A capo is a clamp with which you can change the pitch of the open

guitar strings, simply by placing the clamp behind different frets

on the fingerboard. With a capo, you can change the key of any song

quite easily. I love to use a capo, for a number of reasons.

The thing I do most on the acoustic guitar is play old-time fiddle

tunes. Many fiddle tunes are played by fiddlers in the keys of A

and D. However, when picking these tunes on a guitar, they sound

the best, and are played most easily, in the keys of G and C. Now

say that I wanted to jam with a fiddle player who wanted to play

“Black-Eyed Susie” in the key of D. I would want to alternately

play back-up for him while he played the lead, and then play lead

on the guitar while he backed me up on the fiddle. All I would need

to do to accommodate his key (D), yet play with the same fingering

that I am used to (in the key of C), is to place a capo behind the

second fret of the fingerboard. We would then be playing in the key

of D, but I’d be using the fingering I always use when playing in

the key of C without the capo. If he was playing in the key of A, I

could keep the capo on the second fret and play the tune as I had

learned it in G.

By using the capo, you can more easily play with musicians who play in

keys that are different from the ones you are used to. However, I

like to use the capo (usually behind the second fret and sometimes

behind the fourth fret) even when I play the guitar all by myself.

One reason is that the higher pitch allows the separation of the

individual notes to be heard more clearly. Each note seems to ring

out a bit more crisply and distinctly than it would at the lower

pitch. Another virtue of using a capo is the ease of playing. The

higher on the fretboard you use the capo, the less distance between

each fret, so your fingers don’t have to stretch as far. And the

action becomes slightly lower, so the strings are easier to press

down. And, you don’t have to place the capo way up the fretboard to

feel the difference. Just placing the capo behind the second fret

results in playing that is noticeably easier.

One caution is important to mention. Do not leave the capo on the

instrument when not playing it. The capo, when clamped on the neck,

holds the strings down on the fretboard and creates extra tension

on the neck and the top of the guitar. All acoustic guitars are

destined, at some point in time, to have problems due to the

tension of the strings. Why hasten the process by leaving a capo

clamped on your guitar?

As to the best capo to use, there are a number of different kinds.

I used to use the kind that is a bar with an elastic belt that is

adjustable. In recent years, I have found the Shubb capo to be the

best. It is easy to use, and clamps tightly and quickly behind any

fret. Check with your local guitar dealer and determine what is

best for you.

Capos make things much easier for the guitarist, and they provide

many benefits. If you have never used a capo, you owe it to

yourself to experiment with one!