Capos are essential tools in bluegrass banjo playing, enabling you to switch effortlessly between keys without changing your tuning.
Most standard five-string banjos are tuned to open G, however when capoed at the second fret two frets of string length is reduced and A becomes your key of choice.
Adjustability
Adjustability is key in creating an ideal banjo capo; its adjustability should allow players to move it up or down the neck to different frets without needing to relearn songs in different keys. Furthermore, such a capo can save players who do not wish to spend money on an expensive sliding fifth string capo by offering them alternatives such as small hooks (model railroad spikes) inserted into fingerboard frets at predetermined fret positions or having an expert luthier screwing something onto side of neck.
A capo is a metal bar used to secure the fifth string on a banjo and hold down at an appropriate fret, enabling players to easily shorten it so chords can be played more smoothly without drone notes interfering with sound produced by other four strings. Guitarists and banjoists may use it for this purpose.
There are various kinds of banjo capos on the market, each offering advantages and disadvantages. Most are tailor-made for specific models of banjo or guitar necks, featuring adjustable widths to accommodate their various neck sizes as well as pressure pads that contact strings directly and distribute force evenly while their handles often fit the radius of their fingerboards.
One of the most coveted types is the Reagan Capo, specifically designed to work on 5-string banjos. Operating on a lever principle rather than spring tension and easily adjustable by moving a small arm, it provides easy use while staying securely in place and can easily move between frets without altering tone quality. Available in various neck widths with customized engraving services available if desired.
Other, less costly banjo capos include D’Addario Tri-Action and Artist capos, which work equally well on narrow and wide necks. Both models use trigger mechanisms for operation; Tri-Action capos have handles which fall behind the neck while Artist capos point forward making fretting hand movements easier; both types are easy to install and come complete with carrying bags for convenience.
Accessibility
Utilizing a banjo capo to change keys is straightforward and doesn’t interfere with strumming, making it the ideal way to play in keys that may be too low for singers or are simply more comfortable for your fingers.
There are various fifth string capos available on the market, and one option is a sliding 5th string capo that sits near the nut of your banjo neck. While these are fairly expensive and should only be installed by a luthier or banjo repair person, they may be difficult to remove without damaging your banjo if removed improperly. Another possible method involves using something such as a model railroad spike or small hook to hold down fifth strings at particular frets; though some players use such techniques without success or require expert skills when operating correctly.
Trigger capos offer an easier and more affordable alternative than sliding capos, as they use spring tension to clamp onto the fretboard and clamp it shut with equal force on all strings for buzz-free sustain. Trigger capos also come equipped with 4-string banjo models as well as 5-string models allowing users to quickly and accurately adjust it according to fingerboard radius and radius adjustment of fingerboard radius resulting in equal pressure across all strings and buzz-free sustain. They’re available both 4-string banjo models and 5-string models.
Paige’s NS Banjo/Mandolin Capo Pro offers another viable solution. This innovative capo employs a bar system that acts like a nut and requires minimal tightening, greatly reducing retuning necessary during or after using it. In addition, each string comes equipped with its own outsert made from material similar to nuts for ultimate precision in seating your capo even after string bending occurs.
The NS capo was designed for easy removal and installation without drilling holes into your banjo neck or fingerboard, featuring lightweight aircraft grade aluminum construction that won’t add bulk or hamper strumming hand performance. Plus, you’ll get a convenient carrying bag and polishing cloth included!
Sound
One major advantage that banjo players take advantage of capos for is to play songs in other keys. To determine this, referring to the chromatic circle and counting frets can help determine their keys – for instance if someone requests that you switch from G to A simply count up to the second fret and place a capo on that fret before proceeding as normal, as your banjo strings have now been reduced by two frets so your tone becomes fuller and richer.
Use of a banjo capo can also make the higher frets more accessible; reaching beyond the seventh fret on a banjo without sounding shrill is difficult and there is not as much usable fingerboard available than on an acoustic guitar.
There are various kinds of banjo capos on the market and it is essential that you select one that will complement your instrument perfectly. Some models use springs designed to resemble human flesh while others feature small brass blocks resting on each string and secured with nylon thumbscrews – each may need some adjustment and skillful installation before functioning effectively.
When purchasing a capo for your banjo you should carefully consider both its amount of pressure applied to each string and how this impacts its sound. A high quality capo should distribute force evenly over its entirety and adapt to the radius of the fingerboard, providing buzz free sustain nearly as if without one! It is wise to test out your banjo capo before making your purchase decision – to ensure it fits correctly without creating tuning issues or buzzy sustain!
An expertly installed capo can last years with proper setup, but you should avoid low-quality models that break easily. Professional installation from an expert luthier should take no more than 10 minutes and ensure maximum quality banjo performance.
Safety
Contrary to guitar capos which cover five frets at once, banjo fifth string capos typically feature only a fifth fret freting mechanism that enables players to raise the fifth string up to C, G, D or A without shortening its length too drastically as would be required with an over-the-fret capo.
One of the most commonly used designs features a metal bar constructed of tempered wire that slides on an adjustable rail that’s attached to the side of the neck, enabling users to position it over any fret in any fret position. While such capos may be easy to put on and off quickly, they may cause fingerboard damage if set incorrectly and require professional skill for correct positioning.
Another approach to fifth string capping involves inserting small hooks or model railroad spikes at preselected frets into the fingerboard to secure down the string. While this method is relatively easy to use, too much force may break it or mislaid capo could easily disappear during performances if misplaced or lost during rehearsals or performances.
Home-built solutions for capping the fifth string can cost nearly nothing and be quick and simple to make. Unfortunately, however, they are less convenient than add-on slider capos in terms of use and often result in additional fingerboard wear over time.
Shubb currently dominates the market in fifth string capos, though other manufacturers produce similar designs. Their standard and wide neck sizes offer them unique over-center cam action which applies pressure evenly on each string, providing good tuning stability when used and eliminating the need to “slip” them on or off of a banjo neck. Another advantage is constant force exerted on strings even if neck tilted or vibrated – unlike home-made capos which may produce funnelling effects leading to unpredictable intonation; one such Shubb model available as shown above is their BC-20 which also comes available with smaller width for tenor banjos