If you find yourself playing the same song over and over in one key, adding a capo can give it fresh life by changing chord voicings and opening up new sounds.
Chord symbols will change depending on which fret you choose to capo at. So if you capo at 2, for instance, open G, C and D shapes may become different voicings that sound higher.
Transposing
One of the many uses for a capo is transposing chords into new keys. A capo works by squeeze string tightly enough that its tension changes the pitches of open strings – depending on where you place your capo this can alter any chord you play into a different key.
Utilizing this technique is simple and can be completed with any capo position. Simply take the chord you are playing, add or subtract a semitone from either end to determine its proper key.
If you need assistance doing this, use a piano keyboard and count black and white keys until you reach the key of your song. When in that key, move the capo to that fret and try out different chords – this will create an entirely new sound for your songs as well as allow for different timbres for similar basic chord shapes.
Creating a Brighter Sound
An advantage of using a capo is its ability to allow for chord voicings that would not have been possible otherwise, because the last digit of your thumb can now lie low rather than up. This prevents players from getting fingers into an ideal 90deg position when playing chords on fretboard.
As well as transposing to different keys, using a capo can also add brightness. For instance, Ab chord (also known as G sharp) features an uptempo quality perfect for rock and pop songs.
By placing a capo on the fifth fret, you can play these chords in the key of C, giving your guitar a bright and summery sound. Many guitarists utilize this technique with great success; you may have heard Oasis, Eric Clapton or other artists using it on songs they perform.
Creating a Fatter Sound
Create thicker sounding guitar chords by placing your capo higher up on the neck. This works because thinner frets make pressing down easier – giving your fingers more of a chance to press down with each note played.
Play a powerchord that spans two octaves on the fretboard using a capo; this will raise each string’s pitch by several semitones while still remaining within its original key.
As part of learning powerchords, it’s crucial that the capo is situated so you can easily spread out your fingers wide. To achieve this effect, adjust it up or down one fret until all strings can be pressed with enough force for clear sounding chords – this will take practice but will lead to fatter sounding powerchords!
Creating a Wider Range of Sounds
Once you master moving the capo around, it can open up an array of chords for playback. For instance, some open chord shapes may sound more interesting when played higher up the neck with a capo than when played standard tuning.
Capos act like moveable nuts, shifting string pitch without altering its lateral placement (which remains under the purview of the nut and bridge). Learning all the open chord voicings available across keys may take time – once mastered however, you’ll discover an incredible variety of sounds at your fingertips!
Some voicings combine harmony and dissonance to create beautiful tension that truly makes a chord shine. Check out this C chord in E with capo on fourth fret or this G shape/capo four as examples of these styles of playing.