Regardless of the genre or music style, it is always preferable to perform your music without interruption or discomfort.
To do that, you would want the best tools available to do the job right.
The capo may be a small device, but it is one of the most important tools in the arsenal of any musician.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Capos For Electric Guitars
- OUR TOP PICK: Shubb Guitar Capo (S1)
- Nordic Essentials Guitar Capo Deluxe
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Donner DC-2
Table of Contents
- What is a Capo?
- What Does a Capo Do on the Guitar?
- How to Choose a Guitar Capo
- Comparison of the Best Capos For Electric Guitars
- Review of the Best Capos for Electric Guitars
- Pros and Cons of Using a Capo on an Electric Guitar
- How to Properly Install a Guitar Capo
- How to Use a Guitar Capo
- Conclusion
- People Also Ask
What is a Capo?
Simply put, a capo is a device that allows you to easily and quickly change the key of a song. You can use the capo on any fret of the guitar by sliding it up and down the neck of the guitar to find the correct range for your voice. This way, the key of the song will suit your voice type.
What Does a Capo Do on the Guitar?
The capo simply shortens the strings of the guitar and, in the process, changes the tone or the pitch of the strings. Therefore, the key of the song also changes. If you play in C Major and you put a capo on the third fret, you will change the key of the song to E flat.
How to Choose a Guitar Capo
The capo is a very useful tool to have available for string instrument musicians. This little handy device is especially essential for guitarists. A lot of guitarists out there find it much easier to use the capo to change the key of a piece of music. In order to choose the right capo, there are few things to look at.
Type
There are many types of capos that are engaged in different ways. All capos function in the same way - by pressing down on the strings. The difference is in the way the capos are attached to the guitar neck. Some capos just clip on, and others have clutches to secure a tighter fit over the guitar neck.
Fit
Some guitars have curved necks, and others have very flat fretboards. You would want to make sure the capo fits nicely over the neck of your guitar because having the right fit is crucial.
Durability
It is important to buy a capo that is well-made and consists of durable material. You don’t want to have a capo of lesser quality that may let you down in the middle of a performance. Some capos that do not fit well may even cause your guitar to go out of tune.
Comparison of the Best Capos For Electric Guitars
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Review of the Best Capos for Electric Guitars
This review is to help you gain enough knowledge to go out there and find the right capos for your specific guitar needs and preferences. Hopefully, you will soon have the ability to make an informed choice.
Best Overall:
Shubb Guitar Capo (S1)
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PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The intonation ability of this capo is just amazing. The Shubb guitar capo is the best capo to work with, and it works really well. The adjustable tension on this capo helps a lot for keeping the guitar in tune.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The stability of the Shubb Deluxe Guitar Capo and the adjustable tension to help keep the capo firmly in the right position are the main features of this well-made capo for your guitar. You can easily move it from one fret to another thanks to its lightweight, compact size.
Who Will Use This Most
With careful positioning, this capo is suitable for most guitars. It may have been made for the acoustic steel-string guitar, but it works well on most types of guitars. Any electric guitar player may use this capo.
Bottom Line
The Shubb Deluxe capo is well-priced and well-made and delivers good, hassle-free service. This makes the capo an excellent value for your money and worth every penny when it comes down to delivering a product that you can use for many years without worrying that it will lose its strength.
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PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The Nordic Capo provides excellent value for the money. This capo is easy to engage and is well-built from durable material. It has a nice, strong amount of pressure for even tension distribution over the strings, so you never have to worry about bad notes.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Nordic Capo for guitar has a nice quick release action that makes it easy for quick changes without losing the tune. It is very simple to use, making it perfect for pros and beginners alike. Plus, it has been made using high-quality materials so, it can withstand many years of use.
Who Will Use This Most
This capo is suitable for those musicians who want to make quick changes from one key to another without losing the tune and time, and who only need to use one hand. Additionally, if you are looking for a capo that will hold firm while practicing, recording, or performing, this is the one for you.
Bottom Line
This very sturdy and quick capo is a perfect choice for most guitarists who like to perform before an audience and don’t have time to change from one key to another. That makes the Nordic Capo Deluxe just the right capo for guitar.
Best for the Money:
Donner DC-2 Guitar Capo
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PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The Donner capo is doing the job well without throwing the sound out of tune. It has very good quality for the money. The capo has a smooth finish, is well-built, and it does not mess with the tuning of the guitar.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The smoothness with which you can change over from one fret to another makes the Donner DC-2 Guitar Capo an outstanding tool for a guitar player. The low price of this capo is also a determining factor.
Who Will Use This Most
This capo is suitable to use on most electric guitars. If you are on a budget, this capo is just for you. This capo can be used perfectly with curved neck guitars for nice, even tension distribution over the whole fretboard.
Bottom Line
At the price you may get the Donner DC-2 Capo, you might want to buy two, due to the great quality of this tool for musicians. The high-quality pads will protect your instrument from scratches. For the price, this capo is the best capo for the money.
4. Kyser Quick-Change Capo for Electric Guitars
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PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
These capos are great and inexpensive. The Kyser capo is designed with a strong handle that makes it easy to move up and down the fretboard. This capo will work with most electric guitars and can double over for use on your acoustic too.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The fact that this capo has an even and strong tension distribution over the whole guitar neck helps it to keep the guitar in tune. That and the fact that it is well-built from strong material makes it stand out.
Who Will Use This Most
All electric guitar users may benefit from the quick-release mechanism of this capo. The Kyser capo can easily be used for singing guitar players who need a quick change of key. Whether you are just starting out or have quite a bit of experience, you can find use for this product.
Bottom Line
The Kyser capo is a strong and durable capo that applies the tension evenly over the neck of the guitar, making sure your strings are not forced out of tune. With a good price tag and good quality, the Kyser Quick-Change Capo is a good choice of capo for the electric guitar.
5. The G7th Guitar Capo
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This capo may not be perfect, but it works very well if installed properly. The gripping mechanism works well and will not move if not released the right way. This is especially handy if you are a rigorous guitar player.
Why it Stands Out to Us
After you get used to the new design, this capo is an easy-to-use tool. It may be used on all types of guitars, and the complete control you have over the tension helps you keep the guitar in tune.
Who Will Use This Most
Every electric guitar player must eventually try this G7th capo out. It is very versatile and easy-to-use as you get used to it. If you are a guitarist and you love to sing along with your guitar, then this is a good choice of a capo.
Bottom Line
Though a little pricey, this capo may just be the capo of the future as they claim. It will get easier to use, the more you use it and get used to it. Once you get the hang of it, you will see that this capo is a musical item that you can’t do without and is well worth the money.
Pros and Cons of Using a Capo on an Electric Guitar
When using a capo on the guitar, there are some good things you can get from it. On the other hand, there are some not so good things that you may encounter when using a capo.
Pros
For playing rhythm guitar and in certain styles, like country, the capo may work perfectly when you need to change quickly to different keys but you do not know all the chord progressions or don’t have time to work it out.
Using the capo for guitar playing is an extension of your guitar repertoire. It can make a big difference between successfully performing a nice piece of music or not. That is, if you do not know all the basic chords yet and you need to change the key in a song.
Cons
The capo may be a nice tool to have in your musician toolbox, but, sometimes, they have the annoying habit of throwing your guitar completely out of tune. Unfortunately, that is something that happens more often than not.
When playing certain styles with your electric guitar, it may be necessary to use your whammy bar for a nice tremolo effect, and the capo may just inhibit you in that area.
How to Properly Install a Guitar Capo
There are a few ways to properly fit the capo onto your guitar, and, on top of that, there are different types of capos. Let's have a look at how to fit the different types of capos onto your guitar.
The Trigger Capo
This spring-loaded capo works by applying a spring-loaded clamp to detain the tension. You simply need to squeeze the clamp to open and close the capo. You only need one hand to open the capo and position it over all the strings on a required fret just behind the fret wire. Then, you can simply release the clamp of the capo to fit nicely and evenly over the strings.
Screw Capo
The screw capo works by tightening a screw after the capo was fitted over the neck of the guitar, covering all the strings evenly from just behind the fret wire. By tightening the capo with the screw from behind the neck of the guitar, you control the tension applied by the capo.
The G7 Capo
The G7 capo is one of the most popular capos. You fit the G7 capo on the guitar in the same way as the other capos, by placing it over the neck of the guitar and then squeezing it. It will remain at the proper place, and it fits tightly with even tension distributed to the strings.
Here is a short YouTube video that will give you a walk through on how to fit a capo to a guitar.
How to Use a Guitar Capo
The capo is mainly used for changing the key of a song to suit your voice range. All capos have the same purpose and are just that: to quickly change the key.
There are a few basic steps on how to use a guitar capo, though. If you are trying to make the sound of the guitar be higher in pitch, you may use all the capos discussed in this review. To be able to use the capo, you need to fit it over the neck of the guitar in the following way.
Screw Capo
This type of capo includes the Shubb Deluxe capo and can be fitted on the guitar neck by putting it over the neck from the top with the screw at the back of the neck. When it is in position, just tighten the screw until enough tension is applied.
The Trigger Capo
This type includes the Nordic Deluxe, the Donner DC-2, and the Kyser Quick-Change capos. This capo is spring-loaded, and you need to squeeze the clamps and push it over the neck of the guitar from above. Then release the clamp.
The G7th Capo
This includes the G7th Performance 3. You simply push this capo over the guitar neck from above and squeeze down on it and it will stay in position.
Conclusion
Some of the capos reviewed in this article are a bit pricey, and others may cost less but lack in other departments. Also, there are other capos that may sound like the perfect fit. Still, the capo will be a very important companion of most guitar players out there. Even the purists must try out a capo at one time or another. When to use the capo is up to the player.
People Also Ask
This short section may answer some of those lingering questions that always pop up when the capo is mentioned in a conversation. It is always nice to have an informed answer to a tricky question.
Do Professional Guitarists Use Capos?
Professional guitar players use the capo much more often than we may think. A capo is a resourceful tool and may be used to achieve a great tone. It is well known that some of the greatest guitar players use capos during performances.
Is it Cheating to Use a Capo?
If you are using a capo when playing guitar or any stringed instrument, you should take advantage of it, as your only concern is to get the best voice and tone out of your guitar. That is not cheating. What may really be seen as cheating is when you are cheating the listeners out of a good performance.
Can You Leave a Capo on Your Guitar?
In theory, it is not good to leave the capo fitted on the guitar when not playing. It is not good for the strings to be kept under the stress the capo applies to it for a prolonged time. That may also create extra unnecessary tension on the neck of the guitar.
Do Capos Damage Guitars?
That is a debatable topic. Sure, there may be some damage to the strings, although it may not be visible. However, a small amount of damage may occur. Reckless use of a capo may cause damage to the guitar, but that is only if it is used improperly.
Does a Capo Make the Sound Higher or Lower?
The capo will make all the strings that are covered by the capo sound two and a half steps higher. Every time you go up one fret of the fretboard, the guitar makes the sound one-half step higher. So, the capo makes the guitar higher.
