Quote:

Danny, I use a capo because some of the songs that I sing are in keys that I find difficult to play on the guitar - like Ab, Bb, Eb, Db etc. I'm not great at barring chords so it's easier for me to play in C for example and put a capo on fret 3, than to try to play in Eb without one (impossible for me). Some keys are easy on the guitar, some are very difficult for less competent players - this is where the capo comes in.





Capo on 3 is the most common position for me as well.

As Mel points out, playing in Eb no problem; open C open F, open G the most common chords. Playing in F is simply Open D, Open G, open A, etc. Typical keys for arrangers to write in for horn-based tunes which is what our worship band at church plays typically - even if the horns aren't playing! It's how we buy our music - purchased for full horn arrangement just in case we use them that weekend.

I really don't know of anyone who can get a clean barred sound that rings out like a good capo'ed open chord sound. Also playing in this fashion allows to do the alternative open G shape where both the b and e strings are fretted (I actually anchor down my ring finger on the b string 'f' for the open D/C/G shapes for a little flavor on the open G and Open C (which turns it into F2).

Now, this is almost entirely related to strummed chords on my part. But I can finger pick easier with open chords as well - at least with grace notes and what-not.

Move that capo on up into 5-7 fret territory and now you are starting to get a slight mandolin timbre to things which can go very well with certain types of music.

-Scott

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