How do you pronounce "capo"

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danm48

Posts: 7
Joined: Jul. 4 2014

How do you pronounce "capo"

I know this to be an Italian word that is pronounced “kah po”. Why do guitarists pronounce it “kay po”? Maybe not the most important point of interest but I would like your feedback.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 1:48:28

timoteo

Posts: 219
Joined: Jun. 22 2012
From: Seattle, USA

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

quote:

How do you pronounce "capo"

seh-HEE-ya

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 2:59:06

rombsix

Posts: 7805
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

Paco.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 3:28:40

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to timoteo)

quote:

seh-HEE-ya

@danm48 Both pronunciations are acceptable, I think.

OK, I'm editing this just because I went full nerd on this post and I doubt that's what you were looking for. I'll just say that I pronounce it the way I do because that's how I hear it pronounced the most often by people around me. Simple as that (the same I don't bother trying to pronounce Bach the German way, because the people around me don't either). As to why the vowel shifted at some point in history, that would require some historical research (i.e., searching historical records would help you a lot more than asking contemporary guitarists, unless the shift is very recent).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 4:00:20

Dudnote

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 13 2007

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 9:35:07

Erik van Goch

Posts: 1787
Joined: Jul. 17 2012
From: Netherlands

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

quote:

ORIGINAL: danm48

I know this to be an Italian word that is pronounced “kah po”. Why do guitarists pronounce it “kay po”?

I never heard it pronounced kay po but i can imagine local dialects or even different groups of musicians pronouncing it differently (like i can totally picture Country and Western players calling it a cow-po).

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 10:00:41

AlVãl

Posts: 73
Joined: Oct. 20 2016

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

Different meanings or context perhaps ?
[ da kˈkaːpo], is a musical term in Italian, ... Da Capo al Fine (D.C. al Fine): repeat from beginning to the end (or up to the word ...
‎Dal Segno ·
Etc

I know the Capo ( guitar thing ) was first patented by An American but not first used by one ..maybe the clue is in that

A capo, short for capo d'astro, capo tasto or capotasto [kapoˈtasto], Italian for "head of fretboard"; Spanish, capodastro [ka.po'ðas.tɾo]; French, capodastre; German,
Kapodaster

I'm sure all will be revealed
Maybe the Italian guitarists have a heads up on all this

I'm liking kappoduster

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 11:08:25

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

When speaking German I say Kapo, because of the German word Kapodaster (like Alval said). I believe it's pronounced kaypow because that's how Englishmen would pronounce it if it were an English word.

In other words: 'MURICA

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 11:37:39

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to jalalkun)

quote:

I believe it's pronounced kaypow because that's how Englishmen would pronounce it if it were an English word.

I'm British/English and I pronounce it "Ka-Po" not "Kay-po". That is normal in UK. I think "Kay-po" is American English pronunciation?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 15:53:12

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to mark indigo)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mark indigo

I'm British/English and I pronounce it "Ka-Po" not "Kay-po". That is normal in UK. I think "Kay-po" is American English pronunciation?

Yes I guess kay-pow is rather the american english pronounciation

forgive me, I forgot about the British English pronounciation! Do you say Kaah-pou rather than kay-pow? In German we pronounce the letters in a very sterile way, so Ka is really only Ka, and Po is only Po. I love these etymology topics, don't know why but I find it really interesting

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 16:07:39

Stu

Posts: 2523
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to jalalkun)

Cap-O!

Its those damn Yankees that say Kay-po. I love you but God its annoying when you say that

I blame trumpy

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 17:20:13

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to jalalkun)

quote:

I love these etymology topics,

Damn it, I should've left my original response up. Didn't think anyone would be interested. I discussed how all foreign words are approximated and even the British version of "capo" is an approximation since it doesn't keep the same pronunciation of the occlusive consonants in Italian nor the same duration of the vowels. I even went all the way back to the Great Vowel Shift of the late Middle-Ages. Then I realized how much of a nerd I was being

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 17:51:26

Stu

Posts: 2523
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to Piwin)

You should've left it. I love that stuff too.
Thanks for the insight

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 18:14:46

Ricardo

Posts: 14797
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

You say tomato I say tomatito

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 29 2017 20:39:02

jalalkun

Posts: 276
Joined: May 3 2017
From: Iraq, living in Cologne, Germany

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to Piwin)

quote:

I discussed how all foreign words are approximated and even the British version of "capo" is an approximation since it doesn't keep the same pronunciation of the occlusive consonants in Italian nor the same duration of the vowels. I even went all the way back to the Great Vowel Shift of the late Middle-Ages. Then I realized how much of a nerd I was being

This is exactly what I was trying to explain but couldn't! You explained it on-point ! You should've kept your original post, knowledge is enrichment and never bothersome

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 30 2017 9:22:57

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to jalalkun)

quote:

Do you say Kaah-pou rather than kay-pow?

no, i don't say "Kaah-pou"

just Ka-Po

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 30 2017 14:24:19

Morante

Posts: 2178
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

In Spain this word is unknown. So the pronuncion of "cejilla", in el mundo de flamenco, is correct.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 30 2017 15:52:27

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

How do I say "capo?" It depends..

If I am among American steel stringers, I say kay-po.

If I am among non-Spaniard flamencos, I say kah-po.

If I am among people who speak Spanish, I say cejilla.

If I am among classical players, I don't say it.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2017 18:55:01

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

What if one of Al Capone's henchmen was standing in front of you, what would you say then?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2017 19:02:42

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

In English, it is said with a very short "a" but only for steel and electrics. For flamenco, it is always cejilla but no idea what it is for classical players, if they even use one?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2017 19:54:45

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to Piwin)

quote:

What if one of Al Capone's henchmen was standing in front of you, what would you say then?

"February 14th was yesterday!"

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2017 19:55:30

BarkellWH

Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

quote: What if one of Al Capone's henchmen was standing in front of you, what would you say then?

"February 14th was yesterday!"

You wouldn't by chance be related to "Bugs" Moran, would you? It was meant for him, but he sensed something wrong and didn't show up.

Bill

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2017 20:40:03

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

"February 14th was yesterday!"

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2017 23:07:16

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to Escribano)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Escribano

In English, it is said with a very short "a" but only for steel and electrics. For flamenco, it is always cejilla but no idea what it is for classical players, if they even use one?

There was a great flap on a classical guitar forum several years back. A famous player recorded a transcription of a Bach piece. The recording sounded in F major. Fingering it in that key would have been impossible. A well known publisher accused the player of speeding up the tape.

The player didn't dignify the accusation with a reply, following the wise policy of most pros by staying off internet forums, however his secretary went on the attack-- but she never explained the higher pitch. The controversy raged for months until someone finally posted that the player was seen performing the piece in concert with a capo on the first fret.

There are a couple of fast 16th century vihuela pieces with some big stretches. I play them with a capo on the second fret--makes them a lot easier, and gives a little more twang. I think others may do it too.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 31 2017 23:24:15

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

Covfefe

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2017 12:18:58

gerundino63

Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

As far as I know Capo comes from Capodasro, is italian. Short for capodastro is capo. Pronounciation like "capo di tutti capi" As in the godfather movies.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 1 2017 14:48:53

pundi64

Posts: 234
Joined: Jul. 29 2016
From: Thailand

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to danm48)

I've always pronounced it as Kha-Po. Your question is a question I've also asked myself, when hearing it
as Kay-Po.
I prefer Kha-Po

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 3 2017 21:44:53

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: How do you pronounce "capo&... (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

quote:

How do I say "capo?" It depends..

If I am among American steel stringers, I say kay-po.

If I am among non-Spaniard flamencos, I say kah-po.

If I am among people who speak Spanish, I say cejilla.

If I am among classical players, I don't say it.

i had a trad cejilla on my guitar and someone who had never seen one before (Brit steel string/electric player) asked me what it was. I said "it's a capo" they said "looks more like a "cap-odd""

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 4 2017 20:28:43