Capo's specifically for bass?

derrenleepoole · #1 02-04-2009, 01:33 PM

In this month's Performing Musician magazine, Adrian Legg does a great article on the history and development of the capo - all weird and wonderful with bits inbetween. That got me thinking if there are any bass specific capos available, in particular ones that allow you to capo harmonics? There is one available by Bob Kilgore that looks like it's adaptable to bass, but maybe there's something better?

Mushroo · #2 02-04-2009, 01:38 PM

That harmonic capo sounds cool! Never heard of one before.

I use a normal guitar capo on my bass. No problem.

Joe Gress · #3 02-04-2009, 02:02 PM

Whoa! That's an awesome tool!

Tamochantern · #4 02-04-2009, 02:06 PM

I'm not trying to start a fight or be snotty or anything, but why would you use a capo on a bass?

Mushroo · #5 02-04-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamochantern

I'm not trying to start a fight or be snotty or anything, but why would you use a capo on a bass?

A capo frets all of the strings at a particular fret, so basically that fret becomes the new open string. For example if you put a capo at the 5th fret, it's like playing a bass tuned ADGC.

Joe Gress · #6 02-04-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamochantern

I'm not trying to start a fight or be snotty or anything, but why would you use a capo on a bass?

Did you watch the video? The whole playing harmonics while playing regular note's without having to touch the harmonic with your finger thing? And it's not electronic? Dude, I could have some fun with that on bass.

lousybassplayer · #7 02-04-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeinsprings

Did you watch the video? The whole playing harmonics while playing regular note's without having to touch the harmonic with your finger thing? And it's not electronic? Dude, I could have some fun with that on bass.

That does sound like fun.

Mushroo · #8 02-04-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamochantern

I'm not trying to start a fight or be snotty or anything, but why would you use a capo on a bass?

Or is your question "what would motivate a person to do such a thing?" Personally, I use the capo to either 1) make certain fingerings easier by making a normally fretted note into an "open string," or 2) quickly transpose a song to a new key without changing the fingering.

There are also people who use the capo artistically, to create new sounds that would not be possible otherwise. For example, check out "La Segrada Familia" by Michael Manring. He starts the piece with the capo on, then takes it off halfway through. It totally changes the sound of the instrument; suddenly it is deeper and lower, and the open strings and harmonics are all different pitches. Plus it looks cool in concert when he flings the capo to the floor.

Another common use for a capo is if you play with guitarists who tune down a half step for some songs. You can tune down a half step too, then use a capo at the 1st fret for songs in standard tuning.

fightthepower · #9 02-04-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mushroo

There are also people who use the capo artistically, to create new sounds that would not be possible otherwise. For example, check out "La Segrada Familia" by Michael Manring. He starts the piece with the capo on, then takes it off halfway through. It totally changes the sound of the instrument; suddenly it is deeper and lower, and the open strings and harmonics are all different pitches. Plus it looks cool in concert when he flings the capo to the floor.

I just check that video out, very cool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSJTefTF7CM

niftydog · #10 02-04-2009, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tamochantern

...why would you use a capo on a bass?

They allow the use of open strings as drones in different keys, and they also open up chord shapes you otherwise wouldn't use.

Markus Bender · #11 02-04-2009, 04:05 PM

I'm using a G7th Performance Capo for 12 string guitar, fits on my 5 string Lakland

sonic assassin · #12 02-04-2009, 04:29 PM

sounds like something andy mckee could do without a capo

Swift713 · #13 02-04-2009, 05:16 PM

weaseltrap.com lol
I once had an idea similar to that. Independent pieces for each string so that some could be left open. That thing looks and sounds pretty cool though.

derrenleepoole · #14 02-05-2009, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonic assassin

sounds like something andy mckee could do without a capo

Seen him live with Don Ross in Kendal last year

Mckee was very good indeed and deserves his reputation, but Ross was way better and you could clearly seen the influence of Ross on Mckee. Antoine Dufour is also very good.