To Capo or not to capo. To down tune, or not to down tune

[Jwar]

I'm sure there's a topic about this, and I'll admit I didn't look, but like, I love you guys.



So, I'm sitting here with some tendon pain after practicing some chord structures. It seems to me that for barre chords, a capo would make my life easier. However, it would also limit my playing a big in other areas, at least I think it would.

What do you guys think of using a capo for this purpose? Do you like them? What brand or types do you use? Should I just get stronger? LOL.

As a bass player, I feel silly that I'm even hurting but I'm almost 38, and have beaten the hell out of my body....so I guess I just gotta stop having so much pride maybe.


Anyway, I'd love some thoughts.

Also, what tunings do you love for playing chords? I personally love drop D because it makes certain structures super easy.

Curious and learning more. I'm not a real guitarist yet, but I think I'm getting better and want to continue that progress.

[friendship]

Why not! Use everything at your disposal imo. I use capos to get particular voicings in particular keys all the time. Alternate tunings are great. Try an open D major tuning (DADF#AD) or D minor tuning (DADFAD). Still uses some barring, but it's a bit easier to bar when you only need the one finger. Also, consider some "alternate" chord voicings... you don't necessarily need to use 5 or 6 strings to make a chord.

[Chankgeez]

It seems to me that for barre chords, a capo would make my life easier.

I have small hands. I just don't play barre chords. I advise you do the same. Try finding some alternate chord voicings.

[friendship]

I used to get pain in my "Adductor Pollicis" muscle if I played barre chords for long periods of time, and eventually figured out that playing on thinner necks was causing me to "pinch" too much. When I switched to a chunkier neck, I could play them for much, much longer without any aches. This might not apply to you, just thought I'd mention in case.

[Adoom]

I personally almost never play barre chords, I prefer those finger breakers or three/four note chords, and I do a lot of that Bill Frisell/Dylan Carlson thing utilising open strings.

I use Capos a fair bit, especially when I’m tuned to a DADGAD variant or one of those chord tunings I love so much. They’re great! Also, it has the effect of almost being like a compressor if you use a lot of hammer ons/pull offs or open strings. Makes everything kinda levelled out!

[coldbrightsunlight]

Agree with everything else said here. Use tunings that make the chords you want to play easier, and play reduced chords! IDK why everyone on guitar is just taught to play barre chords, when it's not really necessary at all. Sure, sometimes you want 'that sound' but if you're just trying to play a song it doesn't matter.

e.g. instead of playing the full barre chord F, without even having to THINK about different chord shapes and inversions, you could try some of these depending on the context and the sound you're after. All of these still have all the 3 notes of the major triad and they have very different colours to each other and to the full barre chord. Plus they're much easier on your hands!!!

1 - 1
1 - 1 - 1
2 - 2 - 2 - 2
3 --- - 3 - 3
3 --------- 3
1 --------- 1

I do chord practice for finger strength and mobility. Pick something with challenging chord changes (for you - I use a jazz book because I'm trying to expand my library of extended chord shapes but it can be anything) and practice it at a speed you can play, then increase. This should increase your strength.

But, it's ok not to be able to play every chord! Some of them are really hard, some people have stronger hands. Just find what works for you and sounds good.

[VREEEEVROOOOOW]

Open chord gang represent.

I figure out what I wanna play, and just tune to make it easy to play. Then, the new tuning often makes me discover new things. I very rarely use barre chords. Actually, I think I use like... one barre chord in my band right now, in one of the songs.

I capo sometimes, because it's a lot more practical to capo from open d minor to open g minor, than to tune down and hope those high 'd's don't come flying at you. It's just a lot quicker when you're playing a show.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I'm not a fan of using capos much, I prefer to just use a variety of chord shapes. But this just goes to show it's all about personal preference.

[Jwar]

Thank you all so much for this! I am trying alternative tunings before I grab a capo. I was thinking of the Spider capo but then I read it fucks up fretboards. Anyone have any insight there?

[Errant Tiger]

I love the good old Kysers - they work, they're easy, and they come in colors - and I have a G7 that I tell myself works better because I spent $50 on it.

Also a fan of alternate tunings and fewer-finger chords. DGDGAD is a particular favorite. Also when playing in standard it's been years since I played a full barre - root/fifth/octave and let the rest of that shit ring.

[UglyCasanova]

It seems to me that for barre chords, a capo would make my life easier.

I have small hands. I just don't play barre chords.

The Trump was coming from inside the house.

[Chankgeez]

I doubt The Trump was coming. That's part of the problem.

[goroth]

I'm not a fan of using capos much, I prefer to just use a variety of chord shapes. But this just goes to show it's all about personal preference.

This is my approach too.

[Adoom]

I use G7 Capos because it makes the weird chord shapes you can find near what would be the nut a little easier. People seem to love to steal the fuckers though.

Tunings drop: (forgive the song titles, it’s a copy and paste job on my phone.)

The City - CGCGCDb (d,d,d,-,u,d)

New Open D Piece (w/t - Frisell) - DADF#AD (d,-,-,d,-,d)


Exotic Tunings

Tempest - AACEBC (d,-,d,d,-,d)

Shrines - AACEBC (d,-,d,d,-,d) Capo 2nd

Culling Song - C#AC#G#AE (d,-,d,u,d,-)

From The Earth Will Crawl Serpents - C A D E A E (d,-,d,d,d,-)

They, Backlit - A# A# C# F C F (d,u,d,d,u,u)

[Jwar]

Love it! The DADGAD really opened up my playing. I've found the chords from the previously songs I'd written and only one of them is slightly uncomfortable to play with this tuning but it's not horrible. The rest were easier. I found that I went from holding three strings to make a chord to 1. LOL. Sooo, that's awesome. Also, when I use a slight, I get chords for days with this tuning. LOVE that. I've been trying to incorporate different elements and playing styles and I found I really dig slides and ebows. I want one that does all the strings but like, my bridge on the D'Angelico seems like it would be a huge pain in the ass to set up a permanent one.

Anyway, I'm going to order that capo! Sounds good to me!!! Thanks for all the feedback!


Also, God. My hands are small but they are wide too. Trumps hands are like baby hands. I don't even know how he holds a fork or a hair piece or a conversation. hahaha.