From: mauvepink - PM
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 01:01 PM

"There seems to be some elitism being suggested which occurs on a higher level with some rather than others. I have seen the same thing expressed over people who do not use a capo over others who do. If you cannot play a chord in a key then you are less than useless..."

A capo is a very useful device. I don't use mine that often, but it's great for playing in the "flat" keys. A great deal of guitar music is in the sharp keys G, D, A, or E and it's quite nice to have some variety. I also sometimes have pain in my hands, and when it's bad, a capo can make things easier. The main disadvantage is the loss of some notes and/or possible fingerings, but that's not something that should concern the audience.

There are good reasons for wanting to play something using voicings with open strings. If I wanted that sound in, say F or Bb, I'd use a capo. One could use a different tuning, but I don't see any moral superiority in doing that. Who cares? What counts is the sound that comes out.

Not everybody wants to or can be a virtuoso on the guitar. Sneering at someone for using a capo is just silly, in my opinion, even if it really was just a crutch (which it isn't).