of C and I put a capo on the fourth fret that would move it to the key of E . It will of course vary for each key :-)

[@chawciasiab]

Where did you get that particular capo that you are using in the video?

[@tacguitar]

That is an Elliott capo elliottcapo.com/ :-)

[@dorcasbass5585]

I had a friend once, who played Jazz guitar. He was horrified when I brought out a capo. he said it was like sawing off the first two frets of the guitar, I explained that the 14 fret access on the cutaway neck I had, gave me the same notes as a classical guitarist like Segovia & that was good enough for me. He said Segovi-who? That's why I said I "Had" a friend once. Don't forget that adding a capo can reduce your action on acoustic guitars which can improve your flow too!

[@everettbrown5583]

What about my singing though. I practice when nobody else is around. And it has improved slightly. But still not great. Good advice on the capo. Some things I have not thought of.

[@Jade-dv6sk]

I love this channel

[@totalmb7998]

He explains like a whisky... Hangs in your mind faster.... great bro

[@thomdushane]

My thought was to use the capo to shorten the scale of your guitar and reduce tension on particularly difficult to play guitars... detune all your strings one full step to D standard then capo at the second fret. Boom, more slack tension and shorter reach for big stretches.

[@satamique]

i like your capot! which model is it?

[@tacguitar]

That is an Elliott Push Button Twist Capo, it's made in Texas :-)

[@satamique]

Hey thank's! :)

[@user-us4dj9tv7j]

I started taking lessons in fifth grade and the guy teaching showed off while I was trying to understand what he just taught me and really sucked so I learned chords and songs on my own through song books like "Hits of 73" type stuff but for years I always wanted a capo but didn't understand them and nobody ever explained them or I was embarrassed to ask and a new minister came to our church and played guitar at the services so I asked to get together with guitars sometime and he used a capo so I finally asked somebody after 40 years of not knowing and being afraid to ask what a capo is for and It sparked an urge to learn any song I liked on the radio by playing easy chords instead of bar chords which are difficult for me because my hands are smallish and I am a plumber so I don't have flexibility for bar chords. Anyway, Praise the Lord that I finally learned to capo. The end

[@yangmagic0703]

Also, if you need to play lute music, it's necessary to put capo on third and detune G to F#

[@Vectif]

You should've added for tapping purposes, like Tim Collis from TTNG and a few others. It allows for pull-offs and "tap-offs?" in certain tones and keys that otherwise would be unaccesible in fast successions or certain combinations of sounds and chords.

[@Foodpermaculture]

Where can I get the lyrics for the first G chord song?

[@alienvolt7741]

i use it really because my guitar is always tuned half a step down so when i want to go standard I just put it on

[@hockinhoof]

old professional trick with the capo, is place it on the second fret and tune guitar back to E. it then makes for easier playing of any acoustic guitar for practice,as that[ F] barred chord is on even the best of guitars is a horror even for most good guitarist.also great if your an electric player it makes the chord so much easier to play.

[@anandpandey4036]

You teach like a pro

[@kimiagiraud3075]

Great video I like my capo even more 😁

[@obedchawang8787]

I love using capo but after I use it ,, the guitar gets to lower note. How do I fixed this ?!!

[@tacguitar]

Obed, Great observation. With most any capo application some subtle tuning adjustments will be necessary :-)

[@aliff0107]

Be professional

[@Derp009]

Just tune your guitar back up lol. Your guitar will go out of tune when you use it frequently, especially after applying the pressure of a capo on top of already playing

[@anthonylee5834]

thanks acoustic life , I like the thickness of your capo could you enlighten me mate ? from australia

[@tacguitar]

That's an Elliott capo from Texas. I also dig the G7th Heritage capo :-)

[@anthonylee5834]

i thank you acoustic life for your reply . and have a great xmas and new year ..tony

[@thechemistryguy7855]

U r such an expert.... 👍

[@marksmith8667]

Also - accompanying a piano, which is designed for flats (Eb F )with your guitar - which is designed for sharps (D E G)