Capo on a bass?

[wave rider]

Saw The Virgins on Letterman last night, noticed the bass player using a capo.

Is this a common use? I don't remember seeing one on a bass before.

=wr=

 

[GlennW]

It's an easy way to change scale length.

 

[wazzel]

SO you can play higher note open strings. I think Peter Hooke (New Order) did that alot. Just another tool to use if it fits your style.

 

[wave rider]

Does that mean you can tune the bass lower and then capo up when EADG tuning is needed?

=wr=

 

[Snerek]

saw this too, their band and bass player really annoyed me!

 

[wazzel]

Yes, but your strings will have less tension.

 

[iamthebassman]

I use one on one song. It has some "noodling" over a C drone, the capo holds the C.

 

[vinxbass]

Back before I started using a 5 string, I used to tune down to drop D. I would use a capo on my bass so that I could hit open strings on certain songs. It kinda got to be a hassle so I finally went out and bought a 5'er; made life easier.

 

[lunarpollen]

I use a capo at the first fret for a few songs with my band. It makes it easier to play those songs in the particular keys we do them in.

 

[capnsandwich]

Sometimes bassists use it when they play a lot of open notes in the key of F or B flat. That way they can just hit the open note instead of fretting it. Sometimes it's a beginner's trick and sometimes it's used to make it easier. It's cheating IMO, but who cares what I think?

 

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

It's cheating IMO, but who cares what I think?

+1

sorry, I gotta agree with you on that lol. Capos are for guitards, we need no capos

 

[danomite64]

We do a song at church that is quite unnecessarily riff-laden, and were we to play it in the key it's in on the cd, I'd have no problem with it, other than I think it's a ridiculous song. But, they changed it up half a step to Bb to make the keyboardist happy, so I use a capo on the 1st fret, because it isn't worth it to me to learn my part one way for practice and another way for performance. I also use a pick, because the song isn't worth my fingers.

 

[Mushroo]

Yes, I use a capo on my bass all the time. Why not, that's what it's for, right?

 

[Chef]

Bass Capo:

That's why I learn to play most things in alternate fingerings, including closed positions.

I guess if it makes life better for you, enjoy it.

 

[kb9wyz]

I also use a pick, because the song isn't worth my fingers.

Dude. Harsh.:scowl: I didn't think that there was any worship song THAT bad.

As for the capo, I was talking to this dude at Sam Ash last night who said he uses it because his guitarist likes dropped C.

 

[spade2you]

Never used one. Only thought about it once when I was in a metal band that played in dropped C. Since I no longer play metal, not an issue.

 

[danomite64]

Dude. Harsh.:scowl: I didn't think that there was any worship song THAT bad.

Sure there is. But thanks for judging me anyway!

 

[FoldingInBass]

I also use a pick, because the song isn't worth my fingers.

This quote makes you my new friend. LMFAO.

 

[danomite64]

Heh, it would tear them up if I tried it finger style. I don't really hate the song; just wish I could play a bass line on it, rather than double the guitar line. But that is what the leader wants, so that's what he gets. So, if one is doubling a guitar riff, then it seems perfectly logical to act like a guitarist doing it. The Capo and pick are guitarist tools.....



kb9wyz, don't take my 'judging' comment seriously; as a christian I always get to hear that, but rarely ever get to say it.

 

[ggunn]

Sometimes I use a capo on my bass when I'm sitting around the campfire playing my ABG on unfamiliar material with songwriter/players who capo all over the place. That way I can watch their hands and not have to transpose on the fly.