Many banjo players utilize a capo on their fifth string to enable them to shift between keys more easily without continually tuning it back down. Luthiers or specialists in instruments usually install this capos for maximum convenience.
Some capos consist of small hooks permanently installed in the fretboard that string can slip under to raise its pitch; others feature long bars which screw into either side of the neck for increased pitch adjustment.
Spikes in the Fretboard
Banjo players looking to raise the pitch of their fifth string are increasingly turning to banjo 5th string capos placed directly into the fretboard as one way of doing this. This method has become popular for playing in multiple keys without worrying about having to tune their strings every time they switch keys – saving both time and potential tuning issues when changing keys!
There are various methods available to you for raising the string pitch on an instrument, but one popular way is using a miniature “railroad spike” from a model train set as a “nail for the 5th string”, such as banjo spikes or 5th string tacks drilled into your fretboard at roughly the same position as regular capo. You may refer to them as nails for 5th strings or banjo spikes; either way they offer an easy and cost-effective solution that can easily be installed or removed when needed.
An alternative solution would be using a short screw that can be raised and lowered quickly for quick neck movements; however, this option can be cumbersome when trying to quickly switch positions on the neck. You also risk the chance that landing just in the right spot causes either the nut or 5th fret to raise, necessitating slight adjustments before getting the desired results.
If you opt for this approach, make sure that an experienced luthier installs your spikes so they are close enough to the nut and fret to prevent problems while still permitting easy removal or installation of another capo. Expert luthier Frank Ford provides excellent guidance for this procedure on his website.
This type of capo can be installed at any fret, though most often on the second. This enables you to play in C without needing to retune any string and easily switch tunes that require tuning an octave higher by simply moving your capo up or down your neck to match any fret number required for playing those songs.
Pen Caps
A fountain pen’s pen cap serves several functions. It protects its nib from accidental abrasions, prevents ink from seeping out into any material it comes into contact with and delays its evaporation and drying on its tip.
Writing with a pencil allows writers to avoid marking surfaces accidentally with their pen tips. Traditional pens feature slip-on caps held together by friction force from pockets or ties and conical section and cap shapes; over time this friction wears down, leading to loose or even cracked caps should too much force be exerted when pulling on them too quickly.
Recent years have seen several innovative cap designs introduced to combat these problems. One such design features a hinged clip that easily opens and closes, while others use lever-based operation or flat elastic bands with tiny metal hooks on either string side that grip both the cap and fifth string to keep them secure.
There are even ballpoint pen with venting features built right into their caps to meet international safety standards and prevent accidental choking accidents by providing an opening through which someone who accidentally swallows one can maintain breathing functions until medical assistance arrives. These vented caps meet these safety requirements by offering an outlet through which an accidental ingestion of pen caps could maintain breathing functions until medical assistance arrives.
The cap can be made of various materials. Some match the pen tube’s color; others feature glossy coating that resists moisture and stains; there are even edible pen caps! All these examples showcase how product designers strive to turn ordinary products into fun accessories suitable for daily life use.
No matter their design, all caps serve one goal: convenience and security for banjo players who often capo their fifth string. A well-made cap provides a secure fit that prevents strings from dropping off while playing; yet is easy to install or remove from use when not required.
Railroad Spikes
Railroad spikes have been in use since the 1830s and serve an essential function. A railroad spike is a large rail nail used to fasten the rail to a tie, or other form of lateral support. While concrete ties have since replaced wooden ones, their role as fastening devices remains significant; today’s concrete ones still use spikes. Each spike comprises of an easy steel nail with a flat head designed to be driven into wooden railroad ties via steam locomotive or similar vehicle and then secured using wrench.
Banjo players have found that using a railroad spike as a 5th string capo can be highly effective and cost-efficient way of capos the fifth string without having to tune their entire banjo again.
An ideal railroad spike for this purpose should have a flat head with which to hook your fifth string; these are often available at hardware stores or online vendors. As a more convenient solution, small brass blocks with slots for fifth string slotping onto banjo necks and thumbscrews to hold it in place may also work; these devices make applying and removing as needed much simpler; these devices can even be carried easily when not needed, unlike bulkier capo systems which require trained luthiers to secure.
No matter whether it’s an actual railroad spike or something more like brass-like, it is recommended that before purchasing one of them for use as a banjo capo you check its carbon content. Low-carbon steel won’t harden properly when used as such a banjo capo and should if possible purchase spikes rated “MC” or “HC.”
An internet search will yield several helpful videos that demonstrate how to install and use railroad spikes for this purpose. Many of these videos advise using a tapered router bit when installing and positioning the spike, in order to prevent damage to the wood of the fingerboard, as well as sanding down its sharp edges before use.