CAPO GUITAR
WHAT ’ S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DADGAD AND CUT CAPO | Mitch Bohannon
Have you ever tuned your guitar to DADGAD ? Alternate tunings have been around for a long time . Seriously , some of your greatgrandparents could have played around with alternate tunings ! Likewise , partial capos have been around for many decades . I developed the Short-Cut Capo for Kyser 22 years ago around the premise that it is a teachable technique that can be useful to beginner , intermediate , and pro players alike .
Since the start , folks have often referred to the Short-Cut Capo as a “ DADGAD ” capo . To be honest , I had never played in DADGAD before I started figuring out the Short-Cut and writing my chord chart . DADGAD is certainly not something many will “ tune into ” in front of a crowd . I ’ ve seen lots of performers drop the 6 th string a step , play a song in DROP-D , and then tune back up . It does not take long , and it can even add a little interest to a performance . DADGAD , however , takes longer to get set , so the best bet for a live performance is to have a second guitar handy and ready to go .
I have songwriter friends who write everything while playing in DADGAD and I also have songwriter friends who write with the Short- Cut Capo . I know that both DADGAD and the Short-Cut are used in recording sessions and as well , many artists perform with both techniques too . Both are excellent for fingerstyle performances . I ’ ve recognized players using both techniques in music videos , the American Idol Stage , worship platforms … really , everywhere . used to raise the pitch so you can play in higher keys ( just like a standard capo works with standard chord fingerings ).
Now , I am coming from the perspective of playing rhythm guitar for the purpose of singing … I may be a lot biased here , but I would argue the positives for playing the Short- Cut outweigh those of playing DADGAD . To start , with the Short-Cut Capo , I can have that DADGAD sound on standard tuned strings . That means I can play a song in standard , add the Short-Cut Capo for another song , and then remove it and still be in standard tuning . Also , the fingerings are more understandable and familiar because they are simply modified shapes that you ’ re already playing in standard tuning . It ’ s super easy to understand your chord progression and to also reproduce that progression as you move your capos up the neck to other keys .
If you ’ ll search online for a DADGAD chord chart , you ’ ll find the top listed ones literally have 20 + options for the “ D ” and / or “ D7 ” chord . It ’ s quite frustrating . I certainly encourage exploring some shape options … I ’ ve even found new shapes by accident . However , starting out with shapes you already know and understand , the Short-Cut is so much easier to learn and utilize .
Look at the shapes below .
D G A C E m
Capo on the 2 nd fret covering strings 3 , 4 , & 5 and play these shapes in front of the capo . But , only finger the blue notes . Leave open the red notes . The yellow note in the “ C ” shape is optional … I prefer to leave it off . The green note in the “ F # m ” needs to be added behind the capo at the 2 nd fret to give the “ F #” bass note .
DADGAD is similar , however , you must remember that you have changed the string tuning , so the notes have moved . I won ’ t draw the shapes here because you can quickly find them online . Just picture that “ G ” chord . Instead of your bass note being at fret 3 , it ’ s moved UP to fret 5 . This is playable , but it certainly does not feel natural . There is more of a learning curve with starting to play in DADGAD as opposed to using the Short-Cut Capo .
Both are tools and can expand your musical “ toolbox ” so that you can play exactly what and how you want to play . Simple doesn ’ t mean it ’ s less excellent or less skilled . I encourage you to keep a Short-Cut Capo in your case and incorporate it into your playing ! Find me on Instagram @ cutcapo and you ’ ll find my handbook link FREE in my bio .
There are positives and negatives to both the Short-Cut and DADGAD . With DADGAD , it ’ s nice to be able to play with no capo at all and it ’ s also nice to be able to start in the key of “ D ” with that low-D bass note . With both techniques , a standard 6-string capo can be
You see the standard fingerings for “ D ,” “ G ,” “ A ,” “ C ,” and “ Em .” When you know these chords , you ’ ll know all you need to get started with the Short-Cut and since you ’ ll be playing one step UP , these become “ E ,” “ A ,” “ G ,” “ D ,” and “ F # m ”. Simply place your Short-Cut
Mitch Bohannon Mitch developed the Short-Cut Capo for Kyser and is the Director of Live Production at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles , Louisiana .
76 April 2024 Subscribe for Free ...