What is a guitar capo?

A capo is one of those pieces of equipment that can be confusing for guitar beginners. You may not even know what it does, as many songs can be played without a capo. The day may come when you are at band practice and someone says, “You’ll need a capo on the 4th fret,” so you should know what it is and how it works.

So, what is a capo? What benefits does it offer to guitarists, and how can a capo help you? We will explain further in this article.

Guitar capos and clamps explained

A capo is a small device that fits in the palm of your hand and is designed to clamp down on the strings on the guitar fretboard. This is why you might sometimes see a capo called a guitar clamp. A capo shrinks the area you can play on and raises the pitch of the music.

In a way, the capo is similar to the nut of the guitar. The nut, located on the headstock, dictates where the playable area of the strings ends and where the vibrations stop. In other words, a capo acts as a sort of moveable nut, clamping down on the strings to shorten the section you can play on.

By using a capo, you can change the key of the music you play. This means that you can use the same chord shapes you have learned higher up on the fretboard. The chords will sound different, but the chord progressions you have learned will still work. In essence, playing with a capo is simply transposing the music to another key.

A guitar capo serves a similar purpose as your finger does when playing barre chords. The shape of a barre chord requires you to press a finger across the fretboard. In a way, this serves the same purpose as a capo, as it also frets multiple strings simultaneously.

How does a guitar capo work?

Using a guitar capo is simple, and placing it or changing its position (for example, between songs) on the fretboard does not take much time. All capos have some sort of clamping or tightening mechanism, but there are a few different types, for example:

• Trigger capo
• Screw capo
• Roller capo
• Strap capo

Generally speaking, all capos do the same thing: change the key of the music. The choice will come down to your personal preference. You may want a capo that you can quickly and easily put on or remove. In this case, go for a capo with a clamp design.

Guitar clamp

Some capos have a bar that clamps onto the strings, which is held in place by a cam-style clamp or by a screw that allows you to physically tighten the capo. Another popular style of guitar clamp includes a rubber bar attached to a strap of material that tightens around the back of the fretboard, like a watch on your wrist. These are sometimes called cloth and toggle capos.

Partial guitar capos

In addition to the clamp-style guitar capos and ones with a cloth and toggle mechanism, there are also partial capos. A partial capo works just like a regular one, but it only covers some of the guitar strings. For example, you can use a partial capo to cover all but the low E string.

You can use a partial capo instead of alternative tuning. Using a partial capo can be complex, so beginners should stick to the standard capo design that covers all six strings.

How to use a guitar capo

To use your capo, first choose which fret you are going to use the capo on. When learning new songs that require a capo, check which fret the capo belongs on. Guitar tabs and chord diagrams indicate where to apply the capo with a phrase like “capo on 2nd fret.” Make sure the capo covers all of the strings on the fret unless you are using a partial capo. Then use whatever mechanism is suggested to tighten your capo.

Once you have applied the capo, strum the guitar and ensure that all the strings produce a clear sound. Sometimes putting a capo on your guitar neck can create fret buzz; in this case, just readjust. When moving the capo, try not to slide it up and down the strings. Instead, detach and then reattach the capo. This will avoid wearing down the strings.

Other uses for guitar capos

Capos do more than just change the pitch to allow you to play different songs. There are also other reasons to use a capo. Once you fully understand what a capo does, you can take advantage of other benefits:

• Create a brighter sound. If you are shortening the length of the guitar’s fretboard, you are making the tone of the guitar higher and brighter. Your music will have much more “shine” to it, as the higher frequencies ring out more. This is often described as the “voicing” of the guitar. An A chord played with a capo on a higher fret will have a different voicing than an A chord played near the nut without a capo.
• Change the key of a song you know. If you know a chord progression and want to change things up, either for a different sound or to better suit a vocal range, consider using a capo to change the key. You do not need to learn how to play the guitar differently – you can simply use your capo!
• Avoid barre chords. This is especially applicable to beginner guitar players. If you struggle to play a certain barre chord, transposing the song and playing with a capo may help you avoid using your index finger to press on the strings.

Guitar capo chart

As we’ve seen, using a capo will transpose your music up or down a key, depending on where it is positioned. If you learn a simple chord progression and then play it with a capo on the 3rd fret, for instance, the sound will be different. It will still sound good and the chords will be in the same key, but the key itself will have changed.

The capo chord chart below does a very good job of showing how a capo changes the chords. For instance, playing the chord shape for an A chord with a capo on the 3rd fret means you will produce the sound of a C chord.

Are you having difficulties deciphering the guitar capo chart? Here is how it works in practice.

As you change the position of a capo while playing the same chord shape, the sound of the chord you are playing changes. For example, if you play the G chord shape with a capo on the 2nd fret, you are actually playing the A major chord. To play the G major chord with a capo in this position, you need to use the F chord shape instead.

Depending on the capo’s position, you can play the G major chord with the capo on the 3rd, 5th, or 7th frets. You just need to change the chord shape according to the capo chart above.

Try learning this capo chart so you can use it to your advantage when playing with a capo. Whenever you are in doubt, just come back and check the chart to get those chords right.

Finding the best capo for you

Although all capos and guitar clamps do pretty much the same thing, there are a few things you should consider before buying one.

The main decision you will have to make is the style of capo you want. A clamp design will be better than the cloth and toggle design if you need to change the position of a capo regularly. A clamp is also better when you are playing live and need to quickly switch to a different key between songs. If you are a more advanced guitar player, you can also use a partial capo to experiment with different keys.

Investing in a sturdy capo with quality rubber is a good way to protect your guitar. Many players invest in expensive and luxurious guitars but buy cheap accessories. The best way to keep your guitar in top condition is by protecting it. This includes using capos and other accessories that you can rely on.

A capo is an accessory you will find in pretty much every guitarist’s arsenal. Take some time to fully understand what a capo is, how to use different capos, and which model of capo is right for you. Make sure to come back and check our capo chart when you are unsure how to play certain chords!