No song requires a capo, it is a device by which you can play the same song 1/2 note, 1 note, etc. higher and use the same fingering scheme. Accompanists use this device to allow a vocalist to sing at a key they are comfortable with and still allow the guitarist to play the song the way he/she is familiar with.
2007-08-05 13:53:02
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answer #1
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answered by prusa1237 7
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James Taylor used to use a capo to play Fire and Rain. When you want to play a song in a certain key, but it is lower than your singing range, a capo is an easy alternative to learning a much more complicated chord structure.
A capo has a reputation for being a cheating device, just as the guitar has a reputation for being a folk instrument used by the musically illiterate, but neither case is necessarily true.
A Capo, or Capotasto can be used to play open chords or open lines in a key that the guitar was not necessarily originally designed to be used in, without having to retune the strings. This is especially nice if you are working with a brass or wind player who has a song in a flat key, and wants an open string type of sound. Capos can also be purchased that only cover from one to five strings (used by banjo players and modal guitar pickers all the time) to facilitate quick changes in a specific range, especially on stage.
The other really nice thing about a capo, is that it completely eliminates the need to bring a Quinto or Requinto to a performance. Just slip that capo on the fourth or fifth fret and it accomplishes the same purpose, without having to replace that troublesome first string. (all of that tension is death on Quinto and requinto strings) There is a specific sound that you can get from capoing up at the fourth or fifth fret, that is particularly desirable with certain female voices.
You also mentioned full strumming songs and this is especially important. I've done a lot of sing-alongs. I've done them with both guitar and piano, and one of the most important things I have learned is that the key on the chord sheet (if you even get a chord sheet) is seldom the optimum key for the group. Now, I can transpose and play the song in A flat, or F minor, or just about any key I need to play it in, but those closed chords lose a lot of potency in a group situation like that. If I can slap on a capo and get to the key that I need, I can bang away like crazy and get all of the sound I want. This may sound a little insensitive, but creating a big comforting background sound is crucial to encouraging those shy voices to peek out of people's throats and actually leave the vicinity of their nose holes! Silence is the death knell of any party, and a lack of accompaniment is a real sing-along killer.
Any song can be used with or without a capo, and any song you can play without a capo, you can play with one as well. If you capo up two frets for instance, you and a clarinet player can play off of the same sheet of music. You just transposed it for them by moving up one full step.
I want you to understand that I rarely use a capo. Most of the time I have no real use for one. I will never disparage this handy little accessory however, any more than I would a plectrum. I rarely use a plectrum on guitar either, but I buy Hard Gibson Teardrops by the gross, and always keep at least five in my change purse. Even if the only thing I do is lend one to a friend, it was worth it to have one around, and you never know when you will truly need a dependable plectrum, or capo!
2007-08-05 17:35:46
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answer #2
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answered by MUDD 7
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For the hard-core guitarist--which I am--I consider the capo as a cheater. It prevents fretboard expertise from growing.
2007-08-05 14:09:28
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answer #3
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answered by Guitarpicker 7
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