How to Make a Makeshift Capo
An impromptu guitar jam can happen any time you have access to an instrument, but sometimes the occasion calls for a particular song in a particular tuning and a capo is simply nowhere to be found. A capo raises the pitch of the open strings of a guitar by a degree relative to whichever position on the neck you choose to place it. A makeshift capo can be constructed rather easily.
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Instructions
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Place the pencil against the fretboard of the guitar, across all six strings, at the fret position of your choosing. Hold it in place.
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Wrap the rubber band around one end of the first pencil. Then, stretch the rubber band around the back of the neck and around the other end of the pencil.
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Stretch the same rubber band back around the back side of the neck again and around the end of the pencil from which you started.
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Repeat with the second rubber band, starting from the opposite end of the pencil.
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Strum the guitar to check that the capo is holding the strings down efficiently. If the strings buzz, continue to tighten the rubber bands until each string rings out uninhibited.
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Tips & Warnings
Use strong, short rubber bands. Instead of using rubber bands, you can use shoelaces or string to hold the pencil in place. If you like, you can cut the pencil down to about 4 inches. If you do, be careful to sand down any sharp edges. You can also substitute a pen or marker in place of the pencil. Thicker pens and markers tend to slide easier when repositioning the capo. Once the capo is complete, you should be able to slide it relatively easily to other positions on the fretboard.
Take the capo off when not using it. The rubber bands will lose tension if left on for extended periods of time. If using a pencil with sharpened a point, be wary of how close it gets to your face.
References
- Photo Credit Jemal Countess/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
