Volume and Cejilla (Capo)

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>General >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

Gecko

Posts: 218
Joined: Jan. 2 2006
From: New Mexico

Volume and Cejilla (Capo)

Yesterday I began practicing a continuing rasgueo exercise, Naino I (Tangos), which calls for Cejilla at III. When playing this piece I note a marked decrease in the volume. Is this something that is normal when using a capo, or guitar related?

The guitar is a Lucida 797 Picado and the capo is a Shubb S2 (Classical/Flamenco).

Thanks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2006 11:03:10

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Volume and Cejilla (Capo) (in reply to Gecko)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Gecko
Yesterday I began practicing a continuing rasgueo exercise, Naino I (Tangos), which calls for Cejilla at III. When playing this piece I note a marked decrease in the volume. Is this something that is normal when using a capo, or guitar related?

When capoing you should notice an increase in pitch and a change in timbre - the guitar will sound brighter and you lose the bass overtones the further up the neck you go.
Generally speaking, a caoped guitar sounds 'more flamenco'. You shouldn't really be hearing big decreases in volume. If you are used to playing your guitar without a capo (and especially if its classical guitar which are bassier to begin with) it may seem that way due to the loss of the bass end.

_____________________________

Spanish Guitarist in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2006 11:20:52

Gecko

Posts: 218
Joined: Jan. 2 2006
From: New Mexico

RE: Volume and Cejilla (Capo) (in reply to Jon Boyes)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jon Boyes

If you are used to playing your guitar without a capo (and especially if its classical guitar which are bassier to begin with) it may seem that way due to the loss of the bass end.

Thanks Jon. Yes, I have played very little with a capo, but the guitar is a decent low/middle end flamenco instrument.

Its probably just me, not being used to the different sound with a capo.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 19 2006 11:30:09

seanm

Posts: 169
Joined: Apr. 5 2005
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia

RE: Volume and Cejilla (Capo) (in reply to Gecko)

A couple of other things can contribute as well. I believe a high action generally results in a bit more volume since the strings have more room to move. Also a guitar will tend settle into a pitch and resonate more after being played a lot at that pitch (so if you haven't used a capo much the guitar may need time to settle into this new 'base' pitch). Finally, make sure the capo is throwing off the tuning (or intonation if you are really reducing the action) because any inherent 'out of tuneness' with also create frequency cancelations that will reduce the resonance. Just a couple of mechanical considerations :)

Sean

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2006 14:42:04

sorin popovici

Posts: 427
Joined: Jan. 7 2005
From: Iasi, Romania

RE: Volume and Cejilla (Capo) (in reply to Gecko)

dp they teach this in computer science schools ....cause gee.. I cant remember.

I think these are good things to know.My guitar usually sounds to me very weird if I play
for a long time in a tuning (lower than the standard ...cause sometime I'm not very carefoul
to be in standard intonation (i hope that was the word)) and then change back to the normal.
I thought it was my ear ...but now I'm pretty sure ,it's her fault .Bad,bad guitar no picado
for u today!

I also think that the observation about the frequency where she resonates more ,it's also
true....it's like she has perfect pitch

(mine doesnt have that much rhytm ...but I guess
she'll learn )

Useful things to know also about capo playing , but I still have the impresion that I play louder too.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2006 5:42:55