CAPO
THINKING OUTSIDE THE CAPO BOX ON ELECTRIC GUITAR
Wouldn’t it be amazing to have guitar techs at
on the above instruments… However, I find it
church? I’ve become friends with Clay Cassie
extremely useful on my electric. I’m playing a
(who techs for Chris Tomlin and many others)
James Tyler Mongoose a nd it just so happens
and Andrew Malloy (Steven Curtis Chapman
that my guitar neck is so thin that the Uke capo
and many others) and it’s really fun to watch
can cover all six strings up to the fourth or fifth
them work. It’d be so nice to have someone who
fret. The tension is light, but ample for my low
would keep the guitars well maintained, tuned,
action. I’ve tried it on a few other electric guitars
and ready. Someone who could indiscreetly
without as much success, however the reason
trade guitars with you between songs so that
that I’m writing is not to encourage its use as a
worship would not be interrupted… However,
six-string capo, but as a five-string capo.
MITCH BOHANNON
Developed the Short-Cut
Capo for Kyser. Worship
leader in Louisiana. Married
to his beautiful wife, Noelle,
for 23 years and they have
three awesome kids!
since we do not have such a luxury, it’s up to us
to find ways to make things smooth.
The Uke capo works really well to create
Drop-D tuning when placed on the neck from
For me, capos help keep things flowing. I can
underneath (like Crowder likes to use his capo).
easily play in any key or tuning that I need to
Use it to cover the first through the fifth strings
without causing a distraction in worship. I
at the second fret, play a “D” shape, and you’ve
Changing keys is as simple as adding a
would encourage you to go check the Worship
got Drop-D in the key of “E.”
standard Electric capo behind the Uke capo
Musician archives online for past articles.
(2 frets) and transposing UP by ½ steps. So,
Specifically, I’m thinking about an article I wrote
Whether you are accustomed to playing
placing capos on frets 1 and 3 would be the
several issues ago explaining how to adjust the
in Drop-D or not, using a capo to create
key of “F” and placing capos on frets 3 and
capo so that it does not negatively affect your
the tuning keeps all fingerings the same as
5 will create the key of “G.” Worship leaders,
guitar’s intonation (so your guitar remains in
standard tuning because of the fact that no
try this out or suggest this technique to your
tune). There are all kinds of ways to use capos
string notes have been changed. Keep using
electric players and I would bet you’ll quickly
beyond their traditional or designed uses.
standard chord shapes for “D,” “A,” “Bm,” and
find a song that would sound great played like
“G.” The speed of getting in and out of Drop-D
this. It’s another tool that can inspire creativity
Take for instance, using an Ukulele/Banjo/
tuning without having to change guitars or re-
and, at the same time, can simplify some things
Mandolin capo on your electric guitar. This
tune really makes the tuning accessible/useful
that would normally be more difficult.
capo was designed to cover all of the strings
on the worship platform.
28
Nov Dec 2016
WorshipMusician.com