Find the root when guitarist using a capo

[xdanxx]

Originally Posted by onosson

My favourite is when the guitarist with the capo calls out the chords. Only they call out the chords that go with the chord-shape they are playing, not the *actual* chord - because they have no idea what the actual chord is.

For example - guitarist has capo on 3rd fret. Guitarist plays a G-shape chord, which is thus actually a Bb.

Guitarist: "G"
Me: (thinking: "ok, that's really Bb. Major.")
Guitarist: "C"
Me: (thinking: "Hmm, we're in Bb so that must be C minor ... oh, they actually mean Eb. Major. Ok.")
Guitarist: "E"
Me: (thinking: "ok so that's not really E, it's just E shape in third position, but wait that doesn't make sense because it should be E minor, oh wait it IS E minor because they don't even know the difference between major and minor!")
.... continues ad nauseum

quoted for truth, and this just confuses me more. Hate capos.

[gmahoog]

This seems to be an unusual way to use a capo. Maybe it makes sense for a girl singer or a guy singer that's been neutered.

Typically a guitar player will capo to allow them to play 1st position chords in another key. Like placing it at fret 1 when the original key is F so they can play an E chord shape instead of the F chord shape.

I guess there's a good reason in the OPs situation, but I find it kind of weird to capo in order to change keys from E to F.

[Jhengsman]

Originally Posted by gmahoog

I guess there's a good reason in the OPs situation, but I find it kind of weird to capo in order to change keys from E to F.

I think it was just for the ease of explanation. My guitarist is left handed but plays a standard guitar flipped so I can't watch him. I do know however if he is starting on his own he will tend towards C, A, G, E, and D. While if it is the keys it will probably be a flat key.

In any case our band is large enough I prefer for him to stay off of the root.

[gavinspoon]

We've used lots of different tunings over the years in my band, and the guitarist used to use a capo alot. The guitarist and I have a simple rule: all notes and chords are called by their real names. It seems easier at first to stick with familiar shape names (particularly for guitarists) but in the long run it'll mess up your ear. Also, tuning your instrument a non-standard way so that you don't know what note you're playing, then expecting others to figure it out because you can't be bothered seems unreasonable.