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who else uses a capo?

WarriorJoe7

WarriorJoe7

Inactive
Mar 12, 2004
6,316
95
Syracuse, NY
www.myspace.com
#1
I play in an alt rock band (www.theundergroundband.com) and since the guitarist plays alot of dropped d, I have all 4 of my strings dropped a whole step. D-G-C-F. I did this because I am used to 4ths between strings.

However I also use a capo somethimes. I put the capo across the 2nd fret and I got normal tuning (ala short scale too.) E-A-D-G on an approximately 30.5 inch scale.

Then I have this one song where I put the capo across the 3 bottom strings so that I have D-A-D-G. I do this because I need the low D but I also need the open A on the 2nd string.

Anyone else do anything like this?

Oh yeah this is so permanent with the band that I have re-intonated it with low action at this setup. It's a tricked out 75 jazz reissue with barts and a badass bridge. I usually play the neck pickup exclusively.

Joe
 
#5
Akirabanana said:
I have never considered using a capo like that, but it is very creative I think. A very easy way to get an almost short scale out of a long scale instrument!
Cheers!
:smug:
Click to expand...

well the cool thing is that you can take just about any bass and drop the tuning and then use a capo just to get a decent idea of how the same bass would sound as a medium scale or short scale.

Drop it all half a step to get close to a 32 inch scale (medium scale) and drop it a full step to get close to a 30 inch scale (short scale)

The only problem is that you might get some buzz form having less tension on the neck... and the bigger issue is that if you want to do this, you should do it permanently and re-intonate the bass... especially if you play up higher than say the 7th fret.

But just for finding out the sound of a short/medium scale don't worry about the intonation... just have a listen and then change it back.

cheers,
Joe

P.S. a 6 string guitar capo will fit on a 4 string jazz bass neck... not sure of the p neck... but I haven't seen anything that will accomodate a 5 string or more. I use a standard kyser capo
 
#9
danomite64 said:
There are times when my singer/guitarist will take a song in F and move it down to E, and I'll practice to the cd with a capo on the 1st fret so I can get my fingering down. Other than that, I use it on guitar occasionally, but really just prefer to not use it live, because I still think it's a root of all kinds of evil.....:D
Click to expand...

"Capo is the root of all evil" Danomite 3:16... The Bass Bible

LOL just teasing... don't mind me! :smug:
 
#10
I have never done it - sounds useful - but I have never found a need. I play with guitar players who tune down a whole step - But I also use 5-string basses, so having that low B has me covered for the lower range of the drop-tuned guitarists.

But I am a big fan of 'anything that works!'
 
#17
I've wanted to get one for a while to play in some alternate tunings- there's a "roller" style capo out there that lets you roll it off of one fret onto another (I've seen Manring use one) that I'd like to get, but I can't remember the name of it.
 
#18
mb1 said:
I don't currently use a capo on the bass, but frequently use a "Third Hand" capo on my six string acoustic guitar:

http://www.thirdhandcapo.com/

This capo has rubber cams that let you select which strings are capo'd and which ones aren't - similar to your technique of using your capo across only 3 of 4 string.
Click to expand...

Wow that is awesome. I gotta have one! I love to experiment! :)
 
#19
mb1 said:
I don't currently use a capo on the bass, but frequently use a "Third Hand" capo on my six string acoustic guitar:

http://www.thirdhandcapo.com/

This capo has rubber cams that let you select which strings are capo'd and which ones aren't - similar to your technique of using your capo across only 3 of 4 string.

In fact, I'll often use 2 capos - a regular capo, and then the third hand capo set a whole step above the regular capo. Using this technique, I can, for example, achieve a "Drop D" formation anywhere on the fretboard without retuning.

I'd consider using a capo on a bass if I thought I'd gain something from it. I use a capo on a 6-string to gain fingering advantages - e.g. playing in Bb using a "G" fingering. But with bass, the only advantage I can see is if some songs used open strings and you wanted to maintain that fingering.

Maybe it's because I'm a relative newbie on bass but to me it's always the same pattern, just shifted to some new location on the fretboard. Once I learn the scale pattern, I can then play the scale in any key simply by shifting the starting point. So I just don't see an advantage to using a capo? Maybe if I was tuned to a chord?

Just like using a pick, I don't see anything inherently 'wrong' with using a capo. But my bass instructor tells me it's important to learn the 'standard' methods before venturing outside the box. I'm also reminded of something I once heard Victor Wooten say about when he was learning bass -- something to the effect that he would often experiement and not be afraid to try new and different ways of 'playing' bass even if they were not 'accepted' techniques.
Click to expand...

man they need to make the 3rd hand capo for bass. i've been wanting to do something where i capo at the 15th fret of D and G string strum that with fingers and play a line on E and A with the occassional rhythmic strum on D and G but i doubt this guitar one would work quite right on a bass
 
#20
I saw the bass player from The Charlie Hall Band play with one once. Honesty, I feel like it's kind of cheating. I play at my church, and I have to transpose in my head as I play, but it's like using a calculator for simple addition as far as I'm concerned, but...as someone said earlier, whatever works for you :)
 

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