The eternal question: Does using a capo mean you are a lesser player?

[Goat Mick]

Even I have to admit that this topic is getting old.

[jklotz]

OK, I have to give one serious answer, although I am quite enjoying all the joke posts.

I'd argue, doing what I do, solo fingerstyle arrangements, a capo makes it more difficult. I am used to using the whole fretboard. With no capo, I feel free - I've spend my whole life memorizing the positions. Put a capo on, and the intervals don't change but my point of reference does, so now I have to actually think about where I'm going next.

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by rmp

Oh Gawd,, not this again..

This 👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼👆🏼

[davidbeinct]

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by pagedr

Is that actually a thing? I don't think I've ever heard anyone claim that using a capo makes you a lesser player. If I did I'd probably just laugh because that's ridiculous.

Hi pagedr

Oh - it's a thing for sure. Invalid thing in my opinion…

[menhir]

No. Nada. Nyet.

It just means you are aware of a perfectly legitimate guitar tool and are willing to use it.

[llew]

Originally Posted by Tico

... in a lower key.

What do I win?

A brand new capo!

[BoneDigger]

I can argue that since most of my favorite singer/songwriters (Lightfoot, Doc Watson, etc.) used a capo often, that it's okay for me to do so. But, in reality, I would use one even if they didn't.

[Mr. Jelly]

Yes, of coarse. And so does

Using a pick
using finger picks
not using a pick
not using finger picks
using pickups and using an amp

Don't get me started about using effects

AND

GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!

[zmf]

<insert highly original response to tired, unoriginal question here>

[FingahPickah]

And why do you have to turn those string knob thingy's? Or is that only on a hootenanny guitar? Which finger do you put a thumb-pick on? And why is the alphabet in that order? Is it because of that song?

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Goat Mick

Even I have to admit that this topic is getting old.

+1.
Lump this with the Zager threads, and the "What guitar would you buy if you had X amount of money."

[David Eastwood]

No.
. . . . . . . . . .

[min7b5]

Music is not a sport, it's an art. In my opinion anyone who judges art by the perceived difficulty or ease that went into creating it -and is over the age of twelve- is saying a whole lot more about themselves than the art.

But maybe I just say that because there's no possible way I could ever do a gig without a capo

[boombox]

Originally Posted by pagedr

Is that actually a thing? I don't think I've ever heard anyone claim that using a capo makes you a lesser player. If I did I'd probably just laugh because that's ridiculous.

It's not if you speak to many classically-trained musicians, especially pianists, but occasionally even guitarists! They really do think it. Even when you give them a piece of music which is blatantly written in a certain key using a capo, I've known guitarists try to come up with an alternative fingering which just doesn't work. And as for when you see sheet music books claiming to be in the correct key as the record with the most bizarre chords possible, don't get me started. After all, which guitarist writes a folk tune in Eb and as for the F#m>E/G#>A progression...