Bass Capo

[Dan1099]

it's easier. in SOME cases.

for instance one song my band has called pantomime.

we use Drop D. but the intro bass line i wrote with a capo on the 2nd fret of the low D(E) string. it is played pretty quickly.

for example it's easier to play this

Capo on 2nd fret, so open is now an E
D----------------------------9-7-6-7-6---
A---------------------------------------7-
E-0-6-7-6-0-7--0-6-7-6-0-7---------------

than this
D----------------------------9-7-6-7-6---
A---------------------------------------7-
D-2-6-7-6-2-7--2-6-7-6-2-7---------------

i just use it for one song.

i don't see the point in using it for every song. just change the tuning.

Wouldn't this be easier?

D----------------------------9-7-6-7-6---
A---1-2-1---2----1-2-1---2---------------7-
D-2-------2----2-------2-----------------

I'd even move the last fill onto the G string, and the last note onto the d string, to set myself up to get right back into it

 

[Mon Rominee]

I have some kinda funky looking shubb bastardizations that I use...when I do chordal stuff and want to be able to hit an "anchor" while playing up high, I use a capo. I hope there is no prejudice... first picks, now capos.

Ron

 

[beaglesandbass]

Wouldn't this be easier?

D----------------------------9-7-6-7-6---
A---1-2-1---2----1-2-1---2---------------7-
D-2-------2----2-------2-----------------

I'd even move the last fill onto the G string, and the last note onto the d string, to set myself up to get right back into it

no, because its still a Low D with a capo on the second fret. so the "open" string would be an E.
it goes E-G#-A-G#

what you said goes E-A#-B-A#

but, moving the fill to the G isn't a bad idea...

 

[Dan1099]

well, if youre dead set against playing it all in first position, then that's your perogative, i guess. Sometime that can sound real cool, though, to drop to open low strings in a high riff. I have a hipshot extender though, so these changes from E-D are pretty easy for me.

I wouldnt move the fill if youre going to keep playing with the capo and the fingerings you have for the first part. The only reason I would move it to the G string is if I were fingering the first riff all in first position, so that I left myself setup to repeat it easily.

 

[MikeyFingers]

I've considered getting a capo myself. Just to mess around with. Like, I wonder how Teen Town would sound an octave higher, or U Can't Hold No Groove. I could play them, but I'd need capo.

 

[iamthebassman]

You should wear a red thong while using the capo. It'll restore the credibility you'll lose when you put that capo on your bass.

Lose credibility with who? You? Who cares!

 

[beaglesandbass]

Dan- i could just retune my bass totally back to standard. but that would make it hard because it leads right into the next song which uses the low D. it's a lot easier to just pull the capo off. i'll need to play around with it in practice.

thanks for the input though, i appreciate it

 

[ajb2804]

In the spirit of openmindedness,I suppose that if your thong matches your capo I can go along with it.
By the way,a nice pair of cowboy boots would add alot to the ensemble!

 

[Dan1099]

Dan- i could just retune my bass totally back to standard. but that would make it hard because it leads right into the next song which uses the low D. it's a lot easier to just pull the capo off. i'll need to play around with it in practice.

thanks for the input though, i appreciate it

meh. it's much easier for me to flip a lever.

 

[Showdown]

In nearly 30 years of playing I had never even thought of using a capo until one night a singer sat in with the band on a couple of songs. I don't recall what song it was now, but one that I used a lot of open notes on she wanted us to play a step higher. As I was playing it, and having to use different fingering than usual because I couldn't use open strings, it occured to me that a capo would make things a lot easier. I later tried it just for kicks, and it worked pretty well. Not necessary at all, but convenient. I've never used one since then, but it was an interesting experiment.

 

[mmuel817]

you could also use a capo so you can do things with harmonics in different keys without killing yourself doing false harmonics trying to figure it out. im sure there are lots of weird things you can do with a capo that nobody knows about, because hardly anyone uses one.

 

[jd56hawk]

I just bought one and use it from time to time on my Thunderbird. For instance, it makes it easier for me to play "Bad Girl" by the New York Dolls, and a few other songs.
The Paige Capo is equipped with "tension control" adjustment screw, eliminating buzzing and string muting by allowing the minimum pressure needed until the strings voice clearly. A unique clamp design applies controlled, even pressure on all strings. Due to its ultra-thin style, this capo can be moved easily and stored behind the nut when not in use.
It actually looks pretty good, too.

 

[Itzayana]

You should wear a red thong while using the capo. It'll restore the credibility you'll lose when you put that capo on your bass.

Agreed.

A capo is to be used by rhythm guitar players who only know three chords but want the experience of playing in different keys.

I hate capo's.
When I see a guitar player pull one out my respect for them drops all the way out the bottom.
Not to mention it is really frickin hard to tell what chord they are playing.

 

[J Posega]

Capos are a tool. I don't think it's fair to generalize and say its for guys that only know three chords. Sometimes it's harder to play complex barre chords than it is to just throw a capo on it and jam on. Who gays you have to know every chord ever. Do you?

If you can't tell what chord they're playing by ear, you better get back to the woodshed.

I've never found and instance where a capo was the answer for me, but I mostly play 5 string so transcribing is a little easier.

 

[Stick_Player]

not to be a jerk or anything but.......
WHY ON EARTH DO YOU WANT A CAPO ON A BASS?in 25 years of playing,never even heard of using a capo on a bass.

This bloke did it 45+ years ago.

 

[Ric5]

Tune your bass DGCF and put the capo on the 2nd fret and you have converted your bass into a short scale bass.

 

[Showdown]

Agreed.

A capo is to be used by rhythm guitar players who only know three chords but want the experience of playing in different keys.

I hate capo's.
When I see a guitar player pull one out my respect for them drops all the way out the bottom.
Not to mention it is really frickin hard to tell what chord they are playing.

Sometimes an open chord sounds better than a barre chord. There are valid reasons to use one. Don Felder, a GREAT guitar player, used one on Hotel California.

If you can't tell what chord they are playing it is more your problem than theirs. It is not the responsibility of the guitar player to make your life easier.

 

[dhsierra1]

in the past I've used the old school elastic band ones as well as the screw-down clamp variety. But now I like the one handed clamp variety I call the Godfather, a Kyser, because I've found it to be the capo de tutti capos......

 

[Matt Misso]

not sure if I'm responding in the right section but yeah there's the "bass capo" and I think the other good one is the stryder. if I'm not right and you're still wondering, I'd say go straight to the source and ask Michael Manring via social media

 

[Matt Misso]

we gotta get you some real punk rock, meng