Capo Instructions
"Capo" is Italian for "head." Capos, also known as capo tastos or capodastros, are fastened across the frets of a stringed instrument in order to raise its pitch by shortening the playable length of the string. This allows a player to change the key of a song without having to use uncomfortable chord fingerings, or to better suit an accompanying singer's vocal range. A capo is usually used while playing a guitar, banjo or mandolin.
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Instructions
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Play a C chord on your guitar.
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Clamp the capo on the desired fret, making sure it is straight and touches all the strings. For instance, if you want to play a C but hear a C#, attach the capo between the first and second fret as close to the second fret as possible without being on top of it.
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Play a C chord with the capo still clamped. You should hear a C# chord.
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Experiment with playing different chords and clamping the capo to different frets. Starting from the top of the guitar, each fret raises the key half a step. For instance, when you played a C chord with the capo on the first fret, the chord sounds like C#. When you play a C chord with the capo on the second fret, the chord sounds like D, and so on.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a capo to add more depth to a sound when you are playing with other people by playing the same chord as they are with the capo clamped high up on the instrument. This will give the overall sound more character and brilliance.
If the capo is not placed evenly on each string, you can get an undesirable buzzing sound.
References
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