"Short Cut" Capo--Alternate Tuning for Dummies

[rjoxyz]

I posted earlier about being fascinated by tunings and partial capos used by David Wilcox and Randall Williams, his opening act at a concert I attended last Saturday. I was aware of partial capos, but clueless as to how they were used.

 

Out of curiosity, I ordered a Kyser Short Cut capo on eBay and started screwing around. Placed on the second fret (Capos A,D and G strings), it is supposed to emulate DADGAD tuning (I think). Having -0- theory knowledge, I have no clue what chords I am playing, but many standard open chord shapes sound good, with an entirely different voicing for the guitar. Some single fretted notes generate a full sounding chord if strummed or fingerpicked as an arpeggio.

 

Placed at the 4th fret, I can still play some standard open chords and get full sounds (more clinkers at this position), with a harp-like tone. Apparently, a full capo can be placed on the second fret above for more useable standard chord shapes.

 

So far, I am experimenting, noodling through chord progressions and really enjoying it. I can see how this little device could really be useful to someone who knows what he/she is doing. For a guy with my limitations, it is nice to be able to get some different sounds out of the guitar by just clamping on a capo. Most fun I've had with the guitar in ages.

 

Just reporting a new and fun discovery for me (don't get many of those these days) and anyone interested but unfamiliar with partial capos.

[RobandMartin]

You might like this:

 

 

 

I started mucking around with a cut capo about two years ago and now use it in at least a third of the songs that I write. My favorite is tuning the guitar to dadgad and using the cut capo at the second fret, it priduces some really beautiful tones.

[Cripes]

I have a Shubb half capo for open A and have been noodling around in that.

[ReverbDrip]

You may be interested in the even more versatile Third Hand Capo. It gives even more control as you can set each string individually. You can get really creative by using with a traditional capo a fret or two down the fretboard.

 

http://www.thirdhandcapo.com/devices.html

[austikins]

ive been doing cut capo stuff for about 5 years. before they had the short cut i would just turn my kyser capo over to hold the A, D, & G strings to make an Esus. you can get some great open chords if you play in D minus any fingers on the high E. play an E chord with the cut capo on the 2nd fret to get this cool F# chord, or just hold your fingers in the D2 posistion and slide up and down to get some cool chords. also, if you play a C in the 2nd fret cut capo posistion it makes a flat 7th in the key of E and adds a cool feel. lots of possibilities.

[birdarise]

Hi... been using short cut capos and others for a few years... introduced to them by Randall Williams himself.

here's my old site:

http://hankstone.wordpress.com/capos/

[jamesp]

I've actually used my Planet Waves mandolin capo more for guitar than on my mando.  It's good for a quick drop- D tuning in the key of E.  Almost the perfect excuse to own a mandolin capo.