Chords for Using A Capo

[Db] _ _ [Dbm] _ _ [Gb] Hi everybody, my name is Dave Dahl.
[Db] Today on Pro Tips [Em] we're going to be talking about capos.
What they're basically used for, what kinds you can get, how to install them, the do's
and don'ts of capos if you will.
Now there's been capos on the market for a number of years.
A lot of technology goes back to 40, 50, 60 years and stuff that was manufactured within
the last couple of weeks.
Basically it boils down to two different kinds though.
Ones with set tension and ones that have a set screw where you can adjust the tension
when you actually have them on the guitar.
So today I've actually brought two different examples of capos along with me.
We have a capo that has a spring tension on it that you can put anywhere on the neck,
has the tension set.
You also have this kind of capo which has no spring mechanism but it has a set screw
on the back so you can adjust the tension depending on where on the neck you have it set.
So we'll start with the Kaiser.
Now again, the basic premise of having a capo and using a capo is to basically move the nut.
When you're playing open chords back here you get certain voicings on open strings.
In effect when you're using a capo you're able to use the same fingerings but by moving
the nut you get a different key.
So on the second fret I'm up two half steps from [Gb] the normal [A] nut position.
You [A] can still play the same [D] open chords [G] and get those voicings really [Ab] anywhere you use it.
[B] _
[Gb] _ So now you notice when I put this on here I tend to like to use these like this.
For me it's easier to put those on that way.
You can also use the capo by installing it from the bass side to the treble side like that.
The benefit to doing that is this handle isn't in your way and it may be more comfortable
on your [B] hand.
Whatever is comfortable for you it really doesn't make a difference.
Now one thing to keep in mind when you're using a capo like this, there is only one
tension on the spring.
So if you're looking at the guitar you can see that the barrel is thinner here than back
here and the action is lower to the nut here and higher up here.
One thing you may notice when you have the capo set back here towards the nut is since
it has no adjustable tension on it you may experience some buzzing because it's not pushing
down hard enough on the strings to clear these open frets.
So the exact opposite might happen if you're capoing up here.
It may have too much tension because again the barrel is thicker, the action is higher
so it may be pulling down too much.
You might notice it's pulling your guitar out of tune.
That's why a lot of times I'll recommend a capo such as this one that has a set screw
on the back.
Now this isn't the only manufacturer that has this design again but we're just using
it as an example.
So again what I like about this, _ _ _ if we put it in the same spot you can see I can set the tension.
If I want it to be on there a little bit tighter all I have to do is adjust this screw on here
and I can make it as loose or as tight as I'd like.
So when I install it you can actually see the force that I use to close it. _
_ _ _ Without adjusting the screw I'll put it up around the 10th fret since again the barrel
is thicker and the action is higher.
You can see without adjusting the screw how much more force I need to apply to get the
capo [Db] closed and that's illustrating how much more force is on the string.
So again it may pull the guitar out of tune.
So the easy thing to do, adjust the screw, same spot _ and you're good to go. _ _
Now another thing to keep in mind when you're adding capos is the position on the fret when
you're actually installing the capo.
I always recommend going to the inside as close to the fret as you can go rather than
say in the middle of the fret or even back here.
Now you might not think that that means a lot and it may not matter that much but when
you have the capo close like that you have less of a [Abm] chance for the strings to be buzzing
on that fret that you're trying to clear.
Lastly, with any kind of capo you want to try to limit the amount of time that the capo
is in contact with the finish.
On any kind of finish on any kind of guitar it could potentially dent the wood, it could
potentially eat into the finish or burn the finish because of the materials reacting within
the capo within the finish on guitars.
Another thing that I recommend not doing with these capos is clipping them to your headstock.
I know it's very convenient to have them there when you're playing because you can just take
them off and then clip them right to the neck.
One of the problems is the material can react with the finish and you can potentially end
up damaging the finish both on the headstock with it like denting the wood or you could
also burn the actual finish itself.
But with that extra mass up there, say for example this guitar is in your case and you
leave it in the case with the capo on there because it's easy to travel with, easy to
store because there's room in the case for that.
One day you're out and your cat knocks over your case with the guitar in it.
With that extra mass up there, it could be enough to cause the headstock to crack or
even fall off.
I've seen that a couple of times too.
So I recommend never doing that, especially [Eb] to store your guitar.
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