So.... I used a capo last night!

[JRA]

no offense intended to cowboys or those who employ capos.

per the OP: i don't use a capo (i transpose) but it wouldn't make any difference to me what others thought if i did use one! that said: knowing how to transpose effectively is its own skill.

i'm with stringtapper and Stevorebob --- not a big deal to play that tune in those keys (or any key!).

good luck with your Db/Bbm tunes!

 

[BlueShox]

I use a capo quite a bit for practicing at home. Recording is in D but band plans to play it in C play it as I would in C but put capo the 2nd fret to bump everything a full-step so my muscle memory doesn't get all jacked up. I know there are programs that easily change the keys of songs, but for running through a quick 3 minute song this takes much less effort for me.

 

[One_Dude]

I studied for many years with a jazz guitar teacher; he would have sent me packing if he saw me use a capo on anything.

Thump on,

One_Dude

 

[40Hz]

A moderator will be along shortly to excommunicate all of you that say it's OK.

;-)

Dunno about that. Especially since there's capos, and then there's the Invalid Link Removed.



I'm sure Zander Zon is trembling in his boots!

 

[40Hz]

Jaco didn't use a capo....

In all seriousness though....whatever works for you!

^
This.

 

[LBS-bass]

Go the capo. That song has a fantastic quintessential bass line that rolls under the fingers beautifully when using open strings.

This right here. As much as we are told not to play the open strings, sometimes you need that droning sound and sometimes the lines just play themselves if you do use them. So do what you need to do. If I could transpose certain songs down below E by using a simple tool like that, I'd do that rather than play my fiver. I know we have drop tuners, but I need my intervals to remain standard so that never worked for me.

 

[LBS-bass]

The thing about capos for anything but strumming cowboy chords on guitar is that, once you move more than just a few frets up the neck, it's just like not having a capo at all. So what's the point? Unless there are open strings needed for drones, I just don't get it. Maybe it's me. (Well, I also play fives, so there's that.)

YMMV and no offense intended to cowboys or those who employ capos.

The drones are the reason I'd do it. I can't think of any other reason.

 

[zubrycky]

Never used a capo in a bass but the idea is tempting. I once used a capo to record a guitar track and it saved my life because it made everything much, much easier to my hands.

 

[JimmyM]

Your use of a capo affects everyone else's lives in zero ways, Bag. I would much rather hear a band play a song well with a capo than flub it without one because they're worried about bass nerds caring.

And seriously, using a capo on guitar is for cowboy chords? Try playing "Here Comes The Sun" in record key without one, and it will sound like dogcrap. If you drop it down to D, then you don't need a capo, but for record key of A, a capo is necessary. I can think of many other tunes that are impossible to play in record key without a capo. But hey, if you want to turn your fingers into pretzels just so people don't think you're a cowboy, be my guest.

 

[Stevorebob]

Your use of a capo affects everyone else's lives in zero ways, Bag. I would much rather hear a band play a song well with a capo than flub it without one because they're worried about bass nerds caring.

And seriously, using a capo on guitar is for cowboy chords? Try playing "Here Comes The Sun" in record key without one, and it will sound like dogcrap. If you drop it down to D, then you don't need a capo, but for record key of A, a capo is necessary. I can think of many other tunes that are impossible to play in record key without a capo. But hey, if you want to turn your fingers into pretzels just so people don't think you're a cowboy, be my guest.

Here Comes the Sun employs cowboy chords and open strings hence the need for a capo.

 

[JimmyM]

Here Comes the Sun employs cowboy chords and open strings hence the need for a capo.

Ha ha! OK, how about something like "Cheap Day Return" by Jethro Tull? Not many cowboy chords in it.

 

[srayb]

Now, my problem with them is I can't seem to find any that fit my six string aircraft carrier neck. No problem on the four string.

I bought a guitar capo that said it was for classical guitar, which is a wider neck than regular guitars. It works across 5 strings of my 6-string bass (I usually capo the higher strings leaving the low B uncapoed). Works well. I only use at home when I'm working on solo stuff. I've never used it in a band situation, but my opinion is if a guitar player uses it, so can a bass player.

 

[gtlover]

Been using a capo for years, mostly to experiment with different drone notes. I find it forces me to think about things a little different, so it's a useful tool for just busting out of a rut. Nothing wrong with using a capo on any fretted instrument IMHO.

 

[crankypants]

What's a capo?

 

[BAG]

I guess I don't get it.

I've never heard the song before and I just played it in all three keys you mentioned after listening to it.

What I don't get is if you were used to playing it in C-sharp minor then why would B-flat minor pose a problem? Neither would use open strings, so…? Plus I don't hear anything about the line that would necessitate using open strings anyway.

Maybe it comes down to only playing the C-sharp version in a fourth finger position, which you can't do with B-flat minor unless you have a 5-string? Play it in a first finger position (spanning four frets instead of three) and moving between those two keys is no problem.

Obviously i'm not in the same playing league as @stringtapper @JRA or @Stevorebob . I am a member of the Mediocre Bass Players Club for a reason.

Yes, it can be done and i'm sure with a bit of practice I could do it no problem....... but i'm the kind of player that needs to practice quite a bit on certain songs and muscle memory plays a big part of that.
As I said right at the start, I didn't want to waste time or create a train wreck so the capo helped us keep playing.

Your use of a capo affects everyone else's lives in zero ways, Bag. I would much rather hear a band play a song well with a capo than flub it without one because they're worried about bass nerds caring.

And that's exactly why I did so. Cheers Jimmy.

 

[Stevorebob]

Don't get me wrong. There's no shame in using a capo. I just find it requires a sort of transposing I'm not conditioned to do. Capo 1 means if I want to play the fifth fret I have to play the sixth fret. I find that more confusing than just adding a half step. YMMV. (It's not you; it's me.)

 

[MCF]

Obviously i'm not in the same playing league as @stringtapper @JRA or @Stevorebob . I am a member of the Mediocre Bass Players Club for a reason.

Yes, it can be done and i'm sure with a bit of practice I could do it no problem....... but i'm the kind of player that needs to practice quite a bit on certain songs and muscle memory plays a big part of that.
As I said right at the start, I didn't want to waste time or create a train wreck so the capo helped us keep playing.



And that's exactly why I did so. Cheers Jimmy.

Huge Paul Kelly fan here! Love Dumb Things, From Little Things, and everything else. He's a genius.

I'm with you for using the capo if you were uncomfortable with the last minute key change and have it cold in the normally correct key.

 

[LBS-bass]

Don't get me wrong. There's no shame in using a capo. I just find it requires a sort of transposing I'm not conditioned to do. Capo 1 means if I want to play the fifth fret I have to play the sixth fret. I find that more confusing than just adding a half step. YMMV. (It's not you; it's me.)

I would probably be the same. I'm not against using one, but I never actually have done it. Thinking about how much I rely on my fret markers, though... well... that's an issue.

 

[BAG]

Don't get me wrong. There's no shame in using a capo. I just find it requires a sort of transposing I'm not conditioned to do. Capo 1 means if I want to play the fifth fret I have to play the sixth fret. I find that more confusing than just adding a half step. YMMV. (It's not you; it's me.)

I had to really concentrate on NOT looking at the side dots.

 

[stringtapper]

Obviously i'm not in the same playing league as @stringtapper @JRA or @Stevorebob . I am a member of the Mediocre Bass Players Club for a reason.

Yes, it can be done and i'm sure with a bit of practice I could do it no problem....... but i'm the kind of player that needs to practice quite a bit on certain songs and muscle memory plays a big part of that.
As I said right at the start, I didn't want to waste time or create a train wreck so the capo helped us keep playing.

That's okay! I also wasn't passing judgement on the use of capos in general, just confused by the need as I see them as being something you use to be able to play parts written with idiomatic open string figures that wouldn't sound right or would be impossible otherwise. No judgement!