Capo use on the bass

[Dlew919]

I’m just curious. Do you use a capo ever? If so why? No shame no judgement. Just curious. And of course comments and photos are encouraged.

 

[Heantune]

Yes. If there are lots of guitar capo changes and I have no prep time to adjust charts I will if I need to

 

[fdeck]

I can see the point of a capo on the guitar, which is playing chords. I could see it on bass if there were reason to use a lot of open string tunings, but the styles that I've played -- jazz, classic rock, and some classical -- haven't called for it.

 

[Jay Corwin]

No, but I routinely berate guitar players who capo and can't tell me what key/chords they're playing. Every song is not in G or E!

Get off my lawn.

 

[rstephens]

I have one I use to hold the strings down at the first fret when I’m doing a set up, but I haven’t tried playing with it.

 

[BaltBass5]

I use one for one song that we play 1/2 step higher because it’s a very busy walking baseline that centers around open strings

 

[Wood and Wire]

Yeah, mostly for open drone strings - though one of my old bands (2 bass players) had a song where the low bass was pretty busy, and in a few spots bounced between some higher runs, and open strings, which would have been verging on impossible without using a capo to put those open strings in the correct key.

The high bass used the capo in a different key, for the chorus.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Here's an old photo of me in the studio. At the time it was just easier to capo up for the song we were doing.

 

[Geogio]

I say I don't but I have...

Why?

Because the cowboy chord front guy knew 4 or 5 chords in G, could barre a chord if his life depended on it. Strummed really hard which made his guitar play sour... Never understood that a tune up after you slap a capo on is highly recommended...

Eventually I transposed. But good gravy...

 

[SharpCat]

How you gonna check relief without a capo?

 

[micguy]

How you gonna check relief without a capo?

I used to do it that way, but a straightedge cut to length (and a set of feeler gauges) allows you to check relief much more accurately than using the string as the straightedge. So, I have a couple of capos in my shop that I used to use for setup purposes, but they seem to be retired from even that function, and they never made it to a gig.

 

[MikeBass]

Seriously???

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Haven't in many years but there have been times when it was appropriate, IME.

BBB

 

[joelns]

Only when checking the truss rod...

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Never tried it.

 

[monsterthompson]

Not often but occasionally. Usually for more experimental material than conventional songs.

 

[N4860]

Can't say I've ever needed or wanted to use one on bass yet.

 

[prndltech]

I think you spelled 5 string wrong?

 

[FretlessOwl]

I don't think I've performed with one, but I absolutely would. And I've tinkered with one playing Björk's Army of Me at some point.

 

[rocu]