On it or behind it: Correct capo placement
It’s a relatively quick one this week but it’s one where I get to disagree with people and we all like that, don’t we? 😄
People keep asking me this question so it’s time I nailed my colours to the mast. It’s time to stand up and be counted. It’s time to state where I stand on the contentious issue of capo placement.
Dun-dun-dunnn.
Honestly. People keep asking me about this. During setup—when we often capo at the first fret to check relief and action—should the capo be placed on the fret or behind the fret? I get a lot of emails about it, largely I suspect, because there are plenty of videos and articles like this one where the reader is admonished to place the capo “on top of—not behind—the 1st fret”. So people email and ask me my opinion as a capo thought-leader. 😄
So here are my thoughts:
Behind the fret! Why would you put it on the fret? WHY?!?
Ok. In truth, I don’t feel that strongly about it but let me try explain my rationale for this.
In my view, a capo is a surrogate finger (really six surrogate fingers). When you play the guitar, you don’t place your finger on the fret. You place it just behind the fret. So, when setting up the guitar (or playing, for that matter), I feel it makes more sense to place the capo in the same position. From a setup point of view, this is probably closest to the ‘playing experience’.
That just makes sense to me.
Placing a capo on top of the fret runs the risk of mashing the strings down a little in front of the fret. This has the potential to make the string take-off point shift (very, very slightly) from its natural fretted position and the potential to dampen the string vibration (like a bass guitar or Jaguar string mute). Careful positioning can minimise this but I wonder, “Why bother? Just put it behind.”
I’ve never seen an explanation or rationale for the on-the-fret position. Please drop me a line if you know one—inbox and mind are open. The only thought I have is that capo-ing on the fret might avoid the strings being pulled accidentally sharp from capo pressure. However, if that’s happening, you might be better served by trying a new (maybe adjustable) capo or looking to your guitar setup.
Anyway, this is hardly life or death stuff (although some people seem oddly partisan about it). Any discrepancy is pretty minor in setup and any muting will probably be addressed in playing. So, if you feel strongly about putting the capo on the fret, go ahead. I think my way’s better but most everyone thinks their way’s better, at least until they see it’s not. So, if you’re in ONFRET faction, do let me know if there’s a good reason.
Now, next time I’m asked this question, I can just cut and paste this post.
This article written by Gerry Hayes and first published at hazeguitars.com
