You probably don't need a capo if you're just playing chords,
although some beginners have trouble with barre chords and a capo comes in handy there.

It's also invaluable if you've learned to 'pick' a melody in open position, but you find
you need to play it in a totally different key.

Also, as a great guitar-pickin' relative of mine says
"some things just sound better 2 frets up".

The question for me on the capo has always been "how do you pronounce it?"
I've heard both KAY-po and CAPP-oh

Is there any definitive answer on that?

LLOYD S