MichaelK
02-16-2006, 12:34 AM
Everybody (well, almost) at the Folk Alliance conference in Austin was using partial capos. Mainly the 3-string type, but a few were also using the "Drop-D" type. Almost no one was using a Keyser Short Cut; those were almost all Shubb. In contrast, almost no one was using a Shubb "Drop-D' type; those were mostly Keyser. I had never really looked into using one at all, but now I was curious so I started asking these questions.
1) How does the "short-cut" capo work?
2) Why the drop-D capo? Why not just tune down the 6th string?
3) Why is the Shubb 3-string partial capo preferred over the Kyser Short Cut, and why the Keyser drop-D over the Shubb?
I know for many of you this is old news. For me it was a revelation. It's all
so simple it's ridiculous.
ANSWER 1)
If you clamp strings 3, 4 & 5 at the 2nd fret, it's similar to having raised them one whole step (but not the same - more later). Therefore similar to having dropped strings 1, 2 & 6 a whole step. BINGO! - DADGAD one step higher (EBEABE).
Turn the capo around and clamp strings 2, 3 and 4 on fret 2, and you have the equivalent of dropping strings 1, 5 & 6, TA-DA!! Open G, but one step up (open A). I mean think about it: it's just an "A" chord.
ANSWER 2)
What I didn't consider before this is that using partial capos doesn't change the tuning. In other words, if you throw two partial capos on a standard-tuned guitar, above the second capo it's still a standard-tuned guitar. All your barre chords, single-note lines, etc. can be played like nothing's changed.
Now THAT sounded cool! I love DADGAD and open G, but always found them limiting in their simplicity because I couldn't play certain chords I heard. So I stopped by the Kyser booth at the expo (Shubb didn't have a booth there), where they were selling any capo for a flat $10 cash. I figured for that kind of money I wouldn't agonize over brand. I picked up a short-cut capo, clamped strings 3, 4 & 5 at fret 2, and within two hours had a new song. A nice one too, Celtic folderol when I wanted it and none when I didn't.
ANSWER 3)
Someone showed me how using the Shubb partial capo allowed one to fret the open strings behind the capo, while the Keyser design made it impossible. And he answered my last question by showing me how easily the Keyser Drop-D clamped into place without throwing off intonation or interfering with play space. He said the Shubb is less convenient for that particular thing, and though we didn't have one there I could see why.
Finally, this same mensch showed me the new Shubb "deluxe" model 6-string capo with the little wheel, and how easy it was to move around the neck quickly - much easier than the standard Shubb - without throwing the intonation off at all. That did it, I was sold. First thing I did when I got back home to REAL internet access (as opposed to $10 a day slower than shit hotel internet access) was order a Shubb Deluxe 6-string, a Shubb partial, and a Keyser drop D. Till they arrive, I'm digging the hell out of this short-cut!!
1) How does the "short-cut" capo work?
2) Why the drop-D capo? Why not just tune down the 6th string?
3) Why is the Shubb 3-string partial capo preferred over the Kyser Short Cut, and why the Keyser drop-D over the Shubb?
I know for many of you this is old news. For me it was a revelation. It's all
so simple it's ridiculous.
ANSWER 1)
If you clamp strings 3, 4 & 5 at the 2nd fret, it's similar to having raised them one whole step (but not the same - more later). Therefore similar to having dropped strings 1, 2 & 6 a whole step. BINGO! - DADGAD one step higher (EBEABE).
Turn the capo around and clamp strings 2, 3 and 4 on fret 2, and you have the equivalent of dropping strings 1, 5 & 6, TA-DA!! Open G, but one step up (open A). I mean think about it: it's just an "A" chord.
ANSWER 2)
What I didn't consider before this is that using partial capos doesn't change the tuning. In other words, if you throw two partial capos on a standard-tuned guitar, above the second capo it's still a standard-tuned guitar. All your barre chords, single-note lines, etc. can be played like nothing's changed.
Now THAT sounded cool! I love DADGAD and open G, but always found them limiting in their simplicity because I couldn't play certain chords I heard. So I stopped by the Kyser booth at the expo (Shubb didn't have a booth there), where they were selling any capo for a flat $10 cash. I figured for that kind of money I wouldn't agonize over brand. I picked up a short-cut capo, clamped strings 3, 4 & 5 at fret 2, and within two hours had a new song. A nice one too, Celtic folderol when I wanted it and none when I didn't.
ANSWER 3)
Someone showed me how using the Shubb partial capo allowed one to fret the open strings behind the capo, while the Keyser design made it impossible. And he answered my last question by showing me how easily the Keyser Drop-D clamped into place without throwing off intonation or interfering with play space. He said the Shubb is less convenient for that particular thing, and though we didn't have one there I could see why.
Finally, this same mensch showed me the new Shubb "deluxe" model 6-string capo with the little wheel, and how easy it was to move around the neck quickly - much easier than the standard Shubb - without throwing the intonation off at all. That did it, I was sold. First thing I did when I got back home to REAL internet access (as opposed to $10 a day slower than shit hotel internet access) was order a Shubb Deluxe 6-string, a Shubb partial, and a Keyser drop D. Till they arrive, I'm digging the hell out of this short-cut!!