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Old 02-21-2016, 03:16 PM
ZippyChip ZippyChip is offline
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Default 1st fret capo.

What is the reason for using a capo on the first fret? I have seen this from Andrew York and Kevin Loh playing Reflections. They tune to regular pitch.
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Old 02-21-2016, 05:05 PM
dosland dosland is offline
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Maybe to reduce pitch distortion a tiny bit? Maybe they don't like how much work it is to bar an F? It's an interesting question, I wonder what the official answer will end up being.
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Old 02-21-2016, 05:14 PM
riffmeister riffmeister is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZippyChip View Post
What is the reason for using a capo on the first fret? I have seen this from Andrew York and Kevin Loh playing Reflections. They tune to regular pitch.
This changes the overall tonality of the instrument slightly, so I'm guessing they do this for sonic variety.
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Old 02-21-2016, 05:36 PM
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By tuning down a half step , then capo-ing on 1, the effectively shorten the scale length of the entire guitar, reducing string tension.
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Old 02-21-2016, 06:27 PM
dosland dosland is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fazool View Post
By tuning down a half step , then capo-ing on 1, the effectively shorten the scale length of the entire guitar, reducing string tension.
Didn't the OP say they tune to regular pitch? I guess it's not exactly clear what that means in this context.
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Old 02-21-2016, 06:37 PM
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Didn't the OP say they tune to regular pitch? I guess it's not exactly clear what that means in this context.
Ah yes . Sorry I didn’t read carefully enough
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Old 02-22-2016, 05:55 AM
ZippyChip ZippyChip is offline
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Actually, I did mean that they tune down to compensate for the 1st fret capo. I assumed that doing this had something to do with shortening the distance between frets because there is one slightly difficult chord...B (on 6) D F# A(on 1).
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Old 02-22-2016, 06:17 AM
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Quote:
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Ah yes . Sorry I didn’t read carefully enough
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Originally Posted by ZippyChip View Post
Actually, I did mean that they tune down to compensate for the 1st fret capo. I assumed that doing this had something to do with shortening the distance between frets because there is one slightly difficult chord...B (on 6) D F# A(on 1).
Ok so I revert my original explanation then: It lowers string tension (and shortens the relative fret spans (1st is shorter than before, etc.)
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Old 02-22-2016, 08:12 AM
riffmeister riffmeister is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZippyChip View Post
I assumed that doing this had something to do with shortening the distance between frets because there is one slightly difficult chord...B (on 6) D F# A(on 1).
Doubtful. Those classical dudes seem to be able to play anything despite technical difficulties.

I think it is just to give the guitar a slightly different tonality. Andrew York has a number of solo pieces with a capo used in a lower position.

Last edited by riffmeister; 02-22-2016 at 08:18 AM.
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Old 02-22-2016, 09:32 AM
ZippyChip ZippyChip is offline
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Ok, thanks for the responses.
I also know that those players can do those stretches and that is why I decided to ask the question. I am going to try it to see what happens.
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Old 02-22-2016, 12:46 PM
dosland dosland is offline
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I agree with fazool now, lower string tension for some reason. Also might offer a slight improvement in pitch when fretting in the new first fret.
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Old 02-22-2016, 12:54 PM
difalkner difalkner is offline
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Or it could be the same reason we do it in our Praise Band, to match pitch with the keyboard and piano. We don't like playing in Bb or Eb or Ab, for instance, so we capo to match.
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