CUT CAPO
FREE YOURSELF WITH THE CUT CAPO | Mitch Bohannon
Do you find yourself playing songs the same These two shapes become moveable to create before, but it’s worth saying again. I remember
way every single time you play them? Have a nice collection of chord voices! It can be years ago seeing an interview with George
you ever tried playing a song that is on regular really helpful for a guitar player to know and Jones on television. He was talking about his
rotation in your set lists in a different key or with understand the Number System when using guitar collection and stated that he would get
a different rhythm? Playing a song the same capos. We end up playing the same chord a new guitar every time the one he was playing
way every time we play it is often a rut that’s shapes and then transposing them into different “ran out of songs!” That really stuck with me
hard to get out of. If you’re not a cut capo user, keys. Thinking in numbers, the 1 is always the 1 and spoke of the creative process. Sometimes
I want to encourage you to give it a strum and and the 6m is always the 6m no matter where it’s the sound coming out of the guitar that
I am certain you’ll find a place for it somewhere we place the capo! causes us to hear something in such a fresh
in your setup. Some folks use it periodically way that it sparks a new idea, a new song, or
and some use it all the time. I use it more often Either way, the diagram will show the key of at least a new arrangement.
than not and, even still, I try to switch things up E, the chord-numbers, and the fret numbers
with key, chord shapes, and rhythm to keep the for these new shapes. Since this shape is Sometimes I over-emphasize the simplicity of
congregation from getting into a rut. moveable, I’ll show you the shapes without the the cut capo when I’m teaching it. That often
capo visible on the 2nd fret. leads folks to think it is a tool for the beginner.
In most all of my Cut Capo classes I explain
However, over the years of sharing the cut capo
that this three-string capo can be as simple or You’ll notice that on frets 2, 7, 9, and 12, the with players of all levels, I can assure you that
as complex as you want it to be. There is not fingering takes the same shape…but on 7, 9, no matter what level you are, the cut capo can
just one way to use it. There is not just one set and 12 you’ll want to mute the 5 string with be a helpful partner as often as you would like
of fingerings to use! Normally, I teach fingerings your finger. This helps to clean up and separate to clip it on!
that are modifications from playing chord the bass note so that it is more prominent.
shapes from the key of D. So, let’s look at it in Again, I’m showing you the Number System Wouldn’t that be something if hearing these
a different way. and frets relative to the capo so that it will still new shapes stirred something in your spirit
make sense when you use a full capo with the and new songs of praise were born! Don’t get
It starts with learning two simple, new shapes. cut capo in order to play in keys above E. stuck in a rut! Give the cut capo a try and play
If you are familiar with standard cut-capo- in freedom!
chords, you probably already know the E/G#. As you strum through these chord shapes, The second is a variation of the A chord that I you’ll find a family of cut capo chords where will play with my 2nd finger on the sixth string the root note is the bass note. With these new and my 4th finger on the third string. voicings, we’re able to expand the “sound” of
th
the cut capo. Pretty sure I’ve mentioned this
98
January 2020
Mitch Bohannon
Mitch Bohannon and his wife, Noelle have been
married for over 27 years with three adult kids. Mitch
developed the Short-Cut capo for Kyser and is a
teacher/coach in Louisiana
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