I remember the look I got from my dad when I brought home a capo.

'Course, back then they called 'em "cheaters".

I've seen people use them and have no problem at all with it. But any time I've tried one on my mandolin, I've never been comfortable. The strings are slightly out of tune (and more so when you remove it); the strings just have a funny feel to them, and I keep bouncing my left hand off it, when I'm playing the lower frets.

I found it was much easier to play in a goofy key then get used to one of those rotten things. But if you don't find it as troublesome, you should definitely use one.

Paul