Hi. I'm migrating from piano and saw the lesson about the use of the capo bar. I've always wondered if through the capo is how guitarrists move the song up a scale, or down, to match the piano or other instruments.Certainly, it's not the same to play at middle C than Higher, or lower. Is this correct?
Capo
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Hey & welcome to GT & the guitar!
Originally Posted by: jfagraitlawHi. I'm migrating from piano and saw the lesson about the use of the capo bar. I've always wondered if through the capo is how guitarrists move the song up a scale, or down, to match the piano or other instruments.Certainly, it's not the same to play at middle C than Higher, or lower. Is this correct?
In general the best metaphor is to think of a capo as an easy way to transpose. Suppose you only know how to play a song in C major on the keyboards. But you want to play it in D major. Or, more likely, your friend wants to sing it in D major. :) So you hit the transpose key on your fancy electronic keyboard. You select up 2 whole steps.
Now, you can use the fingering shapes of C major chords & key to create the sounds in D major. That essentially what a capo does for guitarists.
There are also artistic purposes. For example, you can play the same chords, but in different voicings, registers or areas of the fretboard.
Caren explains & demonstrates how it works in this lesson.
https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=24671&s_id=2031
Lisa covers another use of the capo here.
https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=15356&s_id=1498
In general, if a capo is used in a song, the instructor will show how to do it in the context of the tutorial. Song lessons with 2 guitars can be great examples of how it works. For example:
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2232
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2160
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2152
Hope that helps! Have fun learning guitar!
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