What are peoples views on when to start using a cappo. Some songs iv been learning use one and iv started using it alot. I feel its become a hindrance and slowed my progression down alot
I don’t know why you’d think a capo was a hindrance. Songs that use one tend to do so to make them easier to play. It’s just effectively moving the position of the nut at the end of the neck. If a song calls for a capo then I use one.
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Because if ur using it ur able to play chords easier and without stretching ur fingers as much as u would without it, so when u try playing without the streching fir chirds becomes harder
If you don’t like it, don’t use it then. Simple as that.
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imho, use it when you want to. When a song calls for use it, or don’t.
When I’m learning a song that wants me to capo to somewhere. I’ll do that. I’ll also practice the song w/o the capo too as I agree, it’s generally a shade more difficult w/o. So when ya go back to using it (the capo), the song may seem easier to play.
Good luck.
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maybe sometimes. but they can also enable chord voicings you just aren’t going to get otherwise.
but if that’s your argument, then are you playing songs that require stretches and big moves but also open strings, so you can’t use a capo? if not, then maybe you should?
me, I’m no capo snob. many pros use them when warranted. so I will, also.
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Exactly, and not only for an acoustic, when playing chords to a song sung in an usual key (whatever it means ;)). Mark Knopfler, my favourite guitarist, uses a capo on an electric; just two examples: “Postcards From Paraguay” - the key of Bbm, capoed on the 6th fret; “Boom, Like That” - in Gm, capoed on the 3rd fret. Many other electric guitarists use one too, if not for any other reason, just to get a different tone.
I wont stop using it tbh if im trying to make my own tunes inprefate the sound of ot been on 2nd fret. Just wondered if im slowing my progress by using it so often
I prefare the sound to having it on 2nd or 3rd fret. Whem Im doing my practice i dont use it but soon as i finish practice i put it on and spend hours playing songs with it on,
you shouldnt always have a capo , put it on only why its needed
I have a old yamaha acoustic that is smaller sized that I keep in Eb tuning. I use it outdoors and I keep a capo on the head always so I can just throw the capo on the 1st fret if I want to work on something in standard tuning. Capos have a ton uses when needed its always good to have them around IMO.
HI, I’m only 8 months into the journey. What I did when capos “arrived” was to start a section of a song’s practice without and then towards the end of that section of practice, I’d put the capo on. That way I was getting “satisfied” with the song/chord practice itself and putting the capo on was simply to get a small amount of usage. Gradually the capo became more comfortable (yes, it took me a while!) and I extended the proportion of that specific song practice during which I used the capo. All the best!
Why make things more difficult for yourself, what slows your progress down is not playing as much, not using a Capo; I’m always using one because I mostly tune down to D on anything I have with a 25.5” scale length, if I need to play to a backing track in standard tuning Capo 2nd fret!
Im about 2month into practicing. I do lessons without it. Songs im practing and doing my own thing, its on. Practiving songs and my own stuff is 80% of me playing guitar atm. I dont know of iv worder what i originally said properly. With me using it 80% of the time, could this be slowing the 20% of practice down
As said in anither reply. Im about 2 months into practicing, towards end of the 1 grade on justins course. Atm im only pracing lessons 20% of my playing time, the other 80% is still practing but its songs from song book and my own stuff, all of which use capo. Im windering if it would be mire beneficial for my development to be dping the 80% without capo. As im not streching fingers as much when im using. On the other hand if everything im playing in future is with a capo, do i really need to practice without it and would it be better if i even done my lessons using it
I don’t see any real advantage of doing that, when I used to have lessons years ago off a Professional Session musician she advised me to not make things difficult for myself also including using a Capo. To improve your finger strength and stretch there is a simple way to do it. It involves using a large sheet size newspaper; the method is to place the sheet flat on a table and starting at one corner put your palm on the corner to trap it, then use your fingers and thumb spread wide to pull the loose paper together into a ball, when you’ve got it in a ball squeeze it as hard as you can for 30 seconds. Go to the next sheet, rinse and repeat until you have no more sheets left.
A little tip, to reduce the cost of using this method flatten and iron each sheet flat and reuse them until they’ve had it!
Give it a try, it worked wonders for me!
With regards to finger strength and stretching I don’t think there’s a problem with using a capo. Yes, it’s typically harder to play without one but your fingers will still get stronger. What we ask from our fretting hand isn’t normal compared to typical everyday life so you build up strength and stretch over time. Just by making it more difficult doesn’t make you stronger faster, in the same way you don’t go into a gym as a newbie and start with the heaviest weights. As long as you’re playing plenty (and not so much that it’s causing problems due to being relatively new to guitar) then you’re on the right path
We are all going to be different. I found that Justin’s practice suggestions worked for me nicely. I’m 70 and I felt that I needed to work hard at moving/stretching my fingers (and finding rhythm) through practice. I wouldn’t change much if you think it’s working for you. Overtime, finger stretching will occur naturally but it’s obvious your song playing is bringing you joy (and progress).