One thing I have found that can really put a beginner off when learning the guitar (or other stringed instruments, for that matter), is the 'pain threshold'. When, after a few lessons, you realise that your chording hand, and especially the tips of the fingers, are getting really sore. This comes before any eventual hardening of the fingers, and MUST be endured. It is all to easy to give up learning an instrument like a guitar for these kind of reasons, but it has to be remembered that the initial> 'pain' is only part of the conditioning process; Step 1, so to speak. And I do say 'initial pain', for it returns time and again during your playing career to haunt you. Difference is, is that by then you have been conditioned a bit more, and so on.I only mention this because I know of many people who, before they could be inspired to greater heights, gave up because the whole learning process was too painful and they hadn't learned to play like Clapton by the time they had lost whatever motivation they had.
So, don't give up too easily.Further to Kevin's mention of the Kyser capo. I have a couple of Shubbs, and indeed, Rick, I have had to replace them many times over the years!, but when accompanying Trad in DAGDAD, I use a Kyser with a 3in. length of thickish dowel rod fastened to the finger grip with duct tape. When you have to change key within a beat, this extra length gives a greater target for the hand to grab, and increases leverage into the bargain.
As far as the Shubb capo is concerned, it is wise never to overtighten one. I have always placed my capos a little at an angle to the fretwire, where the bottom E has the capo tight on the fretwire (not covering it), while the top E has the capo a little behind the fretwire (The line of the capo is at a slant). This compensates for any loss of intonation on the B and top E strings.
There was something else as well; can't think of what it was now.
Ah well!B.