How to Choose the Right Capo for Your Guitar
Choosing the right capo for your guitar is a matter of personal taste, deciding on the uses you have for a capo, and your price range. Follow these steps to choose the right kind for you.
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Instructions
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How to Choose the Right Capo for Your Guitar
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Determine your price range. Capos range in price from about $5 to as expensive as you want to get depending on the type of materials used.
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Select a capo based on the type of guitar you have. There are different capos for electric, acoustic steel-string, and acoustic nylon-string (or classical) guitars. The largest differences are between nylon-string capos and the other types since most classical guitar necks are wider.
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3
Examine the capos available to you for their ease of adjustment. If you plan on changing a capo's position for every song, choose a capo with a simple spring-action release. If you expect to play most of your songs with a capo in one position, select a capo with either a cord attachment or a screw-down mechanism.
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Find a specialized capo if you plan to use altered tunings. You can find capos that allow you to fret individual strings if you desire. You can also find capos designed for only three-strings (half capos), four-strings, or five-strings. You may have to special order these, however.
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Ask to try the capo before buying it if you can. Most guitar shops will have sample capos available for you to use.
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Tips & Warnings
Test your capo to see if it distorts the tuning to a noticeable extent. You may want a different brand if the capo forces you to re-tune each time you apply it.
Do not use a capo on a style of guitar it was not made for. This may damage the guitar's neck and fretboard.
