Capo
Anatomy & Gear
A clamp placed across the fretboard to raise the pitch of all strings.
A capo is a small clamp device that presses across all four strings at a specific fret, effectively shortening the strings and raising their pitch. It acts like a movable nut, allowing you to play open chord shapes in higher keys without learning new fingerings.
For example, if you place a capo on the 2nd fret and play a C chord shape, it sounds as D. The familiar shapes of C, G, Am, and F become D, A, Bm, and G. This makes it easy to play in keys that would otherwise require difficult barre chords.
Capos designed for ukulele are smaller than guitar capos. Spring-clamp capos are convenient but can apply uneven pressure. Screw-style capos offer more precise tension control. Always check your tuning after placing a capo, as the pressure can pull strings slightly sharp.
Place the capo right behind the fret wire (not on top of it) for the cleanest sound. Check that all strings ring clearly with no buzzing.
Related Terms
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