Playing a barre chord and using a capo are two different things entirely..First off you've change the key with a capo so playing the same chord shape may sound close but if you use your ear it usually doesn't sound exactly the same.. Besides that what about the next chord in your song..You can't barre every chord and what's the point of playing a barre chord in a different location if you can't play the other chords there.

A Bm at the 2nd fret turns into an Fm at the 7th . If you slide the capo down to 7 and than play a Bm chord shape..It isn't even a chord..

Generally speaking you may have to modify the shape to get the exact chord. a simple chord like a D chord in the open position as opposed to the capo at the 7th fret.

If you use the same shape it sounds close but it's a bit off. Remove you 2nd finger and place it on the 3rd fret low e string relative to the capo . Closer to a G shape ..


Keith Urban's Days go By is a great example of tone and chord shapes changing..Written in open D yet Keith produced it capo'd at the 7th fret.. It can be played both places..Also can be played capo at the 5th..And even the (4th fret_ DADGAD tuning)

Most midi files of that song are in D ..However that's mostly for the piano version of the song..

Welcome to the board Rickenbacher, like your obviously informed post....

When you say capo at 7th fret, Bm chord isn't even a chord, is the shape
you're using X 9 11 11 10 9 as if the capo at the 7th fret were the nut? If
so, it looks like an F#minor to me with that fingering and the capo isn't
even in play, if not please explain to this beginner?

GuitarZen

Rick,

A Bm (at second fret) moved up to 7 in same form is an Em. Put a capo on the 7th fret and play an Am open form,  ya now have an Em chord, the capo takes the place of your index finger.  Open chord posistions do not change with the use of a capo,  just the names do...
And alternate tunings are not within the scope of this thread..

J

SENIOR

YOU JUST PROVED MY POINT. BESIDES LIKE SOMEONE SAID THOSE THINGS ARE OVER THIS POSTS HEAD..SO i WON'T OVER REPLY..BUT THATS GIVING NEWBIES BAD ADVICE.. AN AM & EM MINOR ARE DIFFERENT..jUST SOME EARS CAN'T TELL WHAT OTHERS CAN..NOT HERE TO INSULT ANYONE..i WONT COMMENT IN THIS SECTION AGAIN..IT'S OBVIOUSLY DESIGHED FOR THE NOVICE OR BEGINNER ..A BARRED CHORD DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME ADVANTAGES AS A CAPO..UNLESS YOU INTEND ON PLAYING JUST 1 CHORD SONGS..MAYBE 4 THE MINORS AND MAJ..

YOUR ANSWER IS RIGHT AS TO THE THEORY .I WAS TALKING ABOUT PLAYING MUSIC ..HOPE WE DIDN'T MESS SOMEONE NEW UP..

THE CHORD IS THE SAME BUT DOESN'T SOUND THE SAME..CLOSE BUT WE AREN'T PLAYING HORSE SHOES

OR CHOP STICKS EITHER..

GUITAR ZEN ..A CAPO IS MEANT TO CHANGE THE OCTAVE..iF YOU WANT TO USE A CAPO THE BEST THING TO DO IS FIND A CHART SOMEWHERE THAT DOES CAPO TO OPEN CHORD AND VISA VERSA EQUIVALANTS..THAN PICK THE CHORDS THAT BEST MATCH WHAT YOU WERE PLAYING OPEN..

AS TO BARRE CHORDS ..DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF THE 5TH AND 6 POSITIONS.?. IF NOT LET ME KNOW..

I'D BE GLAD TO SEND YOU THE THEORY ON IT. IT WOULD HELP THINGS MAKE MORE SENSE. yOU CAN'T PLAY A WHOLE SONG WITH BARRE CHORDS..

WELL ACTUALLY YOU CAN BUT IT WOULD BE PRETTY BORING..i AM NOT SURE HOW LONG YOU'VE PLAYED, BUT DON'T GET ALL BOAGED DOWN IN THERORY. LEARN TO PLAY AND AS THE SITUATIONS ARISE..THAN FIND THE THEROY..SORRY ABOUT THE SPELLING..HEN-PECKER..Just looked up and realized caps were on sorry..

Let me know your email ::I will scan you some basic barre chord info that is simply to understand when you see it..It will also clean up this capo mystery for you..

It would appear some of the people in here view a capo as a cheater. That's not what it is at all.. You really limiting you music if you never use one.. same with alternate tuning..

How many in here feel a capo is cheating sorta?????Just curious..and what are all your years of exspeience???

Hello again Rickenbacker, so as to learn as much as I can from your explanations, but not to presume anything about context, may I ask first if you've read the whole thread and in particular mine that began the thread plus those of mine that sound like I get it now? i ask because now i'm a small bit confused where in your first post to me you mention capo changing key, then in the next post of yours to me you mention capo is meant to change the octave. This hasn't come up before so I'd like some clarification there first if you're ok with that. Once I'm clear there and also if you don't mind, I'd like to ask a couple more questions about capo use. Also, i'd like to keep it public for everyone's benefit if that's also ok with you. Thanks in advance Rickenbacker...glad you're having fun here !

Cheers,

GuitarZen

P.S. There's more in your second post
that I have questions about, so bear
with...and hey, ask anyone here...I
don't like to move through lessons
until I'm clear on each bit. That would
only confuse this slow learner all the more !

GuitarZen wrote:

Jag,  by G+ do you mean the key that would be a half step above the key of G in tone ?

Cheers,

GuitarZen

I think I should mention the fact that "G+" in shorthand chord charts means the same as G major, G maj, or G M so making up terminology is gonna start being pretty confusing here in a bit.

As for whether I use a capo, yes I use mine a lot. If I'm going to jam sessions I don't really feel properly prepared without one in my case. I don't really view them as cheaters--anything can make something too easy if you use it a lot--but it does really help to break up the sound and tone quality of my guitar so I don't end up being bored by playing the same chords over and over again in first position. Since I play other instruments I have a fairly broad knowledge of music theory, what goes into making chords and how to vary them, scales and all that good stuff. I can play bar chords just as easily so I'm not just relying on my capo as a crutch to get around the neck. I think it's important to know how to do both bar chords and use a capo, it really opens up a whole new world of playing.

Thanks for weighing in on the topic of capos madam mustard !

I like the tones I get with the capo at the 7th fret whilst playing open D chord and melodies.

Cheers,

GuitarZen

ok, I own a capo and the way I see it is all chords are relative to the capo... all that means is the way I see it is the capo just gives you a new first fret

Thanks car93 and that's a good way of looking at it, a new first fret. Can you think of what happens to the open chord shapes when the capo is at the 7th fret ? For example, a song I practice capoed at the 7th starts with an open D chord and the melody comes from those notes and by opening some of those notes. What key am I playing in and what is the name of the open D chord when played capoed at the 7th fret.

We've gone over this before but I think it would be useful for those that haven't seen the posts to find out what it's all about !

GuitarZen