played with capo in practice

[jonesl78]

I played with the capo because my group sings "trading my sorrows" in Eb and I wanted to use the open strings to truly capture the sound neccessary for the song. So I chose to play it in C although the sound from the guitar was in Eb.  However, I do feel like I need to learn the song in Eb. My question is: Using the capo is neccessary in some instances to achieve a desired tone. Do you ever go back and learn a song in the original key?

[Fenix]

Well my philosophy to songs is just to learn them using the number system. That way I don't care what key you ask me to play the song in.

This is very easy for us guitarists to do cuz our shapes are movable.

[JayP5150]

If you are getting the tone and timbre you want with the capo, I say roll with it.

That's really my main usage for capos (capoes?), to alter the timbre and response of the guitar. I rarely use it as a transposition tool only.

Especially if there is more than one guitar in the mix, you can capo one to diffrentiate the two parts sonically (Toad The Wet Sprocket does this a LOT... sorry, I NEVER have Gospel artist references... I'm a horrible forum member lol).

To me, it's a layering tool.

So, if you want to learn the song in regular tuning, go for it, it can't hurt to know it, but if you like what you get with the capo, roll with that.

Hang on, we're talking acoustic, here right? Capos aren't allowed on electrics      

Oh, since wer're talking Eb, you can always just tune a 1/2 step down. The P&W team I used to play with did so many flat keys, I almost did that myself.

[crazyguitardude]

I use a capo a lot to give me "relief" chords. Some songs I play are very barre chord heavy, so I place a capo on my guitar to provide me with at least one non-barre chord, thus relieving my hand from I-hate-barre-chord syndrome. I have a Fender electric guitar capo for my PRS and I find that using it like that really provides needed rest in sets of 4 songs where sometimes one may have a non barre chord.

I also use a capo if I hear that it gives the guitar a more sonically pleasing sound like Jay suggests. Some songs sound really cool with some droning high or low strings that sometimes you can't get in a song's original key.

Additionally If I hear that a guitar has a capo in x song, I may or may not use a capo depending on if i like the sound the song provides or an alternative with open strings or whatnot.

[Fenix]

Guys, if you REALLY want those droning notes, then I have two words for you: Sus 2 chords. (Well ok that was a word and a number).

[jlynnb1]

Guys, if you REALLY want those droning notes, then I have two words for you: Sus 2 chords. (Well ok that was a word and a number).

Yeah, but not quite as full sounding as those open strings sound.

And i agree wirh whoever said guitarists are too proud when it comes to using capos. It's a tool,you aren't cheating somehow. IMHO, if you are playing with more than one guitar player it's indispensable. Its all about staying out of one anthers sonic territory, and the capo helps you do that while enabling you to play things that aren't possible otherwise.

[JayP5150]

Guys, if you REALLY want those droning notes, then I have two words for you: Sus 2 chords. (Well ok that was a word and a number).

Jlynn beat me to it, but I was going to have you try this: play an Esus2 at the 7th fret (x7997x), and compare that to an open Dsus2 with a capo on the 2nd fret (xx0230).

Although they are the same notes, there's a different feel and tone to them.

I may be going all Eric Johnson on this one, but when you alter the tension of the stings, that impacts the tonality greatly, I feel.