First rule of capo club is..

[Sascha Franck]

That is the point, voicings, not chords.

Sorry, but that's almost absurd. In case I am supposed to play a certain song in a certain key, I can't just come up.with something entirely different.

 

[Jazz Padd]

Interesting reads in here. Gave me some perspective and insight, and realized that I have several capos that I have never used, including fancy and partial neck ones, etc. I guess I like the idea of a capo, but it has no practical use in my little world. So probably I’ll sell or gift them in my next gear purge.

 

[joebloggs]

Albert Collins anyone....?

 

[Sascha Franck]

Entirely diffrent? That is quite an exagerration. We're talking about slightly diffrent voicings of the same chord.

No, we're talking about fundamentally different things. As said, feel free to post an even remotely similar sounding E4 (or Eadd4) example. Look at the video I posted to get an idea.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Basically anything you can play with a capo can be played open position without a capo unless it is so far up the neck with the capo that the stretch is too far to reach in open position.

Even then it’s simple to revoice the chord into something that sounds as good or even better. I’m not against capos, I just don’t use one. If I come into a situation where one is necessary, I’ll dig through my box of stuff and try to find the one I bought 40 years ago.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Even then it’s simple to revoice the chord into something that sounds as good or even better.

"Good" or "better" is completely irrelevant as it's purely subjective. The question is: possible, yes/no? And some things are only possible using a capo (at least as long as we're not talking non standard tunings).

 

[FuzzyAce]

I'll use a capo periodically on acoustic and have written quite a few songs with one. It's probably more useful when using alternate tunings like DADGAD, open tunings, and my favorite - EADGbBE.

 

[metropolis_4]

Yes they're a half step lower. That is the point, voicings, not chords. If I wanted to play them in F or Eb, I'd play them in different but equally cool 1st position open voicings. I don't play guitar by learning open shapes and patterns and reproducing them someplace else on the neck (with a capo). Although I do that on shapes that are not from open position.

Even with a capo open chord shapes are not going to sound that close to the shapes they're derived from in open position. A finger and a capo on a fret sound a lot more similar than do a open string at the nut. A fret is a fret regardless if a finger or capo is fretting it. That I to IV chord move in your previous post can be done fairly easily at 125 bpm using straight or swung 8ths anyplace on the neck without a capo.
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Or maybe a little slower using these shapes.

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Ok, I’m talking about the exact same notes with the exact same voicing shown in my posts.

Again, my point is there are some things that are physically impossible to play without a capo. If you disagree with that please post a photo of yourself playing this exact chord with these exact notes in this exact voicing without a capo:

1
8
10
13
11
1

 

[JiveTurkey]

Bro; get capo shamed

 

[metropolis_4]

I’ll also just say it: I feel no shame in using a tool to make less work for myself.

If I’m playing Here Comes the Sun maybe I could find a way to do it without a capo, but it would be a major PITA. Why make myself work that hard when I can just throw on a capo?

It’s like, yes, I could get up at 3am and hike 16 miles to get to my 10:30 meeting, but I’d rather sleep until 9am, jump in my car, and drive 20min

 

[FuzzyAce]

Bro; get capo shamed

You know we've reached rock bottom when someone gets capo shamed.

 

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

I’ll also just say it: I feel no shame in using a tool to make less work for myself.

If I’m playing Here Comes the Sun maybe I could find a way to do it without a capo, but it would be a major PITA. Why make myself work that hard when I can just throw on a capo?

Ah, but why play that old moldy song when one could play "Wonderwall" instead?

And it doesn't even need a capo.

Anyways...

 

[HomespunEffects]

"Good" or "better" is completely irrelevant as it's purely subjective. The question is: possible, yes/no? And some things are only possible using a capo (at least as long as we're not talking non standard tunings).

Is it though?

 

[metropolis_4]

Ah, but why play that old moldy song when one could play "Wonderwall" instead?

And it doesn't even need a capo.

Anyways...

Lol, because someone’s paying me to play it?

“Hey, I know you paid me to play that song, but can you change your show to this song instead so I don’t have to use a capo?”

“Why can’t you use a capo?”

“Because only posers who don’t know how to play use them”

“You’re fired.”

 

[Sascha Franck]

Is it though?

It's not even part of the debate.

 

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

By the way, for realz... consider this if you aren't aware:

This is capo'ing with your fret hand, except it's an "active" capo.

(Single string tapping is of course a very similar concept - "moving the nut")

Joe Satriani - Day At The Beach (New Rays From An Ancient Sun):

 

[FuzzyAce]

It's more than just "this is the only way you can play it". That is true in many instances, but it's also about timbre, playing "open" strings along different points of the fretboard, that ring out a particular way.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Stubborn thinking over stupid shit is a great way to stay home grumbling how you can't seem to get anyone together for that Winger/Badlands tribute no one gives a fuck about.

 

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

Lol, because someone’s paying me to play it?

“Hey, I know you paid me to play that song, but can you change your show to this song instead so I don’t have to use a capo?”

“Why can’t you use a capo?”

“Because only posers who don’t know how to play use them”

“You’re fired.”

Well dagnabbit - you missed the joke.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Lol, because someone’s paying me to play it?

“Hey, I know you paid me to play that song, but can you change your show to this song instead so I don’t have to use a capo?”

“Why can’t you use a capo?”

“Because only posers who don’t know how to play use them”

“You’re fired.”

So you're bullied into using a capo...

I see.