capos in bluegrass

[crandolin]

Hello all, i play in a rootsy/light 'grass band and often end up performing at bluegrass fests in BC and Canada. Our music is not strictly bluegrass, but i find myself feeling shy about using a capo on my mando at those events. Sometimes i use it for the voicings, and open chords, sometimes just because i hate playing in certain keys (the hard ones) but i was wondering if anyone really cares if i use a capo or not, and if it is just me feeling self-concious. Any thoughts?

[mandofiddle]

You know, I think a lot of mandolin players may look down on it, but most of the audience won't know the difference. So I guess the appropriate question you need to ask yourself is are you trying to make the tune sound as best as it can, or are you trying to be traditional and please the mandolin players in the audience. No one's going to boo you because you have a capo on, though some folks will probably notice.

Personally, I won't use a capo because if I do it'll keep me from pushing myself to learn how to play cleanly in those keys. But I don't view folks in a negative way that do... To each their own.

Discussed in this recent thread.

[peterbc]

I think some people might look down on it. There was a thread somewhere recently about this, some people said it's ok since it makes it easier, some said it's ok but it's good to play without one most of the time so you can learn hard keys, some said it's fine if you use it so you can get different (open) voicings. I just bought one recently because I did a bit of recording and was told there were going to be some songs in D#, and, since I didn't even know the titles of the songs going into it, I figured I might as well be prepared... I'm in the crowd that thinks it's best not to use them except to get different voicings, so I'd never use it at a jam for example because I want to know how to play in B and D# for my own amusement, and because I think I'll be a better player for it.

That wasn't really much of an answer, but there it is

Peter

[John Flynn]

I sure don't care. I use one for bluegrass also, especially in keys like Bb. But some people do care. Some bluegrassers, hopefully a minority, are highly xenophobic. (Some bluegrassers, hopefully a minority, will have to look that word up, LOL!) These folks don't like anything that "Bill" didn't use: A-style mandos, capos, 7th chords, etc. It offends thier sense of "tradition" in a great musical genre that Mr. Monroe created by breaking with tradition. If you use a capo, be prepared to get stares, but ignore them.

[garyblanchard]

So I guess the appropriate question you need to ask yourself is are you trying to make the tune sound as best as it can, or are you trying to be traditional and please the mandolin players in the audience.

Such a good point. So much of the things we players obsess about mean nothing to the general listening public. My general rule of thumb is: if it makes it better for the audience and makes me happy that's good enough.

[mrbook]

There are some bluegrass people who complain if you don't play a song in the same key as Monroe or Flatt & Scruggs, not considering that you are a different person with a different voice. A lot of bluegrass guitar players only know three chords and where to put the capo. Do what works best for you, and don't worry about people's comments.

That being said, I hardly ever use one, because I like to make life difficult for myself.

[Jacob]

Playing some songs in the same key as Flatt & Scruggs & The Foggy Mountain Boys without a capo will require retuning a half-step higher than concert pitch as they often did this.

[peterbc]

Hey, Bill used 7th chords on occasion!

[mandopete]

Who is Bill?



I say do whatever you like and let the rest be damned!

[JDARTGOD]

Personal preference. Do what works for you and makes you happy. It shouldn't be looked down upon, in my opinion.

I personally wouldn't associate for very long with someone who "looks down their nose" at someone else who plays mando with a capo....like some kind of holier than thou / rite of passage crap.

That said, I don't use one because I like the challenge of learning and I find something new everytime I experiment. The more you practice and experiment with those difficult (closed) positions, the easier it gets. Makes it more fun for me.

[jim simpson]

I wouldn't put down anyone that uses a capo, I just think it would be a nuisance to have to fool with. Not using a capo would most likely allow you more positions for breaks. I was at a jam last summer and witnessed David Bromberg playing his guitar without a capo and doing breaks in a variety of keys - now that would have been too challenging for me!