Learn Guitar Online – You Are Cheating If You Use A Capo Myth Busted

Are you familiar with the phrase “capos are cheating?” This is one I often hear people say at guitar workshops or read in correspondence from my subscribers.

This is one of the most destructive phrases, simply because it sounds so close to the truth that it is difficult to spot the big lie here.

It’s hard to believe when we live in a world so rich with information that many guitarists still cling to old wives’ tales like the “capos are cheating” myth.

While most musical old wives’ tales are harmless, at least one is dangerous… because those who believe it will find themselves trapped forever in the guitar “stone age”.

In my work over the years, I have noticed that some people seem to have the ability to be able to constantly re-invent themselves and adapt to their changing musical environment.

Others seem to stay stuck in their playing, plodding over the same lumpy chords, boring licks and tricks; every song these guitarists’ play sound the same.

As I sought to understand the strategies of these different types of people, some interesting differences made themselves clear.

What follows are lists of strategies for how to remain in the guitar “stone age” and then strategies for how to move on and thrive.

How to stay in the guitar “stone age”

* Continue to struggle with hard chord shapes – playing songs using the computer generated chord shapes presented in the sheet music regardless of how difficult the stretch is… I actually know a guy who slept with corks tapped between his left hand fingers so he could increase his stretch to play difficult guitar chords!

* Suffer from bar chord-itis – a large percentage of guitarist and unfortunately “guitar teachers” have the misconception that bar chords are superior to all other shapes and those that can play bar chords are part of the guitar playing elite.

Bar chords are appropriate in certain styles of music such as ‘surf’ guitar; however the quickest way to spot a “guitar playing dinosaur” is the guy who plays bar chords in every song regardless of the style of music.

Moral of the story… lock jaw of the wrist results in lock jaw of the musical brain, sore fingers and soggy sounding chords.

How to move on and thrive

* learn the language of music – every chord have a unique spelling, it is the coagulation of a particular set of notes, once you know how to construct a chord it won’t matter whether if you use a capo or your foot as long as you have the correct notes under your fingers (or toes).

The deciding factor as to whether to use a capo or not will depend on the style of music and the atmosphere you want to create.

Here’s a few examples of how you could play an “Ab” chord.

Ab contains following notes Ab = Ab – C – Eb

Ex 1 – style – Pop, country rock…generally this is the type of acoustic guitar sound heard on commercial radio. (Taylor Swift etc.)

Ab (capo 1st fret – using a “G” shape)

-3- (Ab)
-3- (Eb)
-0- (Ab)
-0- (Eb)
-2- (C)
-3- (Ab)

=> remember I’m indicating the pitch of the notes when using a capo on the first fret! <=

Ex 2 – style – surf music…50’s and 60’s guitar instrumental music (Shadows etc)

Ab (bar chord version)

-4- (Ab)
-4- (Eb)
-5- (C)
-6- (Ab)
-6- (Eb)
-4- (Ab)

Ex 3 – style – Jazz…three note style usually associated with Count Basie band (guitarist Freddie Green)

Ab (3 note version)

-X-
-X-
-5- (C)
-1- (Eb)
-X-
-4- (Ab)

* unlock the fingerboard – in order to able to create your own chord shape it’s essential to know the position of the notes on the guitar fingerboard.

* listen to a variety of styles of music – as you listen to music concentrate on the sound the guitarist is making in each musical setting, remember there’s no right or wrong way to play a chord we’re simply wanting to contribute to the overall ensemble the best way we can.

Playing a bar chord in a Taylor Swift song won’t cut it… just as using a capo on a George Benson jazz track will spoil the overall flavor of the music.