Is it a sell-out to play with capo?

Nomes · 11-07-2006, 01:51 AM

Do you think it's a sell-out to play with a capo as opposed to lots of bar chords and weird flats (on acoustic)?

I thought of this when I was chickening out at playing lots of bar chords on the weekend at church and opted instead for capo with C's G's and D's....

FTS · 11-07-2006, 02:47 AM

If you need to play with a capo, then play with a capo.

Demon_Hunter · 11-07-2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomes

Do you think it's a sell-out to play with a capo as opposed to lots of bar chords and weird flats (on acoustic)?

I thought of this when I was chickening out at playing lots of bar chords on the weekend at church and opted instead for capo with C's G's and D's....

My personal preference is to Barre Chord, I feel that there is a greater variety, and availabilty of chords when Barring.

That said, however, its not a sell out to use a capo, if that is your personal preference. I actually think capo'd guitars sound rather nice, its cleaner sounding than using barre chords, and for whatever reason it adds some kind of interesting background flavor to the chords (but that might just be my imagination).

So, if you want to use a capo, then go for it.

guitarman531 · 11-07-2006, 11:05 AM

If a lot of the chords will end up being bar chords, I've been told that capos are the way to go. Bar chords on an acoustic tend to sound more dead and dampened...so the crisp, clear sounds that people expect from an acoustic are gone....

Bottom line...Use a capo and be proud of it!

ibanez_dude · 11-07-2006, 11:55 AM

No, I would say not at all. Besides, there are lot of sounds you can't get without one. For example, if you are in the key of F#, you can't use all the cool open chords forms from E without a capo.

Demon_Hunter · 11-07-2006, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarman531

If a lot of the chords will end up being bar chords, I've been told that capos are the way to go. Bar chords on an acoustic tend to sound more dead and dampened...so the crisp, clear sounds that people expect from an acoustic are gone....

Bottom line...Use a capo and be proud of it!

Thats probably why guitars using a capo sound funny...they sound clear...

**Gustin** · 11-07-2006, 11:57 AM

I like the way a capo sounds rather than a ton of barre chords on acoustic. Barre chords just don't seem to ring out as well as open chords with a capo.

gtrdave · 11-07-2006, 12:08 PM

A capo can be used as a compliment or it can be used as a crutch.

My personal opinion is that if someone is using it as a crutch and do not need to, maybe it's to their benefit that they ween themselves from it.

Ax · 11-07-2006, 12:25 PM

i bought a capo once, i used it once, haven't seen it since. that was like 2 years ago... you don't really need one, but you can use one if you like, I don't know how it would be "selling out" but whatever.

Jonodude · 11-07-2006, 12:32 PM

I don't see any fault in using a capo to play flatted keys such as Eb or Ab.

Nomes · 11-07-2006, 02:12 PM

Yeah, I haven't really used a capo much except on some songs (when I'm just playing at home) and need to up the key so I can sing along comfortably.

But recently, I have started using a capo in playing in church. The open chords sound a lot better in the mix than bar chords, which tend not to ring as nicely. (Possibly also because my guitar isn't the sweetest sounding guitar I've ever played)

Jaymze13 · 11-07-2006, 02:18 PM

I used to think it was. My mentality was "be a man, play the chords". However, I've found many instances where playing a "C" chord with a capo on the 3rd fret was better than fretting an "Eb" on the 6th.

In fact, these days if we've given a song where I know the other guitar players in the band (upwards to 4 of us on any given Sunday) and they're all going to play open chords or something, I'll transpose the song into a different key and play with a capo just to add a different dimension.

On the reverse side, if we have a song where everybody is going to have a capo on any given fret, I'll transpose the chords and play lower on the neck. One morning somebody looked at me and said "you know you're supposed to have a capo on this song cause it's in such-n-such key". I said "I know", smiled and went right on playing different chord forms in the same key.

If you play C&W style music, which we have, you have to have a capo to make somethings sound proper.

I used to think capos were for losers and I have since repented of that mentality.

Kenny C. · 11-07-2006, 02:59 PM

I use a capo all the time when I play acoustic. One thing that does bug me, though, is when people Capo at 2 and play in G. It's not like playing in A has a ton of barre chords.

Axmanjr · 11-07-2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtrdave

A capo can be used as a compliment or it can be used as a crutch.

My personal opinion is that if someone is using it as a crutch and do not need to, maybe it's to their benefit that they ween themselves from it.

I agree totally with what you said. People tend to shy away from barre chords and try to take the "easy" way out. This is especially true when playing a song that has lots of flats (and possibly sharps too). It prevents them from actually learning more chords and the fretboard.

On an electric, I think you should do away with the capo. But if you're playing with an acoustic, then the capo is a helpful tool. You get that nice ring to your chords when strumming. Open chords sound better on an acoustic and the capo can help with that.

DreamChaser · 11-07-2006, 03:30 PM

Heya,

I prefer to use barred chords, as opposed to a capo, UNLESS I'm going for a specific sound. Capo's throw me for a loop. I hate playing a D and the sound being an E, or anything similar. I like to know exactly what chord I'm playing. I'll play with a capo if I am trying to get a perticular sound though.