Robb,
An alternative to using a capo would be using a Guitar Method system known as the CAGED system. Look this up on the Internet. For example, suppose you want to play an A chord using a G open form from the CAGED system. You would Barr at the third fret and use the last three fingers on your left hand, assuming you are right handed, to make the G chord. Same barr, make the C chord with the last three fingers and you have a D chord, and etc. You still get the clean open sound by using this method. Hope this helps. It opens up a whole new set of chords for you to learn. Of course, you may already know this..