How to Use a Guitar Capo When Playing the Electric Guitar

A capo is a padded clamp that you put on the fret board of an electric guitar to shorten the length of the strings, therefore raising the pitch. Basically, it allows you to change the key of the guitar instantly. Using a capo on your electric guitar is an easy way to change up your favorite songs. Learn how to use a capo by following the steps below.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electric guitar
• Capo

1. Use the flat, long end of the capo and clamp down on the fret board. Each fret is a half step, so if you clamp down on the second fret the whole tuning of the guitar moves up one step.

2. Clamp down close to the fret bar, not on top of it. If the capo is right on top of the fret it can cause a buzzing in the strings.

3. Ensure the strings are straight and not bent once the capo is clamped on. Bent strings will result in your guitar being out of tune.

4. Play a chord like you normally would but further up on the guitar, imagining the capo as the nut. Let's say the capo is moved up one whole step (two frets) and you play an A chord. It will now sound like a B chord.

Tips & Warnings

• When changing the key on sheet music, it's useful to have a chart with the note changes per fret in front of you to easily transpose the notes.