Capo/cejilla position

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MarcChrys

Posts: 121
Joined: Jan. 11 2009
From: England (West Yorkshire/Lancashire)

Capo/cejilla position

Probably a dumb question...but I've searched the forums and haven't found anything...so here goes...
What factors contribute to which fret one puts the capo/cejilla on at? Obviously, when playing a composition by someone else it makes sense to emulate their position. Or, when accompanying a singer, to choose a capo position in a key that suits the singer. But I've noticed that many flamenco guitarists seem to switch between 1st fret, 2nd fret and 3rd fret positions and I'm not quite sure why? I often put mine on at the 2nd fret - simply because I like the brighter resonance whilst still leaving a lot of neck - but I'm sure there's got to be more to capo fret selection than that? :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 3:30:01

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to MarcChrys)

Hi Marc,
I think the guitar almost becomes a different animal with different capo positions... requiring a slightly different attack etc.

I prefer the upper positions myself as I like the faster "pulsation" and brighter sound. (I should have bought a Uke..

)

Sometimes the deeper resonance of the bass strings sound great too depending on the mood of the piece.

I think it's just the sound you want when playing solo and no more, but I have no authority on this.

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 3:48:42

MarcChrys

Posts: 121
Joined: Jan. 11 2009
From: England (West Yorkshire/Lancashire)

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to Ron.M)

<I should have bought a uke>

Aaargh, I've now got an image in my head of George Formby (Jorge Formbio?) playing a flamenco guitar with that big grin of his...

I've never dared venture much beyond 5th fret..hold on, I'll just try it at 7th fret...blimey, very like a lute? :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 4:11:49

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to MarcChrys)

quote:

(Jorge Formbio?)

Quando Estoy Limpiando Ventanas

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 4:24:39

MarcChrys

Posts: 121
Joined: Jan. 11 2009
From: England (West Yorkshire/Lancashire)

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to Ron.M)

Hee hee

I was just thinking how well-suited some of his lyrics would be, translated into Spanish, and sung/screamed by an anguished cantante!

"I'm leaning on a lampost at the corner of the street in case a certain little lady comes by - oh me oh my!"

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 4:36:12

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to MarcChrys)

It also depends which key you want to play.

You can exploit full potential of keys like Eb only if you have almost the full fretboard to play with. You can`t play a piece in Eb (or some other keys) properly with Capo on 5th Fret or something.

And generally i would say that in solo guitar pieces it is not suitable to play with Capo on upper frets than 3. You are simply limited to fewer notes, fewer chords.

On the other hand accompaning a singer with Capo on 5th fret where you only play some chords and maybe few seconds of solo inbetween sounds good!!

Other than that, you are free too choose. Even the maestros change the position of their same piece with Capo on first and second fret, etc.

But playing with no Capo at all is quite rare in flamenco. You get a better sound (more attack, more differentiated sound) and it is easier to play with Capo on first fret and you have almost the same possibilities.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 4:48:47

MarcChrys

Posts: 121
Joined: Jan. 11 2009
From: England (West Yorkshire/Lancashire)

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to Arash)

Thanks, Arash, that makes sense.

Though I'm not much of a first fret guy myself - can't really see the point ; if I'm going to use a capo, might as well make it at least 2nd fret

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 5:04:33

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1893
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to MarcChrys)

my capo is almost always 2nd or 3rd fret, that's where it feels most comfortable...i hate playing without a capo because of the left hand stretches, i use capo 1 on most capo-less pieces or when playing for the dance teacher who also sings...
it really makes a difference for your right hand, if the capo is higher on the neck, you'll feel that the strings are tighter when you're playing anything, but mostly picado...it's more difficult, but also easier on the left hand because there's less distance to cover...
so capo 2 is the best compromise for me...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 5:12:29

MarcChrys

Posts: 121
Joined: Jan. 11 2009
From: England (West Yorkshire/Lancashire)

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

Greetings fellow Capo2-ster!

I love the enhanced brightness/resonance that a capo on 2 or 3 gives. Though I'm not using a capo at all at the moment; partly because I LIKE to exercise my left hand (it's quite small so I like to stretch it)' but mainly because some guy in a shop sold me the last remaining capo he had, which - I found when I got home - doesn't fit a Spanish guitar well, barely covers all 6 strings and keeps slipping off :( So I really must get a decent one so I can play along to tracks I KNOW have a capo on. Maybe I could make my own cejilla out of an old clothes peg and some rubber bands (or a tennis racquet press) ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 5:25:55

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to MarcChrys)

I also practice without capo sometimes. It doesnt sound so good but good for the left hand.
On Jasons website, he doesnt use any Capo at all while teaching.
After playing an hour without Capo, put a Capo on 2nd Fret and it feels so easy. It is like a weightlifter lifting 100 kilo weights all the time and switches back to 50 kilo weights

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 5:46:40

MarcChrys

Posts: 121
Joined: Jan. 11 2009
From: England (West Yorkshire/Lancashire)

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to Arash)

You've just given me an idea! Maybe we could train by playing guitar with specially designed fingerless weighted (5 kilo) gloves? After a few rasgueados and scales wearing those, we'd remove them and play ten times faster than normal

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 5:58:44

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1893
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to MarcChrys)

if you look back on the topic about el Viejín, that's something he had done and now his hands are crippled and is not able to play guitar for quite a while...
so i'd advise against this :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 6:05:05

MarcChrys

Posts: 121
Joined: Jan. 11 2009
From: England (West Yorkshire/Lancashire)

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

Why didn't you tell me that before?

I've just got back from my guitar gym and now I can hardly lift the guitar let alone play it !

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 6:43:52

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: Capo/cejilla position (in reply to MarcChrys)

I am a sucker for whatever Vicente Amigo does. Hence my Capo is ordinarily on the First fret. I enjoy the brightness one can achieve by shifting it further to 2nd or 3d, but hate to lose that tone i hear and feel with no or first fret capo.

Todd reminded me once that Gerardo Nunez scarcely locks a capo on his guitar, and Ricardo that, regardless of the position, it is nice to tighten the basses. By combining the two views, with my slavish following of the Vicente's cult... First Fret is my home turf!

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gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 25 2009 7:10:54