New Lesson - Transposing and using a capo

Kirk Lorange · #1 November 19th, 2006

I just added a new lesson on transposing (changing keys) and how to use a capo to make life easier.

Transposing and using a capo

coldethyl · #2 November 19th, 2006

Excellent lesson Kirk, and so well explained!
It's going to be of great help to many.
Thanks!

namiguShin · #3 November 19th, 2006

"...there are only 8 chord letters and they are in alphabetical order: A B C D E F G..."

seems like 7 to me...

or I have misunderstood something?

Kirk Lorange · #4 November 19th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by namiguShin

"...there are only 8 chord letters and they are in alphabetical order: A B C D E F G..."

seems like 7 to me...

or I have misunderstood something?

No namigushin ... 7 it is! I'll go fix it.

hb · #5 November 20th, 2006

" Looking to the right won't work, because the new key HAS to be lower in pitch than the original, since the capo will be clamped higher up the fretboard."
This seems backwards to me....please explain....if you use a capo, aren't you raising the pitch?????
thanks,
hb

bluesguy · #6 November 20th, 2006

Kirk,

This is the best lesson I have ever seen on this subject. Thank you very much.

Kirk Lorange · #7 November 21st, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by hb

" Looking to the right won't work, because the new key HAS to be lower in pitch than the original, since the capo will be clamped higher up the fretboard."
This seems backwards to me....please explain....if you use a capo, aren't you raising the pitch?????
thanks,
hb

Yes, the capo raises the pitch, therefore the new set of chords, or key, must be lower than the original so that it can be raised. Remember that we're not changing key, we're using the capo to stay in the same key, but using chord shapes from another key to do so. Since the capo, by its very nature, raises pitch, the key we're borrowing the new shapes from must be lower than the original, so that the capo can raise it back up ...

Difficult to explain ...

hb · #8 November 21st, 2006

I think I understand now. We have talked about this before. Sometimes this is confusing. I was thinking that if I play a song in "C" and put a capo on anywhere and continue to play it in "C", the pitch is raised and this is what was going on in my brain when I read the forum. I think I'm clear now.
hb

Kirk Lorange · #9 November 22nd, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by hb

I think I understand now. We have talked about this before. Sometimes this is confusing. I was thinking that if I play a song in "C" and put a capo on anywhere and continue to play it in "C", the pitch is raised and this is what was going on in my brain when I read the forum. I think I'm clear now.
hb

Yes, you're right in that context, hb. If you're already in guitar friendly key, like C, and you want to play it in D but still use all the chords you've learned from C, then you clamp up two frets ... unless you just want to play it in D using the key of D chord shapes without resorting to a capo.

I guess that example is 'transposing with a capo' ... I should add to the lesson to include that. Thanks.