Does anyone here ever use a capo?

[jmm55]

Yes, naive question(s) I know. And to think I have been playing guitar for decades, but rarely in a band, or with a real bassist. Now I am teaching myself to play, so I can record a bit.

If so, any preference for model?

 

[mastathump]

I've used a capo to record some drum n' bass stuff. Works great with delay + a dirt pedal. Since everything's adjusted especially if you put the capo at the 12th fret, the high sound a lot higher and fuller.

 

[IronLung1986]

i am working on developing a fingerpicking technique in the style of guitarists like leo kottke and jorma kaukonen. it's sort of an alternative to slapping. for that i occasionally use a capo, sometimes on only 2 or 3 of the strings.

 

[punkjazzben]

There is little need for a capo on the bass in everyday playing, except for modifying the timbre of the instrument or, as IronLung mentioned, for experimenting with different techniques. You might also find it useful if you learn a bassline, but someone wants to play it in a different key and you an't be bothered transposing. But my opinion is that you should learn it in a new key as a matter of self-education. As for a model, I've seen people recommend this one, but any capo should fit a standard 4 string bass:

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[jmm55]

My main purpose for (occasionally) using a capo would be to more easily accompany my guitar for recording, when I use a capo on it. I tune the bass the same way, and so the capo helps me fit in better. I am merely a guitar player who labors to make the bass work, although that might change as I get better.

 

[BassNoob1]

I can't say I have, the need's just never really come up.

 

[SMILEYSIXX]

I've used it in a band where I had to switch between D and E standard, but that's about it.

 

[lunarpollen]

Sure, it can be useful when playing a song that doesn't use any open string notes and/or is in a key such as A# and/or otherwise spends a lot of time referring back to notes (or even droning) that could easily be served by capoing at that particular fret, leaving you free to play higher up while occasionally striking that capoed open string without missing a beat. It really depends on the types of music you're doing and the types of bass lines you're playing. Just like with regular guitar I guess, but perhaps necessary less often.

 

[Batmensch]

I only use a capo during set-up, for helping in checking neck relief and the like (I lost my straightedge). I personally have no need to use one while playing.

 

[FatAndy]

I used a capo, designed for a 12 string guitar, on the 12th fret of my Fodera Monarch when my son recorded Bach cello Prelude1, for YouTube. Sounds great I reckon.

 

[The Big Chief]

I used to do a cover of War Pigs by a band called Cake (great version btw).
The bass line stayed in the first position for what seemed like forever alternating 8th notes between B flat and C. It all seemed easy enough in rehearsal but at show time just enough tension from playing live had me feeling that my left hand was going to fall right off halfway through the song.

Enter a capo!!
I through it on the first fret and simply played open A to a B and never had an issue again. No change in tone, perfectly in tune and no cramping whatsoever.

 

[Ian the bassist]

I did mess around with a capo and slider just because I had seen them on guitar but not on bass. I found that I didn't really have use for the capo. What I do if I want to go to a note really fast and it's not open, is I place my left hand over the neck(I'm left handed) and do pull offs with my right hand. There isn't too many songs that would use complex chords or have to drastically move down the fret board and back up to a closed note so I don't think a capo is that much use. At least for me. Sliders rule though!

 

[Minotauros]

I was told by a few people to just start the bass line up the neck the number of frets offset by the capo on the guitar. I've used it for a couple of songs that capo the guitar, and it seems to sound right. But it could either be a fluke or correct, I dunno.

 

[Schizo Sapiens]

I use the capo to get various down tunings on my five string. For example, i clamp it on 1st fret (thus giving me C standard tuning) and play some Killswitch Engage. Some music has pedal notes on open strings so this is the only way to play it without detuning bass.

Sometimes i set the capo on 5th fret to emulate standard tuned (EADGC actually) short-scale bass

I use regular guitar capo, Planet Waves PW-CP-05. I like it, it has tension control and it's easy to install/remove.
I was afraid that 5-string neck will be too wide for that thing, but it works just fine. Well, it can't fret all 5 strings from 6th fret and higher, not a problem for me

 

[NicksJXD]

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Nothin' Special but it works fine if you want one (that works) for cheap ;P

 

[Minotauros]

I'm only a bedroom player who plays along with iTunes and cds. A number of the songs are capoed as originally played. I tried playing without a capo, transposing on the bass, but it confused the heck out of me; rather, I'd wind up playing as if the guitar(s) were uncapoed. This is what I said http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f21/does-anyone-here-ever-use-capo-743176/#post10502925 up a few posts. But I think I'll try capoing instead. I play the songs on guitar capoed, so playing them capoed on bass seems consistent to me.

 

[Russell L]

For me the main use of a capo on guitar is to utilize open strings and play "open chords." (Some folks refer to them as "cowboy chords"). But, it's not as needed on bass for me. I suppose if I was doing something that used open strings a lot it would come in handy, but I don't play open strings too much on bass.