Guitar Capo Buyer's Guide

If you've never used a guitar capo (pronounced Kay Poe), it's time you got one! They combine two of the best benefits of the world's great inventions: they do one thing very well, and they're inexpensive.

A guitar capo acts like an extra finger to press down one or more strings across your fretboard. This raises the pitch of each string. Changing the pitch of the strings means that you've changed the pitch of your guitar, and that means that you can simplify chord forms, or sing along to a song that is normally out of your vocal range.

SIDEBAR: When you add a capo to the first fret (and I'm assuming that you have a normal capo, which presses down on all strings... I'll explain cut capo's below) you've raised every chord by 1/2 step. So a C chord becomes a C# (C-sharp) chord. If you place the capo on the second fret, your C-chord becomes a D chord. Each fret equals 1/2 step, so you can keep moving the capo until your vocal range matches the chords for the song!

Guitar capos come in several shapes and sizes, but most work like a clamp. Press down or squeeze on the clamp to open it, position it where you want it, then release it.

Correct Capo Position

Always place a guitar capo directly behind a fret wire, that is, as close to the guitar body as possible without actually touching the fret wire. This ensures that you don't throw the guitar out of tune as you use your capo.

All capos will have firm pliable material on the side that covers the fretboard, with additional padding on the side that presses on the guitar neck.

A great capo will have no protruding edges to scratch your guitar or to interfere with your fingers when you form chords next to it. It will go on, come off, and allow you to reposition it quickly. It will press the strings down to the fretboard and not slip.

What do you do with a capo when it's not in use? Some are easy to clip to your headstock, others may need to go in your pocket or on a music stand.

Capo manufacturers use a variety of methods to allow fast adjustments combined with firm attachments. The simplest designs use a spring... The capo opens and closes like a clothes pin. Some designs use an adjustable pin or screw... You adjust the pin/screw to a point that allows the capo to slip onto the neck of your guitar and stay there.

Typical colors are silver and black. Other colors may be available in some styles.

SIDEBAR: Here's a Guitar Capo Tip - When you're not using your capo, don't put it down... just clamp it over the nut at the end of the fretboard (the same as putting the guitar capo on fret 0). It's as close as it can possibly be for the next time you need it.

As your skills improve, you may find that you need a cut capo. Cut guitar capos press down on some strings, and allow the rest to ring normally. Most are cut for two or more strings. Some are cut to allow the E string to ring normally. This means you can quickly create drop-D tuning. One, by Third Hand, lets you select which strings are capo'd and which are not.

Popular Types of Guitar Capo
Most Popular Guitar Capos Some of the easiest to use capos are the trigger type. Squeeze the clip to open, release to clamp.
Cut Capo Clamp down some, but not all strings. Cut capos are easy to use, but only work on three adjacent strings.
Third Hand Partial Capo Third hand makes a capo that allows you to select any, or all strings.

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Guitar Capo Buyer's Guide