If you play guitar regularly, you’ll know that your hands take a lot of punishment. Chances are you’ll have at least a few different calluses on your fingers by the end of any given day. Even if you’re not playing every day, it’s inevitable that your hands will get sweaty from time to time and fingerprints will be left behind after every single session. So what does all this mean for your guitar? Well, sweat and fingerprints aren’t friendly to the finish on the varnish on the neck of your instrument. Over time, the friction from those hand movements can make it start to lose its gloss and appearance. Add in another player who doesn’t take care of their guitar, and you have one more person adding salt to an already-wet wound. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it: Capos.
What is a Guitar Capo?
A guitar capo is a device that fastens around the guitar neck (usually just above the fretboard) that tightens when you push down on it. This causes the frets to change their position, effectively shortening the fretboard. This allows you to play notes on the other half of the neck. There are a few different types of guitar capo out there, so in this guide, we’re going to go over the different types of guitar capo, how to use them, and what situations they are best for.
How to Use a Guitar Capo
Below are some instructions on how to use a guitar capo. You can’t just put one of these on your guitar without knowing how to use it properly. It’s a piece of equipment that can seriously change the sound and feel of your playing. So, let’s get started!
First, find the right capo. There are many guitar capo types out there, so you’ll want to make sure you get the one that fits your guitar. If you aren’t sure what type of capo to get, you can go in to your local music store and ask the staff. They will be able to help you find the right one for your needs.
Next, you’ll want to put the capo around the neck of your guitar. This needs to be above the fretboard, but below the nut. If you have a neck with a stop in the middle of it, like an acoustic-electric or a Squier, you’ll need to put it above the fretboard.
Types of Guitar Capos
Disc – these are the most common type of capo. They are similar to the design of a large paper clip, with a round head and a bar that you squeeze the end of to tighten or loosen the strings.
Straight Pull – these are similar to disc types, but the end of the bar is curved so that you can start with your thumb and pull up with your fingers to tighten it. These are great for acoustic guitars.
straplock – these are similar to straplocks and straight pull types, but they have a locking design. This means you can’t pull it off the neck of your guitar unless you use a specialized key to unlock it.
Lap – these are the smallest and most compact type of guitar capo. They are good for just one guitar, as they are very compact and easy to store.
When should you use a Guitar Capo?
When you want to bring the higher frets down to the lower frets
When the bass notes are really low and you can’t reach them with your fingers
When you want to change the tone and sound of your guitar
When you want to show off to your friends
When you want to impress your significant other
When your hands hurt and you want to take a break
Which guitar capo should you buy?
For the most part, there’s not a lot of difference between the types of guitar capo. The only thing that will make a huge difference is how well you can use it. If you’re new to using a guitar capo and have trouble adjusting to the way it sounds, it can certainly mess with your playing. For this reason, it’s best to get started on the easiest capo you can manage. Once you master that, you can slowly work your way up to the more advanced ones. That being said, there are some capos that are more useful in specific situations than others, so let’s take a look at them.
Straight Pull
Straight pull capos are great for acoustic guitars. If you’re using an acoustic guitar, you’ll probably find that you need to bring the strings down lower on the fretboard to make the low notes come out right. A straight pull capo is great for this, allowing you to bring those strings down a whole fret without even having to move your fingers.
Straight pull capos are also great for acoustic guitars when you want to change the sound by bringing the frets in or out from the strings. This can add some extra resonance to your tone, making it sound richer and fuller.
Straight pull capos are also great for acoustic guitars when you want to bring the higher frets down to the lower frets. An acoustic guitar only has the lower frets, so if you want to play some notes on the other half of the fretboard, you’ll need to bring those strings down a whole fret with the capo.
Lap
A lap type of guitar capo is the most compact of all types. This means it can be used in situations where you don’t have enough room to fit another type of guitar capo. For example, if you were playing a large band and had to swap guitars between songs, you could use a lap capo to bring your guitar down a whole fret and then switch back to your main guitar.
A lap type of guitar capo is also the smallest. This is great for one guitar, as you can easily store it in a bag or on your amp.
straplock
A straplock type is the best of all types, as it is the only type that allows you to use it on both acoustic and electric guitars. This means you can use it to bring the higher frets down to the lower frets or to bring the strings down a whole fret to lower the string height. It’s also designed to stay on the guitar without needing any tools, so it doesn’t need to be taken off to switch guitars.
Which guitar capo should you buy?
The straplock guitar capo is far and away the best choice, as it allows you to use it on acoustic and electric guitars, it is the only one that stays on the guitar without tools, and it can be used to bring the strings down a whole fret to change the string height. If you can only afford one guitar capo, you shouldn’t even think twice about getting the straplock.
Conclusion
For many guitar players, the question of what to do about the finish on the neck of your guitar is one of the most important issues you have to consider. If you don’t maintain your neck, it will begin to wear down and lose its gloss over time. This can make it harder to play and even damage the fretboard if it has been scratched by the metal strings. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help protect your neck and keep it looking new.
From using guitar polish to keeping your fingers clean and dry, you can keep your neck in great shape. However, the best way to keep your neck in shape is to use a guitar capo. Guitar capos allow you to change the position of the frets on your guitar neck, allowing you to bring them down or bring them up when they are too high for your fingers to reach.