As I accompany myself on the guitar and there is just me, I think I would give up without a capo. I usually set it on the second fret and see how my voice is - sometimes I move it up, more usually down, or once in a while take it off entirely.

Having to learn to play all the songs I play along with in all the variations I can accomplish with the capo would probably defeat my aging memory. I have to rely on habit anyway - after 40 years I don't even think about what I am playing I just do it. It is such a part of me that I can play without actually thinking about doing it. If I want to change something I have to play it many times before trying to sing it - at least if I want to get it right

Anne