Guitarists, you are using the CAPO wrong!

My favorite guitar capo: amzn.to/463pZNK 💿Download my Schubert CD: www.arpeggiato.com/cd/ Become a patron for more guitar tips! Patreon: patreon.com/brandonacker

After you capo, when you check the tuning, instead of adjusting the tuning pegs, you can pull on the strings either behind or in front of the capo to raise or lower the pitch. When done that way, your guitar will still be perfectly in tine after removong the capo. I learned that from Samurai Guitarist!

I love it when I get notified that he's posted

I'm not sure if it was intentional but I feel that the pacing of the video is a bit faster than your other guitar tip videos. But I really like this pacing a lot!

In flamenco, the capo (cejilla in Spanish) is not primarily used to change key, but to change the texture of the sound. 2nd fret and 4th fret are common positions. It also makes it easier to grab difficult chord shapes because the frets are closer together.

One more thing. Buy a CLASSICAL guitar capo, not a steel string guitar capo.

Not really mistake but one thing with a capo that I don't think gets talked about enough is not using it to change key, but to stay in the same key but with different voicings and/or allowing open strings to happen in a key/chord that normally doesn't have open strings. That or still changing key but again using different voicings. A lot of times I won't go much higher than the 2nd or 3rd fret, because I'm not just playing the same thing higher, I'm using different voicings. This also works the other way around. For example if I'm playing with someone who's using a capo, I'll not use a capo but play the same chords at lower voicings. This allows the two guitars to have a fuller, richer sound compared to two guitars just playing the same thing. Another thing with playing with singers would be sometimes I'll tune my guitar a full step down and play with the capo on the 2nd fret for standard. I do that on 12 string a lot too. That way I can also go down in pitch while keeping the same voicings, as well as being able to go to a higher key but with lower voicings to maintain low end. I've done lots of gigs where it's just me and a singer, and I find it just sounds bigger/fuller when you maintain the low end.

Thank goodness you did a video on the capo. I've been waiting for Years for this critical information. Not sure why other classical guitar teachers with videos (or not) don't have a specific lesson on this important device we all use! Thanks, again Brandon!

When deciding whether or not to use a capo, take into account the following: with a capo, you always lose notes on the low end so your guitar will have less notes on the low end available; you gain the ability to use open strings but you lose the experience of having to find new fingerings and new ways to play the song, and you lose the practice of having to improve your strength for barring technique. The problems you need to solve when transposing a song or playing in a "non-friendly for guitar key" makes you a better guitar player and musician but sometimes a capo makes it easier to focus on the expressive side of the music and create sounds with open strings that would be impossible otherwise.

I can be a bit of a tuning snob and figured out correct capo placement because of that. Strings (especially the thinner ones) go sharper than they should if the capo is too far behind the fret.

These videos are incredibly helpful. Thank you, kind Sir. 😊

Thank you, you've give me a lot to think about in my guitar playing technique after so many decades of just learning self-taught! The one thing I did kinda figure out eventually on my own, is that it's a good idea to retune your guitar after placing a capo as it's never quite right sounding

I found this video absolutely delightful, Brandon! Thanks for the tips!

I am a huge Tony Rice fan and learned very early how to properly use a capo, Tony was a master at it. very close to the fret, sometimes over it, and never over the fret. tightened as it pulls the strings sharp. and I don't use clamp style like Kysers etc. I find they don't deliver equal pressure across the strings. I use cradle type like the Shubb F1 or Elliott, and last but not least, Paige cradle type Capo's. Great advice, you, Sir, are top shelf... Peace

For whatever reason I tend to play the capo upside down compared to the way you use it your video, meaning with the pivot joint on the bottom of the neck. 🤔

Awesome video once again Brandon! I was thinking while watching this that I would love to see a video of a practice session of you playing a piece you either already know and are perfecting or are freshly learning. I think it would be wonderful to see the raw footage of your sessions ! (Especially your arrangement of Nocturne Op 9. No 2)

No wonder I've been having trouble. I couldn't get to capon to stay in the right place

Have you ever tried a flamenco capo? Slower to put on but so stable and good

Those G7th capos are wonderful. They do them for a range of guitar types and they all work. Amongst others I have their 12-string capo. It’s the only one I have found to be utterly reliable across the mess of strings on a 12-string, in all positions. Brilliant. Now you’ve read this, hit subscribe to support the guy. It’s free and his content is priceless.

I'll add another one that took me FAR too long to realize: The open end of the capo should point down, not up. For reasons I cannot explain, I used to have it the other way around, and my hand would constantly bump up against the tightening screw on the closed side. One day, I remember thinking "why did they design these things this way??" and then immediately realized I'm an idiot and just reversed it. I've never had the issue again.