How to Use a Capo the RIGHT Way

Going over some fundamental and ESSENTIAL tips on using a capo. Thanks to @sweetwater and Kyser for sponsoring this video. Get yourself a Kyser capo:

If you feel like leaving a tip:

[Martie]

Thank you! I use a capo when I am singing, I don't want to worry about some of these crazy hard chords when I am playing and singing. LOVE the capo! Great tips!!

[daverappuhn]

As a church musician, I often use a capo so I can play in a different range from the keyboard (you mentioned the same with two guitars.) In other words, I don't want to tromp over the keyboard (and vice-versa) because the result is a muddy sound. I laughed when you described your first capo, AKA the "Bill Russell Elastic, " because yes, it did have a proclivity to "explode" off your fretboard, either as you tried to apply it, or in the middle of a song, ending on the floor about six feet from where you were standing. All that said, here's why I recommend the "D'Addario NS Artist Capo Adjustable Tension" over the Kyser. (1) Although the Kyser is the easiest to quickly place and use, they are not bullet-proof. I use the 12-string version, and they last about 5 years, and then either the main frame or the spring breaks at an inopportune moment (i.e., the middle of a gig.) I've gone through several over the past 15 years or so. (I've never had a six-string Kyser break.) (2) Kysers have a powerful grip (good!) but that also means if you use them a lot, you'll be putting serious grooves into your frets, which eventually means a fret replacement job ($500-600.) in contrast, the D'Addario Adjustable Tension allows me to easily dial in the least amount of pressure to achieve the firm tension I need. (3) Kysers are preset to a certain radius which either works or not for your particular guitar. Thalia Capos (Thaliacapos.com) is the only brand that comes with a whole set of radius pads (and fitment chart) to fit whatever guitar you've got. They're quite expensive, but worth it -IF- you only use a capo occasionally. Their only problem (in my experience) is that like the Kyser, their pressure is quite significant. The sets of pads that come with the Thalia include a high- and low- pressure version for every radius out there. But even the low-pressure felt super-stiff on my 12-string. BTW, shout out to Sweetwater for having a wide variety of everything (including a wide variety of 203 capos!) related to guitar (and pretty much any instrument.) Thalia capos are only available directly on-line (thaliacapos.com.) Their site is worth checking out for their wide visual variety.

[noelmciver]

Sean, enjoying your videos here in Perth, Western Australia. Thanks mate!

[msspi]

Excellent presentation. I have been moving that direction, toward your approach to capo use, so this was really helpful. I have a Kyser capo that I'd had for a long time and had some sentimental value. The spring broke. Kyser basically rebuilt the capo for me, new rubber, new silicone sleeve, new spring. I'm a loyal forever customer.

[professordeb]

G7th ART is my go-to capo! I have a Kyser as well, but the G7th adapts to the fretboard radius better and affects the tuning less.

[jbuonomo]

another great use of a capo .. my capo really helps play drop tunings, I'll tune down to D, and use the capo on one for (Eb/Ab/Gb/Bb/Eb) or no capo for (D/G/F/A/D) still able achieve standard tuning when capo is on Two.. it allows a way to play many songs tuned down on the fly (always retune after you move the capo) really helpful when using a 12 string keeping it tuned to D (D/G/F/A/D) helps loosen the strings making much it easier to play and add flavor all the way up the neck.. Just keep CAPO on II for most standard tuned songs

[danlee]

I learned a lot in your video where you explained its not necessary to play full chords.
If you don't care about missing a few strings it's easy to strum all over the neck.
Specially if you use tracks it can even sound better, sometimes.

[raymorgan]

I use a capo a lot, but not because I can't play other chords. I use it mainly for fingerstyle where all the melody notes would be a totally different arrangement if I had to switch keys. The second reason is simply for the sound where some things gust sound better in a higher octave, and having those open strings in the higher octave.

[jonkoenigs]

I got my capo from Harbor Freight. It also doubles as a vise grip.

[mrbigg]

You should link this to a worship tutorial.
Usually on Sunday, I have to transpose a song that is capoed, for the bass player and piano player.
Great stuff as usual man.

[mikeramsay]

I use a capo to play Beatles songs that it's used on. Rubber Soul has a lot of capoed songs: Michelle, If I Needed Someone, Girl, Norwegian Wood. On Help there's I've Just Seen a Face, It's Only Love. George used the capo a lot: Here Comes the Sun, Old Brown Shoe.

[anunexpectedfire]

I brought that reverse capo energy to the chat, and you can’t stop me. Mwahahahahhah 😈

[kevinnielsen]

Mostly overlooked is a capo shortens the scale of the instrument. Notice the frets spacing is longer near the nut, and shorter nearer the bridge. A capo will allow those with small hands to reach notes more easily.

[MCee]

Sweet explanation of when and how to use a capo. Besides guitar, I own a couple of ukeleles - just recently acquired a baritone uke, which is tuned 5 steps different from my tenor uke, so playing a C-chord position on one becomes a G-chord on the other. Until I watched your video, I really hadn't given much thought to how this related to moving a capo to the 5th fret of the guitar (partly I guess because I can't remember ever using a capo past the 3rd fret). For my acoustic guitars, I own 2 Kyser capos and agree, they are great - I don't use anything else. Shout out to @Sweetwater for co-sponsoring your video and for their awesome service. Great job. I'm hitting the subscribe button!

[jeremyburns]

Hahaha!! I actually go bottom up. Not sure why I started doing it that way. Still going to watch your video(s)😂

[meat-n-taters]

Love Kyser capos. Not a crutch, but a huge advantage of guitars. Easy to change keys for better match with the singer or easier chord changes.

[robertbyrne]

Thank you for this video, it was inspiring. I've been playing for 52 years and teaching guitar for 33 years. I prefer to use the lower-cost Kyser Pro-Am capos as they do not over pinch and make my guitar go sharp and they are 1/3 the price. Of course the only drawback is I have to manually tighten the capo. Thank you again for this inspiring video and Thank You to Sweetwater and Kyser. 👍🎸

[heidipax]

I love to play “Cold Cold Heart” with my capo on the 8th fret, I have a fairly high voice and it makes my guitar sound “mandolin-ish”, giving a fresh vibe to an old song 😊

[jcburger]

Thanks for the proper way to use a capo lesson. Very Helpful!!

[Tom-xpdl]

Frontman Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull capos up to fret 3 and even 5 sometimes and kind of arpegiates the chords and the guitar has a kind of mixed guitar and mandolin sound. Check out the song Dun Ringill or Thick as a brick. Great tunes from the use of a capo.