Capo for mandolin

[PaulBills]

I was just wondering...I have a capo I use for my guitar (on those rare occasions I use my guitar), and when I use it on my mandolins, it gets really in the way - I mean, REALLY in the way. I'm looking about online (in the usual places, evilbay and ama-no-tax-zon) but all I see are guitar capo's that "can be used with mandolin" - in other words, they're guitar capos...

Anyone know where I can get an actual capo designed to fit on a mandolin?

[Franc Homier Lieu]

These work on mandolins:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shubb-C5-Ori.../dp/B0007X55L4

[PaulBills]

thanks, that's pretty much what i'm looking for, it's like my old capo, but shorter

[Russ Donahue]

They still get in the way....

[PaulBills]

They still get in the way....

more than likely, but not as much as the great big hulking bugger i've got at the moment

It seems that wrt: Shubb capo's, it's the model 5 i'm looking at, in various guises...they have pretty colours!!!

[Steve L]

The Shubb is very bulky and Kaisers don't work well on radiused boards. I just got a Planet Waves NS banjo/mandolin capo and like it a lot. It's just like their guitar capo but tiny.

[John Flynn]

The king of mandolin capos is an Elliott. You can have one custom-made for your instrument for a couple hundred bucks. They are works of art and very low profile. If that is too pricey, the Paige Mando/banjo capo is the same basic design mass produced for about $17.

[Astro]

Check out the Paige mandolin capo. When I researched capos 2 years ago it had the slimist profile and a neat quick release button. Specify whether its for radiused or non radiused fretboard.

http://www.paigecapo.com/

I love mine because its well made and cute. That said, I never use it. Sits in a drawer.

I think lots of us buy a capo early on and then very quickly realize its something seldom needed for mando. I am not a purist and I am lazy. I am all for any tool that makes it easier. Not at first, but after a little progress (give it a year ?) it will become apparent that its usually easier to play the desired key on mando by moving up the neck than by using the capo.

No condescendings intended.

[Eric C.]

I use a Paige capo during every string change! They help a lot!

[Jon Hall]

I have a Paige capo that I only use in a couple of instances: a particular song in G#m and a song in Bb during which I do a lot of cross picking utilizing an open first string. Although the Paige is less cumbersome than other banjo/mando capos, it is still in the way. The bottom line is that you don't play a mandolin like a guitar or a banjo.

[PaulBills]

The king of mandolin capos is an Elliott. You can have one custom-made for your instrument for a couple hundred bucks. They are works of art and very low profile. If that is too pricey, the Paige Mando/banjo capo is the same basic design mass produced for about $17.

Yeah, bit pricey, my mandolin only cost about that (£130 in real money)

[PaulBills]

I have a Paige capo that I only use in a couple of instances: a particular song in G#m and a song in Bb during which I do a lot of cross picking utilizing an open first string. Although the Paige is less cumbersome than other banjo/mando capos, it is still in the way. The bottom line is that you don't play a mandolin like a guitar or a banjo.

I only use one rarely myself, like you say, with G#m and Bb (Bohemian Rhapsody)

[Barry Wilson]

Why not transpose to Gm instead?

[PaulBills]

Why not transpose to Gm instead?

because it sounds wrong and bo rhap in A is just awful lol

[TJe153]

um....Mando Capo? I Just use my left index finger I guess a banjo capo would work....

[Russ Donahue]

I have a Paige, and the few times I've used it I've found the discomfort to outweigh the convenience. Guess its forcing me to learn to play in different places on the neck...

[mandroid]

yea the ones for the 4 strings on a banjo in general are OK .

others say what they bought.. reflexively ...

[Phil Goodson]

This Shubb banjo capo is made of aluminum and almost weightless. My favorite on those rare occasions......

[Ray(T)]

No one heard of the G7 mandolin (banjo) capo? Works as well as the Shubb but doesn't stick out as far.

Apparently discontinued but they seem to have a few left - http://www.g7th.com/shop/products/1401

[JeffD]

um....Mando Capo? I Just use my left index finger I guess a banjo capo would work....

Kind of hard to do the melody with the index finger busy holding the barre.

[lflngpicker]

I find the use of a Capo very musically beneficial in certain uses for open string chords and for playing in a higher register to emphasis higher pitches. My Shubb is the most effective because of the adjustment on the back and the smallness in how it fits next to your chord hand. It is a standard guitar capo but is compact compared to a typical spring-release, trigger type.