Tuning with capo on

Neil replies to questions from our members.
Ysela Lujan
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Joined: Wed May 06, 2020 8:51 pm
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Thu Jul 15, 2021 12:56 am

Hi Neil,

I got my guitar to the open D tuning we had discussed. We didn’t discuss re-tuning it after I put the capo on to E. But I just watched the video for Big Yellow Taxi and I see in that video that you re-tune with capo on. Can you confirm that what’s I want to do with my song?


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TGNeil
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Thu Jul 15, 2021 6:51 am

Hey Ysela,

Yes, you should always retune, or at least check after putting the capo on. It is usually not far off at the second fret but higher up the neck there is a good chance some of the strings (particularly the lower ones) will be high. Most capos put more pressure on the strings than you do when fingering notes, and it is common to slightly stretch the higher strings as you clamp it down.

Another important point is that when you go into an open tuning, like D or G, just get the strings you are changing close, then fine tune all 6. Lowering 3 or 4 strings will change the neck tension slightly, raising the pitch of the strings you are not changing.

Neil


Ysela Lujan
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Joined: Wed May 06, 2020 8:51 pm
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Thu Jul 15, 2021 6:00 pm

Copy, thanks!


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TGNeil
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Thu Jul 15, 2021 8:17 pm

More info in the News tomorrow.

Neil


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