Capo on a bass.

Theabyssbass · #1 07-09-2009, 06:53 AM

I did it once at a pretty big show here in town, (tuner broke, was in Drop D needed to change to E in a hurry. and i can't do harmonics live!) it worked out really well for me, i just don't think many people do it too often. any thoughts?

Beginner Bass · #2 07-09-2009, 08:00 AM

I was just looking for onethat fit bass a few minutes ago! Where did you get your capo?

Theabyssbass · #3 07-09-2009, 08:07 AM

standard guitar capo, my tuner broke so i just kinda stole my guitar players(he capos a bunch). worked fine for a four, may have even worked on my five string.

DeluxeRed · #4 07-09-2009, 08:21 AM

1) Learn to tune live

2) Why bother? You're still playing out of position two frets up, so just finger the notes held by the capo--I'm sure most of us that use drop tunings for some songs have been caught-out by a sudden change in the set list and have to compensate. Sure, you can't do the open-string-thrum with one hand whilst flashing the devil horns to the crowd with the other, but it's better than looking like some acoustic guitar pussy.

Michael Campbel · #5 07-09-2009, 08:21 AM

I'm a rank novice, so apologies for the stupid question.

That "up tunes" ALL your strings by some amount, right; depending on what fret you have it attached to?

BluesBassman065 · #6 07-09-2009, 08:42 AM

I never used one, but sounds OK to me if you're just starting to play. Otherwise, I'd rather learn how to tune fast, it's just a "complementary" thing to practice

Theabyssbass · #7 07-09-2009, 01:59 PM

Ive been playing for years and i know how to tune on stage. here's what happened, the rest of my band had started the song before i got a chance to tell them that my tuner was broken, and im not about to start doing harmonics in the middle of an intro. so i walked over and grabbed my guitar players capo off his headstock (he wasn't using it). the song never stopped, and i made do. i play an open E part that would have just sounded bad had i just fretted it. and seriously, devil horns? im into pussy loops!

Swimming Bird · #8 12-16-2009, 11:24 AM

Hi, I was looking for capo-related threads, and this came closest. I just wanted to recommend capos for tappers and one-man-band types. I rely on open strings a lot -- I bought a capo two days ago on a whim and it's been incredible. Not only does it completely change the tension on the instrument, but it lets me do a bunch of different scale voicings that I couldn't really get at before.

IMO totally useless for regular side-man duties (except in emergency situations), but it's very neat for this application.

Credit where it's do -- I saw the Books do this and it piqued my curiosity.

Mayers · #9 12-16-2009, 06:50 PM

I tought of using one to get alternative open strings.

So it may be cool to do new kind of chord on the bass or for tapping

Swampman Cory · #10 12-16-2009, 06:52 PM

I figure it could be practical, like it sounds like you guys are talking about, but I once knew a guy who used one because the chord charts he was sent were in 'weird keys' for the guitar so they used a capo. That was just silly.

GeneralElectric · #11 12-16-2009, 07:11 PM

Capos are useless unless, like Swimming Bird said, doing chords or tapping. But how often does that happen?

mas502arc · #12 12-16-2009, 07:28 PM

I used to do it when I just started out playing with the band at my church. I was just
a novice and my transposing/tuning skills were far from good. After more experience
and knowledge of theory, I dumped the capo (although I keep in my case still, but it's probably for my guitarist)

Now, I've figured out that a lot of church music is: only 4 CHORDS(1-6-4-5 Progession) LOL