Capo on Bass!

[t_shirtsnjeans]

I was recording a song that I wrote. I was having problems singing in the key I wrote the song, I don't know if it was because my voice was developing in a higher register or what, but anyway I had to capo up two frets to sing the song, and to maintain some of the open string sounds. So I recorded the guitar parts, leads, backups, etc, and then laid the vocals down, just me and some harmonies.

It was all working well but then I decided to add bass for the full sound but the runs I needed required playing up high and pulling off to open strings, but due to the two fret trasition I wasn't able to cleanly do the runs I wanted. I sat there and noticed the capo still on my guitar and laughed. I used to make jokes about a song being transposed at the last minute and everyone could transpose or capo except the bass player (me) and I asked if anyone made bass capos. Yeah, the laughs were meant as "you idiot, can't you just play up a couple frets..." so I never even tried to capo my bass.

Well, after looking at the guitar's capo, I sat there and since no one was around I just took the capo off the guitar and clamped it to my bass. Yep, it worked LIKE A CHARM!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did my recording, finished my song and had it published by MCA!!!! Well, not really published in a sense, in fact no one has heard the song yet, but I'm still working on it :p

Anyway, don't be afraid to use a capo on your bass. It does make for some funny looks from others though, but STAND UP FOR YOUR ART!!!! You could call it a 'Floating Nut Tool' and leave it at that :D :toohappy: :D

[ModestCargo]

I'd think that was pretty cool except for the fact that I can't stand capos. I see every jim jack and joe around here with a capo and an acoustic guitar that are too lazy to learn or play barre chords and it's kinda funny. That and the fact that the whole neck changes and I have no idea where I'm going with one on. I grew up watching my dad play in bands and looking at him, then looking at the other members, and realizing that he was the only one who didn't use capos. I thought it was pretty cool, he was obviousley the "leader" of the band anyway, and that further made him look cool.

I do like to use capos on 12-string guitars though, because I like the sound of that.

I have a question. Doesn't using a capo affect your tone in a negative way?

[t_shirtsnjeans]

If it affects your 'coolness' factor then just don't use one. Just wait until you get arthritis in your wrists, thumb, and fingers, and then try barring a whole set of songs, or four sets if you play gigs regular. I'd bet you would be shopping for as many capos as you could get with all the money you got in your pocket.
A capo is a tool, as is an amp, an electric guitar, as is a bass, as is an effects pedal/processor, as is any tool you use to get your music done.
When the best of the best are using capos then the problem is???

[ModestCargo]

Welll... My dad's in his mid fifties, has played since he was 11, has been in bands all his life and gigged regularly, does barre chords regularly on acoustic guitars that would hurt just to look at let alone play, strung with 13s, and doesn't have trouble with his hands at all. He always is talking about "taking care of your hands" etc like wearing gloves when it's cold and stuff. This is, I assume, the reason he's fine now.

I guess capos aren't my style, nor are they his. Same with effects - just not our thing. Same with distortion. It's cool to hear it a lot of the time but I just can't play it - it doesn't suit my style.


Edit: Sorry if I offended you in any way man... stuff that I type/say tends to sound kind of arrogant sometimes, but I don't mean it that way.

[t_shirtsnjeans]

Ahh, no need to apologize. A lot of people look at a capo as a crutch, and your dad is very fortunate to have good hands and I think playing actually helps keep arthritis at bay. But in cases (like mine) when arthritis does set in it is very painful to barre on a lot of songs. And with a capo the open string sounds are still very clear as opposed to barred chords.

I especially liked a capo when playing lead for another band that insisted on putting a capo on the first or third frets, and I wanted to do pulloffs so much on some of the songs that it can't be done without the capo. Really gotta consider the vocalist too. As I've gotten older my voice has developed into a higher register, and since I've written my songs in a sitting position but play and sing standing I have to go up a full step in order to hit the notes, or when I try to hit the low notes my voice goes quiet. It took me a while to figure out what was going on. So I anticipate writing in one key but expect to transpose if needed with a capo.

Whatever floats the boat, whatever turns a crank, whatever skins the cat, etc etc,....if it works use it, if it don't then fix it :toohappy: :toohappy:

[ModestCargo]

Yep... I can definitley see your point.

[jamoholic]

yeah, i agree that a capo is not a crutch at all. It is used mainly to allow you to get the open string sound at higher positions. they dont change the whole neck either, just your open strings.

this is funny because i just did the same thing on my bass the other day. first time i tried it and it work great as well. very cool man.

[MistaMusicMan]

I like capos, as you said they are a tool just like an amp or effects. Bar chords are extremely important to get comfortable with but theres no shame in using a capo.

[GuitarGretta]

Some times you need those ringing open strings of the cowboy chords. And on songs like Fleetwood Mac's "Never go back again", where there are capos on differents frets of each guitar, I'm not sure it can be done right without them. But I do tend to get lost when they are not on frets I'm used to having them on, so I prefer not using them when I don't have to.

[TeleTristan]

I use a capo when I'm jamming some bluegrass. It has (as others say) a more open chorded sound. Hey I realized this is the Bass forum...sorry for hijacking this joint

[t_shirtsnjeans]

I use a capo when I'm jamming some bluegrass. It has (as others say) a more open chorded sound. Hey I realized this is the Bass forum...sorry for hijacking this joint
Atually I was the one that started the capo thing, but yeah, I was using it for bass as well as guitar.

No harm done............... :toohappy: :toohappy: :toohappy:

[thunder_bird]

The bass player in a band that were supporting us last week used a capo on the first fret of his bass for one song

[0.1 watts]

I'd think that was pretty cool except for the fact that I can't stand capos. I see every jim jack and joe around here with a capo and an acoustic guitar that are too lazy to learn or play barre chords

Capo's can sound really good, firstly you can play any open chord shape, whereas in barre chords the number of chords is limited due to your finger barring the frets. Also its good for country because you can still use the open strings a lot. If you think a chord progression sounds good, try adding a capo and playing it 5 frets up. It usually sounds better!

[SlowDance]

Yeah....i've seen a few guitarists that use half-capos together with a full capo for some very interesting results.

[vixousegoldfish]

I was recording a song that I wrote. I was having problems singing in the key I wrote the song, I don't know if it was because my voice was developing in a higher register or what, but anyway I had to capo up two frets to sing the song, and to maintain some of the open string sounds. So I recorded the guitar parts, leads, backups, etc, and then laid the vocals down, just me and some harmonies.

It was all working well but then I decided to add bass for the full sound but the runs I needed required playing up high and pulling off to open strings, but due to the two fret trasition I wasn't able to cleanly do the runs I wanted. I sat there and noticed the capo still on my guitar and laughed. I used to make jokes about a song being transposed at the last minute and everyone could transpose or capo except the bass player (me) and I asked if anyone made bass capos. Yeah, the laughs were meant as "you idiot, can't you just play up a couple frets..." so I never even tried to capo my bass.

Well, after looking at the guitar's capo, I sat there and since no one was around I just took the capo off the guitar and clamped it to my bass. Yep, it worked LIKE A CHARM!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did my recording, finished my song and had it published by MCA!!!! Well, not really published in a sense, in fact no one has heard the song yet, but I'm still working on it :p

Anyway, don't be afraid to use a capo on your bass. It does make for some funny looks from others though, but STAND UP FOR YOUR ART!!!! You could call it a 'Floating Nut Tool' and leave it at that :D :toohappy: :D


Lol i would have retuned the bass.... thats how i am though... a friken weirdo... oh well to each his own

[guitaraholic680]

I extremely hate people who say a capo is a crutch. Its nothing of the sort. I know bar chords very well, and play them often. You can just get some better sounds with a capo. I use it to write my favorite fingerpicking songs. It gets that open sound at a higher fret. It confused the hell out of my friend though.

[ModestCargo]

I never said they were a ctutch - but they are when you see someone play a 2 hour set and all they do is strum A, C, D, G and E all night and just move their capo around if a song has a B or F or something.

Also they confuse the hell out of me too.

[martinedwards]

I use capo on bass, but then I don't do cool!!!!!