capo is it nessicary

supergirl16 · 10-10-2001, 12:03 AM

I just started a few months ago July playing guitar do you think I should get a capo?

muddyart · 10-10-2001, 12:43 AM

a capo isn't necessary, but it sure allows you to play a wider range of songs... i definitely recommend getting one

in my opinion, a kyser capo would be the best for you to get. they're relatively cheap (around $15-20), they're easy to put on and take off and you can get them in cool colors

mostly, just enjoy playing!

GMartin2R · 10-10-2001, 01:22 AM

true they aren't necessary to play but boy do they make playing some chords easier

N.tm · 10-10-2001, 02:10 AM

I agree with the person who recommended Kyser capos: they are easy to put on quickly, and you can do it using only one hand.

As for whether to get a capo: if you've been in a situation where you said 'I wish I had a capo' then sure, go ahead and get one. If you've not yet missed having one then you can probably wait. I guess it comes down to whether you can afford one now.

Capos certainly make playing in some keys easier, but don't use them as a way to avoid learning barre chords.

N.™

supergirl16 · 10-10-2001, 06:07 PM

thanks

Fuzz · 10-10-2001, 06:37 PM

Learn Barre chords first, I think...-Adam

supergirl16 · 10-10-2001, 06:41 PM

ya i've learned some barre chords

jmlouie · 10-10-2001, 07:18 PM

When learning barre chords learn to play the five major forms in Barre form, THat means playing the E, A, C, D and G open fromation with a barre. The G is the real killer and to tell the truth I hardly use all of them, but if you learn them your life as a guitarist will be much better off.

Also the Dunlop Capo is good, It alows you to remove the capo as easy as the Kyser. I just think that people don't know about it as much. I really like it.

GMartin2R · 10-11-2001, 12:48 AM

barres with open formations?

ok that's something new.

instead of playing a G formation one fret up with a barre, why not play an E formation based on the 4th fret with a barre? is there any advantage to playing open barres. I just use the variants of A and E and slide up and down the fret board as necessary.

N.tm · 10-11-2001, 09:05 PM

E and A (and Em and Am) shaped barre chords are the easiest, but the others have their uses. The only other one I use regularly is a C-shaped one. My fingers don't really reach to do a D-shaped barre chord, though they can do D7-shaped. I can reach for G shaped, particularly higher up the neck, but it is a bit awkward.

But on electric guitar (with a bass player holding down the correct bass notes) I do find it useful to do a C shaped chord but only play the top four strings, e.g. play xx9787 for G - you can slide into it from one fret down for a funky kind of feel.

Same with a D7 shaped chord playing only the top four or five strings, e.g., x55767 (G7/D). In drop-D tuning you can do 555767 and get a G7 that actually has a G in the bass.

I also find this shape: x3356x (F5/C) useful - it's a moveable powerchord shape based on a D/A chord. In drop-D tuning you can do 33356x and get F5 that actually has an F in the bass.

Thanks,

N.™