How Bluegrass Guitarists Use Capos - Bluegrass Guitar Lesson

[@uriahedwards]

4:43 Marcel has an odd boy-band related Star Wars theory

[@That.Guy.]

I cant put the capo to close or in gets in the way of my huge hands making an open b7 chord

[@2dollarsaday]

As a beginning flat picker, I can honestly say that I refer to this more than any single other video. Brilliant!

[@lordofthemound3890]

It’s interesting to me how the jazz guitar approach is virtually the opposite of Bluegrass. In Bluegrass, you’re supporting the fiddle or mandolin, so you’re going to be playing in G, D, A, or C most of the time, and using the open notes of those chord tones on guitar. Or using a capo, as you explained. But in jazz, you’re mostly supporting horns tuned to Bb, Eb, or F. So jazz guitar doesn’t usually use open strings at all. Why not use a capo in jazz for those open strings? Jazz key centers switch so much within the song itself, that it would make it almost impossible. So, it’s interesting to me how the whole style and approach of each type of music grew out of the role each music demanded of the guitar.

[@jonathanroyce9692]

“Not that fiddlers know the chords anyway…” LOL 😂

[@peterritchie2990]

Hi Marcel and greetings to all Marcelophiles from BC Canada. The Shubb has another use which didn’t get a mention. If some care is taken in the placement you can do the ‘drop E’ trick and stay in good pitch. Put on the Shubb so it covers only 5 strings. Leave the low E string un-capo’d and Bob’s Your Uncle when you grip a cowboy D chord and you get that ‘drop D sound’. Plus when you grip the regular G chord, once again Bob. But- but this is a big secret so don’t tell anyone.

[@alan4sure]

Lol Tim Stafford showed this in a recent zoom lesson.

[@als1023]

Jeez Pater, you could have your BC citizenship revoked for letting that cat out of the bag !

[@peterritchie2990]

@@als1023 Shhhh. The plan is mums the word.

[@tomcoryell]

I don’t want Bob as my uncle. I’ve never trusted him. That said, I love my Shubb capo. I will say I have a cheap Chinese trigger capo that works great. I A/B’d it against my Shubb capo on a very precise tuner and there was no difference. Another cat out of the bag. I’ll let Uncle Bob try and put them back in the bag. Oh yeah, f@@k the Epoch Times wanker......

[@peterritchie2990]

@@tomcoryell I concur with your extraordinarily irrelevant Epoch Times point.

[@eliwebster509]

I've been playing guitar for about 18 years, only the last 10 being serious because I was a teenager before that and didn't know any better and holy shit I just learned more in the past 19 minutes than I have in the last 10 years. Dude. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I've been playing folk and country for a long time and got into bluegrass last year and now I'm finally taking the plunge into learning it and you've made it stupid easy and im actually learning theory in the process. Amazing.

[@PhillProbst]

I have a couple of those old Hamilton capos in my archive bag. The main issue with those, which you failed to point out, is that the arm has no arc ... it is a straight bar ... which would be fine for classical guitars with their flat fingerboards, but for steel string guitars with radiused fretboards, the 1st and 6th strings will buzz while the 3rd and 4th strings are stretched out of tune.

[@budaburns]

Ugh, all this time I didn’t know the Nashville Number System made it so easy. I also thought or a minute you were going to break into Doing My Time! Your no look jazz chord demo was impressive too. With all that, and a bit of well placed humour, you got another great video from the biggest baddest billy goat in the barnyard. Thanks!

[@thomaspassas]

Marcel you are great! Your explanations about bluegrass music are beyond of the god level! I wonder if you can do a video about picks and the different kind of picks that all the legends of bluegrass guitar are use.

[@E_-_-]

Schubb C1 for life dude

[@austincellar]

Exactly what I was looking for - a shorthand for common capo keys/chord-shapes... thank you for making it simple! A or B keys - G shape (capo 2-4) D or E keys - C shape (capo 2-4) F key - D shape (capo 3)

[@1AvW1]

Really appreciate this item. In my younger days I played some bluegrass- I now am after - 35 years- catching up again, partly via your site! Many thanks for that, Marty! I never realized 'the why' of capo in bluegrass related to violin and mandolin. Your explanation on I - IV - V chords is the most concise one I ever heard! (I studied Musical Sciences in Amsterdam, Netherlands, it took me a whole lot more time to get it. Great work! ;- )) ) Since I play lots of flamenco (guitars + music) and other nylon strummed guitars (classical) I mostly use the cejilla: a wooden artifact made by Spanish guitar builders, attached with a key-turner and a fishing line (Some old guitar builder from Granada once told me NOT to use an old nylon guitar string (high-e for such a cijilla) I like it a lot. It's a slow setting up, yes! In return it gives you time to think and rally feel your music! Oh, and never scratches the neck. Despite your dislike of these pinchers-capo's, they are excellent to make quick alternative tunings. Putting it over the second frets with the exception of lower E provides _sort of_ lower D tuning whilst playing C chord. Same goes for fourth fret (open low E) lets you easily play C - F - G shaped chords, with C (which = E) with a LOW E note. (Nice for playing alegría por DOH (C shape) only then in E (pro arriba) (guitarristas flamencos: disculpen mucho esta extraña explicación!) I even sometimes use a capo over 6 frets, and another simultaneously like described above. It sometimes deforms tuning a little bit, but again, it's nice playing with. Many other settings possible, like using capo from above so you keep open the b and e' string I once in a while use my mandolin capo on my guitar e.g. chopping over 4th, 3rd, 2nd sting to simulate DADGad Here too are many possibilities to play around 6.34 "This capo is really not slower." I would say: check this video out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZXcaWd8jdGKbq8 Keep up the good work! Thanks for all information. Cheers from Amsterdam!

[@jonathanlindell6209]

These kinds of videos are very cozy and nice :) This was very interesting as well to watch

[@HighLonesomeBlue]

As a singer/rhythm player, I do capo 5 sometimes playing in C but usually the rest of the pickers play in open C. This is how I play Till the End Of the World Rolls Round. Basically one of the only tunes I do this on.

[@Banner279]

I mostly play mandolin, learning and understanding the Nashville number system was the best thing ever for keeping jams simple. I can move anywhere on the neck and play in any key if I know the numbers and it's no problem. I do run into a lot of guitar players who don't the system, wish they did. Great short simple explanation.

[@bhr788]

I personally hate the number system- there's something impersonal about it, I dunno. Apparently TR hated it too. He requested chord charts at sessions.

[@danielmorrow6165]

Marcel, I just listened to Boot, Beg, Bury and love your music! I’ve been a long time consumer of your videos, this is my first post. Just wanted to say, I appreciate what your doin’! Private lessons may be in my future.

[@0126clayton]

Yet again Marcel - Thank you! It's like your video topics are almost reading my mind sometimes! I appreciate the work you do!

[@macfawlty]

The biggest mystery about capos is why they tend to disappear? I have at least a few picks from like 1970 still hangin' around, but I've probably lost a dozen capos. My daughter is definitely a capo klepto. I do have one of the vintage lever ones I stole off my dad about 50 years back (IOW, passing down to next generation). It's not very good as the depth isn't adjustable and I have to spread the clamp to get it to seat well (same as the Kyser). I like the Shubb a lot 'cause it's a smooth action, depth adjustment and I can leave it on while in the case instead of digging into pocket or case to see if I forgot it.

[@rickcypher4240]

I use the number system but your explanation is the best I've heard, will definitely use it when trying to teach an unfamiliar player!

[@havendavid9106]

I’m really loving your lessons! You have lots of good information and I really like your explanation of using capos. I’ve always been a little ashamed of having to use a capo to play in different keys and I’ve never heard the explanation of the open G sound for bluegrass music which requires keeping that open G formation in tact by using a capo.

[@FallNorth]

I've shoulder issues playing guitar and try not to sleep on my right shoulder as I know that's awful for it. A top tip to try if you do is, and I hope this helps: Pull your guitar across to the left and put it on your left knee, like Spanish/Classical guitarists (who know what they are doing) always do, so your shoulder opens out and extends in a *relaxed* way. Do NOT put it on your right knee in that sort of scrunched held back stressed shoulder positon. I can play ages on the left knee, if I just pick it up play a short time on my right, it's hello Mr Pain. It's night and day.

[@astro781]

Thanks for the capo-party, Marcel.

[@PhillProbst]

For myself, those stirrup style capos are my least favorite ... too much of a PITA to operate. My favorite is the Shubb, although I more often than not find myself using an adjustable clamp style (D'addario) in the heat of battle as the quick change capability is paramount in the playing situations I find myself in (e.g. celtic sessions). The theoretical shortcomings due to uneven clamping that you mention are just that ... theoretical. I have not found them to be evident in practice.

[@fenderjag114]

Good lesson, Marcel, and I hope it's useful for those who mistakenly think that capos are always and in every circumstance "cheaters". I remember the time my jazz teacher and I decided to take a couple of weeks off from jazz and play some bluegrass instead. Out came his D-18 and a capo. You would never use a capo in jazz, but it's essential in bluegrass.

[@92Pantallica]

These videos are awesome. I dont know much about bluegrass but I enjoy your videos.

[@we7438]

Thanks Marcel. I use the Shub because I do a few songs in E, capo 2nd fret D-shape with the open low E string. Great sound. Still thinking about getting a screw clamp for the rest of the songs I capo on. Blessings.

[@paulhendershott667]

I just switched over to the screw-back capos, the low profile ones, and I can place them anywhere within the fret with no buzz whatsoever! I have chubby fingers so I like to set the capo back about halfway in the middle of the fret from the 2rd fret - 5th fret. This gives me enough room for my giant mitts. I store my the same way above the nut as well. I thought I was alone and a freak but now I feel better...😄

[@rongosh100]

Watch and love all your videos. But, just one more thought on how a bluegrass guitarist might use a capo. One advantage a Shub capo has is to clamp on the 2nd fret but leave the 6th string open. Use the D position which would be an E. But with the 6th string open = a dropped E tuning. But, love all your lessons!

[@thefreese1]

Hi Marcel, this is one of my favorite way to learn .. I do t like it when you get too deep In theory . I don't read music ,simply because I am a slow reader . I mean even reading words ... I approach music like I do more code... the sounds ... I am so bad about it that I play lead and if someone asked me what key I'm play in , I have to stop and think , because my mind isn't thinking about anything except the tones and what's going to correspond... So even playing the National Number System , I have to stop and think about it .. After a while you dont need to think about anything, you just play ... my sharps and minors are easy to find the same way . I know where they're at... now while all this is good .and oddball progression, minor 7ths and such throw mentor a loop and I have to go to the theory... which takes me forever. But luckily that doesn't come up too often.

[@adventuresofdrewnnienhoneypot]

Thanks Marcel! Been using the spring capos since I started playing, just picked up the brass ultimate capo from banjo Ben Clark’s site! (Elderly was sold out). Excited to try it as I’ve been eyeing a screw capo for some time since all the greats, yourself included strictly use them! Wooooo 🎉

[@Sussloaf]

This was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks so much!

[@MetlDOME]

Duuuuuude! Awesome video with incredible useful info! Thank you!

[@leonardwinchester4030]

Marcel, you ought to try using the Glider capo. Not a knockoff version but the real Glider.

[@RolandSchweitzer]

In addition to open strings I like to think about the lowest pitch triad. In the key of A, an A chord first position without the capo is is 5-1-5, but with the capo on 2 with a G shape chord it's 1-3-5 on the lowest strings so when you play the low strings on the strum you get the chord tones as you expect them.

[@rockinrobinguitarsmusic5285]

Super clear! Many thanks!, Bart

[@kiphendry841]

That shirt is cool. And I love capos.

[@martymcpeak4748]

I looked at Elliott capo's they seem to be nice, but 170 dollars for the way they're made, wobbling thumb screws and all. After a lot of research and I decided on a Shubb F1 fine tune. 75 dollars, which is middle of the road from the Elliott I absolutely love the Shubb F1 I absolutely love it.

[@joshbrown4506]

My first real jam with some local legends up in Maine all told me that you don’t need a capo for bluegrass 😢 I was like what..?

[@tg8303]

Marcel, you should do a video on songwriting where you talk about the whole process from lyrics to choosing chord progression, and solos. In the video you should make a song from scratch. Just you and the guitar don't complicate it. Title it, how to write a country/bluegrass song. Not only will it be a great video but will also get viewsss. Love you bro-chowski

[@tg8303]

Oh and Marcel, what is your thoughts on playing a full step down or even a half step? I've been playing a full step down lately (so g note is d#) And it sounds so much better to me. It's even hard to play in standard now because it just doesn't sound as nice. What's your thoughts on this? Do you ever play in a different tuning? And if I give you a non erasable sharpie will you write your name on my mint condition, 1950 d28? Big letters on the front? 👀😉

[@davidrocheleau7953]

This was so helpful! Thank you!

[@MTDesolator]

More theory stuff pls 🥺😳

[@unsurprisingly]

Hello Marcel I use a Paige Capo also have the Kaiser I don't like it either like you said I liked the page because it's evenly but I like the brass when you showed there that you used very nice but even pressure right in the center I like that I'm going to check into that thank you buddy I appreciate it this is been a good lesson for me thank you very much God bless you much love from Huntington West Virginia baby keep it up Bluegrass rules Marcel Bluegrass rules

[@jamescoughlan8193]

Don't know a whole lot about bluegrass apart from I love the sound of it but this information is great for any genre

[@mutangpadan5311]

Hi Marcel. Many thanks these videos you’re making. You’ve got a way to put your msg thru’ and that’s very sweet and easy to absorb esp for new to middle-kibd of players like me.

[@5150show]

Outstanding

[@randallvaughn9318]

You nailed it. All the same advice I give

[@hamdog8872]

MARCEL!

[@JoshCroft-od3me]

Great video!

[@sunnyray7819]

Very informative, Thanks Brother!🇺🇸

[@howardmakely2169]

Great lesson. Kep up the good work.

[@daningram3143]

Thanks brother!!! Your always so informative!! God bless!

[@drew369]

Thank you Marcel!

[@sivadyert]

Great explanation! Thank you.

[@etai91]

Great lesson!! you make it all so simple and clear!

[@finchbevdale2069]

You are explaining the details that make this music what it "is". Bluegrass is a "sound" and a "style" and a "feel" and a "culture".

[@Yore297]

Great stuff! I’m subscribing. Entertaining and informative!!

[@thinkpad20]

Sorry about your shoulder! Hope it feels better soon!

[@wr5347]

I was waiting for an epic story about how dominant and tonic have been locked in an eternal struggle for all time, while the 4 chord is just awkwardly stuck in the middle wondering why everyone is so wound up!

[@tonyricketts5569]

Good explanation! Thanks

[@macfawlty]

Ya know, what you didn’t seem to mention here is the reason I thought bluegrass and singer-songwriter guitar players use capos… to match the key to the preferred vocal range of the singer. Maybe that’s implied/assumed.

[@JohnnyPowerhead]

I got the ultimate capo and sometimes it goes loose in the middle of the song and gets so bad i have to stop and rescrew it. I eventually gave up and went back to ole clampy who never lets me down.

[@mryt090909]

the rope type of capo was around alot longer than this guy's been alive..

[@eddiewebb7206]

What mic are you using? It's awesomely clear. And is it the only mic that was used in this video? Thank's!

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

Thanks! It's a hell of a signal chain. For anyone who's curious, AKG P420 is the mic, through a Presonus Audiobox, into Voicemeeter, with Light Host running a handful of Waves plugins.

[@SharpEdgeStandardOfficial]

Are them strings shot? Lol marcel that brass capo looks great. How far up the neck can it make it?

[@saoirsepaddy]

Kyser capo's all they good for is a book mark. My favorite Capo is G7-2 one day I'll buy G7-3

[@cugir321]

My shubb capo is more buzz free then the two paige capo I have at least for my LL16 monster....some guitars take certain capo's better then others.

[@Kyrelel]

If you have the "common" capo, ignore any images on the packaging and slide it on from the top string upwards, not the bottom string downwards.

[@PulsedPower]

Why is that?

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

Ab is for horn players. You tune a whole half step down for that.

[@jason_cornelius]

That guitar sounds amazing! Is it a D28?

[@highlonesome-coloradobluegrass]

Bluegrass Rules!

[@trevorhayden3116]

I seen billy strings using a clamp capo live recently. Im assuming because it's easier to move it to a different fret or take it off completely

[@John-wr6yo]

I love the fact that it is brass ,i think one gets more sustain with brass,but those two push rods are funky and i have completely destroyed my ultimate capo. There needs to be an improvement on that thumb screw and depth of pads. An improvement on the whole tightening mechanism. No other capo that i have owned pulls the sound and tone out of the guitar like the ultimate capo.

[@joeurbanowski321]

I almost redid the intonation on my guitar..!!! But I loosened up my capo and voila’…. 😎

[@TypingHazard]

I thought those nylon capos were just for classical guitars? That's what my mother always said anyway. It worked on her nylon string guitar v0v

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

Norman blake is quite unconventional with his capo use. Church street blues is in f#-capo 6. C shape. Or his guitar on john hartford's turn your radio on, where's he's playing in e with an e shape, capo 2. He tunes down to do and capos back up.

[@Whyiadda]

F*ck it! We’ll do it live! 😂 thanks for the helpful video man 👍🏼 hope that shoulder is feeling better by now 😉 UPDATE: You earned yourself a new subscriber. I decided that well before halfway 😎

[@josephanderson3889]

If you cut gr0oves in em for your strings it's good

[@strokerace14bp]

"If i wanna play in G sharp, im getting kicked outta the jam"🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@zombieslayer2.0xx3]

The signature bluegrass move is an Elliot capo in B the whole time

[@stephenholm1]

I understand liking / needing an open string sound ... but it's not clear, at least from this video, why we don't have E or A open chord set ups for bluegrass. I know it would sound a bit different, but so does G vs C vs D. If I'm playing in A, A - D and E are all open voicings as well. I understand why I COULD capo 2 and play A with a G-shape, but I could also play with an A shape. A and E keys are pretty common in other genres. Thoughts anyone?

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

Good question. The answer has to do with lead playing too. In their respective major scales, the keys of C, G, and D contain the notes of all the open strings. They key of A major contains a G# so open G is potentially less useful, and the key of E contains that same problem but also a D# so my G and D strings are potentially less useful. That doesn't mean you can't flatpick in E and A. You just have to get a little creative and remember how to effectively use those "missing" open strings. Hope that helps!

[@stephenholm1]

@@LessonsWithMarcel Makes sense to me, thank you for taking the time to explain!

[@charlestew8792]

Know the feeling about the shoulder and I thought I was the only one. Like video. C2nRDU

[@MrNocaster]

We’ll, I bought the capo you mentioned from Elderly Music. Yeah, no better than the rest. No worse, but not worth the money. D string buzzer is what it is. I play a 1937 Martin custom authentic and haven’t found a good capo yet. I have 3 Thalia capos and they are too bulky for the Martin.

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

Hey Chris, sorry you had a bad experience. I'm not sponsored by that capo company nor do I work for them but I do enjoy their product. I certainly didn't mean to lead you astray though, let's see if I can help. Some of those 30's Martins have a different neck radius (12" vs 16" I want to say). So you should get a capo that matches. The Kat Eyz capos will let you pick a specific radius with your order and they custom make it to fit. Since you mentioned a specific string buzzing you might have a flat spot on a fret/a high fret or a low fret as well. Highly recommend getting stainless steel frets put in. Frets can only be re-crowned so many times, I'm sure you know since your daily driver is such an old guitar! So stainless steel wears out much slower and needs replacing/redressing for less frequently. Don't mean to be a know-it-all, just trying to be helpful because I don't like seeing people dissatisfied. Good luck!

[@Profitocracy-]

I need one of these capo

[@chrisrosettidoubledown]

Super funny beginning

[@TinyTurboTuna]

My capo won’t fit above the nut. The diamond at the top of the neck protrudes too far. It’s a D-41. Does your martin not have that protruding diamond up there?

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

I play a D-35, they don't have that diamond shape (I believe it's called a volute). Live I normally play a DC-Aura and it does have a volute but I can get my capo over it. Your capo might not have as much clearance? 🤷‍♂️

[@hamdog8872]

My shoulder bothers me too.

[@Mkerecint8253]

Thanks for the video. Is there a capo that is best for a ‘V’ neck profile?

[@slooky14]

How well does your capo work on a B7 chord?

[@BlackHoleForge]

Hey Marcel why don't fiddle players know chords?

[@hamdog8872]

I see you skate! Do a kickflip

[@flattedsixth4547]

Where do you get replacement tubes for the Ultimate? I don't see anything on the Elderly site.

[@bikebum2006]

With your preferred capo, unused and resting just behind the nut, where would you attach the strap (assuming you don't have a second button)?

[@gatoryak7332]

Attach the strap between the first and second rows tuning peg rows.

[@bikebum2006]

@@gatoryak7332 I use a leather strap to secure to the headstock. It's not long enough to wrap between the keys, and it's too wide. I've seen some players have a later strap that fits there, but no idea where to source that.

[@gatoryak7332]

@@bikebum2006 The one that I use is made by Franklin Strap. They call it" Playmaster Strap Connector". It works on Martin headstocks, but just barely. If the headstock of your guitar is wider, there are other methods. It's an easy problem to solve; use your creativity.

[@Derekmartin20]

Lol I still have my 1982 chrome capo.

[@ElohimElessar]

What capo do you use?

[@acerv0]

Where can we get those handy/succinct charts?

[@JimmyBeam666strings]

What year is that D-28?

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

Its a D35! I've mistakenly said its from '69 or '68 a couple of times but its actually from '67.

[@JimmyBeam666strings]

@@LessonsWithMarcel Very cool! Sounds great

[@marnel7787]

Marcel, do you know of a cradle capo that will fit behind the nut of a Martin D-28? It has the Volute? or whatever it's called? and the cradle I have doesn't fit over that.

[@gatoryak7332]

I have two Martins with volutes. One is a D-28. I have three different models of yoke capos (two Paige and one Elliot). All three fit behind the nuts of both guitars.

[@joereadel]

If people would just learn the stuff in this single video it would make the guitar on the couch at the party a lot less ominous.

[@bradsparks6008]

Capos are cheat tools to you only need to learn how to shred and G-C and your golden XD

[@jasper_north]

Elliott. End of story