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