Using a Capo to make a temporary short scale bass.

[tbassist]

I haven’t tried this yet, but was thinking...that if you used a big Capo on say the first, second or third fret... and re-tuned so that the Capo’d open notes were the same as they would be without a Capo, you could turn any bass in your collection into a short scale ( just how short is of course is variable depending on which fret you Capo ) and therefore be able to explore short scale sounds without having to purchase a separate short scale instrument... in fact, it would seem to me that if the technique worked well it would make the short scale bass unnecessary. Thoughts? I’m going to try it later today and will post about what I find... thankful I have a couple of good Capos lying around.

 

[Papageno]

Short scale basses need specific strings.

If you detune your strings to make the bass sound the same while using a capo, as you are suggesting, the string tension will decrease by about 12% per semitone (or capo fret).

The tone and playability might suffer significantly.

 

[tbassist]

Short scale basses need specific strings.

If you detune your strings to make the bass sound the same while using a capo, as you are suggesting, the string tension will decrease by about 12% per semitone (or capo fret).

The tone and playability might suffer significantly.

I tried it earlier on my Roscoe Classic 5. A 35” bass. It worked fabulously! The low tension didn’t feel differently from my short scale. I believe that the physics are the same. The lower tension and therefore stronger fundamental is the big draw of a short scale and in my experiment it was wonderful. I used a 12 string guitar Capo on the second fret after dropping all my strings a whole step. I think it’s going to be great for recording and the B string was truly epic! I recommend others try this

 

[Malcolm35]

Back in my rhythm guitar days I used the capo for many things. Even used a "cut capo" - do a Google. I was not looking for long scale, vs short scale, but see no reason it would not work. As you said, "give it a try".

Lot of vocalists capo into the key of G and then use the ole tried and true G-C-D [I-IV-V] instead of playing in the key the rest of the band may be using -- because they just feel comfortable in G. I've had some of the old guys tell me they only know the chord patterns in G.

The capo is a tool, learn how to use it to your advantage. Yes I have been known to use one on my bass.

Happy trails;

 

[CatOnTheBass]

Capo on bass is lots of fun!

For playing with drop-tuned guitarists, I like to keep a 4 string bass tuned BEAD and move the capo around: 5th fret for EADG standard tuning, 4th fret for Eb, 3rd fret for D, 2nd fret for C#, and 1st fret for C standard tuning.

 

[Les Fret]

What about making it a piccolo bass with the capo on the 12th fret?

 

[CatOnTheBass]

What about making it a piccolo bass with the capo on the 12th fret?

I do that often, capo at the 12th fret and CGDA tuning, for playing cello music in the original octave.

 

[Christine B]

I downtuned one half step and capo’d the first fret of my 35” Gadow and it makes a perfect 32” medium scale and i love it. I had to cover the pearl inlay dots with matching brown stickers which was irritating, but it works perfectly. I’ve totally swtiched to medium scale so this was a great solution.

 

[Schizo Sapiens]

Capo on bass is lots of fun!

For playing with drop-tuned guitarists, I like to keep a 4 string bass tuned BEAD and move the capo around: 5th fret for EADG standard tuning.

Fun fact: If you put a capo on 5th fret of BEAD-tuned bass with 34" scale, you basically get 25.5" scale EADG bass.

 

[ravlin]

I tune everything DGCF, 2nd fret capo for a ~31" scale bass. My low E is bigger than yours, lol.