The capotraste is one of the most useful accessories for playing the guitar. Many guitarists, both beginners and advanced, do not use this essential resource for playing the guitar. Let me tell you, if you do not use it, it is a big mistake. The capotraste is one of the most beneficial tools for every guitarist. That is why in this complete guide, I will explain how to use the capotraste correctly. Read until the end!
Complete Guide
What is a capotraste?What is a capotraste for?Replace the finger capoFree eBook: 14 Easy and Simplified Chords
Raise a song in pitchImprove the brightness of the guitar
How to use the capotraste on the guitar?Step 1Step 2Step 3Step 4
Chords with capotrasteTips for using capotrasteHow much does a capotraste cost?Known songs with capotrasteFinal thoughts
What is a capotraste?
Photo by Ronan Kruithof on Unsplash
A capotraste is a device that is placed on the neck of the guitar, with the aim of transposing the strings, and thus increasing the tone. The capotraste is also known as a capo, this is because it performs the same function as the capo. For example, when you play the F major chord, you place your capo finger in the first square on the neck. If you place the capotraste, you avoid placing the capo with your finger. The main function of the capotraste is to raise the pitch of the guitar. But this is not the only function, since it also influences the sound, brightness and tone of the guitar. The capotraste is also known as a protractor, capodastro, capo, or simply, capo.
What is a capotraste for?
A capotraste essentially serves to raise the overall tone of the guitar. But this is not the only objective for using a capotraste, since you can use it for many uses.
The capotraste is used for:
- Replace the finger capo
- Upgrade a song easily
- Improve the brightness of the guitar
Replace the finger capo
If you are a beginner and want to play an F Major, or a B Minor, you will know that it is not easy to place the capo with your finger. Placing your index finger to use the capo is a process that requires adaptation time for it to sound good. Using a capotraste makes any beginner able to play the capo easily. This is what an F Major looks like when you play it normally:
On the other hand, this is what an F Major is like when you place the capotraste on the first fret.
Much simpler, right?
As you can see, the capotraste replaced the function of the index finger. This is one of the most basic uses of the capotraste.
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Raise the pitch of a song
Many times, when you play guitars with singers, they will ask you to raise and lower the pitch of the same song thousands of times to find the pitch that suits their voice. As a result, you will see that it is a very tedious process. With the capo, you can raise the pitch of the song by simply changing the position of the capo. For example, you are playing a song in C Major. But it’s a little low for the singer. So you decide to go up to D Major. To do this you simply place the capo on the second capo and continue playing in C. Over time, once you get the hang of it, you will see that you can also lower the tone of the song. For example, you are playing the song in C Major, and they ask you to lower it to B Major. Then, you put the capotraste on the fourth fret, and play G Major. In this way, it will sound in B Major. But it will require mental practice to change the tones in your mind. So you will ask me, why not play directly in B Major? Well, playing a song in B Major is quite tedious, even if you are an expert. And on the other hand, it sounds better with transport (better explained in the next point).
Improve the brightness of the guitar
When you apply rag fret to the guitar, it also sounds brighter and more alive. This is because the capotrast causes the guitar strings to travel, and in this way, it sounds higher. For example, to play a Song in Eb (E Flat), you can apply the capo at the 3rd fret and play in C (C). You will see how beautiful this sound sounds. Personally, I like the way the capotraste sounds from the 3rd fret to the 6th or 7th fret. If you place it too high (above the 7th fret), it will sound too high; and if you place it too low (1st or 2nd fret), you won’t see much difference in sound.
How to use the capotraste on the guitar?
The steps to use a capotraste on the guitar are:
Step 1
Open the capo and place it on the desired fret of the guitar.
Step 2
Position the capo a little further to the right of the center of the fret.
Step 3
Adjust the tension of the capo until the strings sound clear, if it is adjustable.
Step 4
Play chords and they will now sound transposed in pitch.
Chords with capotraste
Chords are transposed when you use the capo. That is, you can be playing one chord, but in reality another chord will sound. This is because when you apply the capotrast, the entire guitar goes up in pitch. To better understand what chords sound when you apply a capotrast, I have designed a table of all the chords with capo.
The “Open Chord” column refers to the chord you play. Then, depending on where you place the transport, it will be the chord that will sound. For example, if you play the C (C) chord with the capo at the 4# fret, the chord that will sound is E (E).
Tips for using capotraste
- Most new transports come with automatic tensioning. So you will not need to adjust its tension. In case you need to adjust the tension, you should not tighten them too much. At the point where all the strings sound clean is the exact point.
- Transport position: Some guitarists use the capo in the center of the fret, while others prefer to use it a little further to the right of the center. Generally, it will sound better a little further to the right.
- Transport only allows you to raise your tone. But if you learn to mentally change the pitch of songs, you can also lower the pitch and make it sound great. For example, if you play in C, and you want to go down to SI. You can change the key of the song to G, and place the transport on the 4th fret. In this way, it will sound in YES.
How much does a capotraste cost?
The capotrastes cost around $10-15. You can compare prices for capotrasts in this list.
Known songs with capotraste
Oasis – Wonderwall: This is one of the best-known songs with capo. The guitarist uses the capo on the 2nd fret. The song is played in E Minor (Em), but it sounds in F# Minor (F#m). The Beatles – Here Comes the Sun: This famous song uses the capo on the 7th fret.John Mayer – Not My Self: John Mayer places the capo on the 1st capo. James Taylor – Fire and rain: The transport is placed on the 3rd fret and sounds in C (C), while it plays in A (A). Bob Dylan – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right: Bob Dylan’s song plays in F (F), while he plays in C (C) with the capo on the 4th fret.
Final thoughts
The capotraste is an excellent accessory for every guitarist. The functionality of the transport is not limited to raising the pitch of the guitar strings, but also to improving the brightness of the guitar, and facilitating the position of the chords. It is an essential tool for both beginners and experts. I personally use it daily to improve the brightness of many songs, and also to find the easiest tone according to the singer’s voice. The auto-adjusting bonnet is the most common one today, and the one I use daily. You can check on Amazon for the best prices on capotrastes.
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