[3e3c3e]

I'm not big into Music theory or anything. I've just started learning and may be way off. But anyway here is my question.

In my church alot of the Hymn we sing uses flat chords (Ab, Eb, Db, Bb). If I tune my guitar down one step can I play the chords as if they are not flat (A, E, D, B). I was not sure if this would work or not, just thought of it this morning. I still need alot more pratice with my barechourds before I will be comfortable playing them.

Let me know if I'm way off or not in my thinking.
-3e3c3e

[ken]

That is one way to do it, but then your guitar is tuned down a half step for everything, so on the next song you have to tune back up to standard tuning to play something not in the flat key.

Here is what I would do:

Capo your guitar at the first fret and use these chords:

for Ab = G
for Eb = D
for Db = C
for Bb = A

now when the next song comes up that isn't in this key, you can just pull the capo off and you're set to go.

All these chords are what we call "relative" to the capo also. That means that the capo would act as the nut for the guitar so your G chord (or Ab) would be fingered like this:

431114 (the opens 1's here are actually capoed)

This is pretty standard so practice it a lot with different stuff and I'm sure you will get the hang of it. It's very useful.

If you have any other questions let me know and I'll see if I can help you out.

[Ciaran]

I don't play guitar, but I do see a lot of music with capo instructions and when I try to play them on my keyboard, I have to remember to tune the chords (which are printed relative to the capo) back up.

It seems that the most common capo setting is 3 - so A becomes C, Fm becomes G#m (Abm), and so on. In fact, I've got so used to reading capo 3 music that I don't often have to calculate the chords - I just play it. I've sometimes even accidentally played capo 3 chords in a normal song. Oops.

I don't know whether you know what a capo is (remember, I don't play guitar so I don't know how widely used among beginners it is). A capo is some sort of contraption that you can place along the frets of your guitar to get them to sound so many semitones higher. For example, if you place the capo on the third fret, the chords sound three semitones higher. But you already knew that.

Hope this helps!

[3e3c3e]

ken,

Thanks for the info. I did not think of doing that. I will try that out. I was thinking once of tuning down and justing using a capo for standard tunes, but hated the idea of using a capo to play standard. That idea is great. This whole music theory idea, and using capos, etc. is starting to sink in. It makes playing the guitar much more exciting.


Thanks everyone,
-3e3c3e

[3e3c3e]

One more question:

Are there certain keys that are played with the capo is certain positions. I've been studing my key chart, trying to figure this out for sometime. But is there a standard set of way to use the capo with certain keys.

Again thanks for the help everyone,
-3e3c3e

[nate95366]

3,

What you're talking about doing by tuning your guitar down a half step and then occasionally popping a capo on to play standard tuning songs is called by many tuning your guitar to "Nashville E." It makes those Eb songs easier to play, and there's no slicker way to give any guitar instantly "easier to play" action than to tune it down a half step....

On to the second question: is there a formula for using capos?

Answer: yes. but it's better learned by internalizing it through experience. So I'm going to lead you through a bunch of experiences.

The way I teach the theory, at first, is not to use the capo to play songs in different keys, but rather to play the song in the same key using different hand positions.

Say you've got a song in the key of E. The song is a 3-chord simple beauty. E, A, and D. You know how to play it without a capo and it's easy. Let's make things interesting. How would you play it with the capo on the 2nd fret? Still in the key of E?

Well......you'd have to start by realizing that chords are not named after the shape your fingers make on the neck, they're named after the notes you're playing. That said, a lot of the shapes that your fingers already know on the neck are good guides to find other chords.

In this case, with the capo on the 2nd fret, try playing the shape your fingers know as "D." Now take the capo off and play an "E." Now place the capo on the 4th fret and play a "C." Place the capo on the 7th fret and play an "A." These chords should have a scary similarity, and that's because they're just different "voices" of the same chord.

Now, with the capo on the 2nd fret, how would you go about playing an "A" chord? Try playing what your fingers know as "G" with the capo on, and then take the capo off and play "A." Same? hope so..... Now place the capo on the 5th fret and play an "E." Capo the 9th fret an play a "C."

Ok, how would you play a "D" chord with the capo on the 2nd fret? Try playing a "C" hand shape, and then take the capo off to check on the results. Same? hope so. Now, place the capo on the 5th fret and play an "A" form. On the 10th fret and play an "E." ......

Are you starting to internalize a formula yet......???

Nate

[3e3c3e]

Thanks Nate,

That makes everything come to light. I've been read alot about this but it never clicked before. Now it is, thanks!!!

-3e3c3e