Stupid Question No1

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Stupid Question No1

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clevblue

Posts: 120
Joined: Jun. 29 2012

Stupid Question No1

Why do most soloists use a capo?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 13:40:05

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1890
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

actually most tend not to, that way they have a longer fretboard to work on...
but some things are infinitely easier to play when you have a capo on, allowing for more difficult material to be played...of course if they have a singer too, their voice range decides where the capo should be put...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 13:52:32

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

And the tone of the guitar seems to get brighter as well

¿ Is there a stupid question No. 2 ?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 14:29:27

Munin

Posts: 595
Joined: Sep. 30 2008
From: Hong Kong

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

Some palos like bulerias sound snappier when played with a capo.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 14:29:30

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1676
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

Some solos can only be played with a capo due to the left-hand stretches required.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 15:04:06

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

quote:

ORIGINAL: clevblue

Why do most soloists use a capo?

Playing for singing requires this more frequently than not. THe largest misconception of flamenco guitar is that soloists play PIECES or songs structured as in classical music or fully composed contemporary works. Actually it is normally a mix of falsetas bridged by rhythmic strumming. So Falsetas being the base of the guitar music, guitarists tend to work things out to functional ie used when accompanying dance or singing. As already stated the capo is normally on so it can take getting used to doing the left hand grips depending on different capo positions. After some experiment most guitarists settle on a position where MOST of the falsetas sound the most "flamenco" and are still comfortable enough to play.

Guitarists that use the capo in lower positions such as 2 or 1 want to make use of some falsetas they worked out higher up on the fingerboard. Obviously falsetas worked out for singers that require a high capo position, will be in the lower positions on the fingerboard. Hope that makes sense.

Ricardo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 15:12:03

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

A capo will make you look cool and it will also bring down your strings a bit.

The higher you use it past the 3rd fret, the more chicks you'll lose.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 15:40:52

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1890
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to Sr. Martins)

you'll lose quantity, but quality remains even when your capo is on 6 :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 15:46:46

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

I disagree.

If one wants quality, one shall not use a capo and his 6th string should be tuned to D, preferably C

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 15:56:15

Paul Magnussen

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 8 2010
From: London (living in the Bay Area)

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

quote:

Why do most soloists use a capo?

Mario Escudero used to get very exercised about this: “Capo on 7th fret, ‘Oh, that is very flamenco!’ Who say?!”

He tended to use a capo only when accompanying.

In point of fact, as has been said, it makes the guitar sound brighter — at the cost of bass notes, of course. So it’s a trade-off.

Paco Peña frequently plays with a capo on the 1st fret, which is something I myself wouldn’t bother to do. But obviously he can hear the difference.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 16:20:14

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to Paul Magnussen)

Good point ,..........
I want to ask the players here .... assuming that you are on your own just messing about or practicing ....Do you have a prefered fret to put a capo on ??
............
and why?

Me i use no capo a lot , but often then I use fret 2 more than anything , occasionally 3 . i dont like it too high cos you get that 'Chipmonks ' effect i think . although I have a tarantos which is on 4 ,,,.
Thats another thing , if I learn something by someone else , and it happens to have a capo on 3 for example , then of course I will to but even after learning it when I could change , I tend not too , like the song is linked to a fret in my head .....
So I suppose 2 , fairly normal I think , I see the 2nd fret as a 'Bulerias 'fret ..........

Oh yeah , one other thing I move from 2nd to 3rd also to spread out the wear on the strings ..............

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 21:20:35

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1890
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to El Kiko)

i prefer capo on 2, i hate to play without a capo, my wrist kills me, but i've composed more for no capo interestingly...
for bulerías, i prefer 3-4, for soleá, the higher the better :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 22:00:37

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

You guys hate quality women

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 23:44:14

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1890
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to Sr. Martins)

not true, i play in alternate tunings all the time :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2012 23:57:06

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

Alternate tunings? Oh, you're one of those with "altered tastes"..

Nothing against that, just sayin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2012 0:04:55

RTC

Posts: 667
Joined: Aug. 20 2008
From: DFW Area, Texas

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to Sr. Martins)

This works for me:

Capo 2:
Soleares, Seguiriya, Granaina, Farruca, Malaguena

Capo 3:
Bulerias, Fanango, Sevillanas, Tarantos, tientos, Tangos

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2012 0:27:42

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ)

quote:

3-4, for soleá, the higher the better :)

strange that you say that , i think solea the lower the better ,so . , no capo for that.
maybe because its slower and you can get the big bottom E string bass. especially on the intro , or ending ....
However I may use a capo to learn something and then uncapo ( is that a verb? ) to play it as i have a reasonably good stretch . and i like to know that I can do things without a capo if need be, ,
I do force myself to do that and always have ....., years of stretching for jazz guitar chords may have something to do with it ......
But yeah then when I re-capo (another new verb) the whole thing becomes easier , and sounds brighter ,... makes you wonder why not just have a smaller guitar ..........

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2012 0:29:27

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to RTC)

@RTC ...never open ...?/?? everything is soooo high for you then ?
I would try especially Soleares, Granaina, and Farruca with no capo for the bigg full sound ,....

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2012 0:39:01

RTC

Posts: 667
Joined: Aug. 20 2008
From: DFW Area, Texas

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to El Kiko)

Kiko:

Understand and will give it a try.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2012 2:45:24

clevblue

Posts: 120
Joined: Jun. 29 2012

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to El Kiko)

Stupid question No2? I'm sure there will be

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2012 3:05:16

machopicasso

Posts: 973
Joined: Nov. 27 2010

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

It's also possible that one might stumble upon a great sounding guitar which happens to have been built for slightly larger hands. In that case, one might capo on the first or second fret to make it feel like a standard guitar.

Personally, I always prefer to play without a capo. There is something cool about the sound of capoing up. But, in general, when I play I'm inclined to think: Why limit the space available on the fret board?

I've heard Antonio Rey always practices without a capo for the simple reason that it's more challenging for the left hand, even if he inevitably uses a capo for a performance.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2012 7:13:02

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1890
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to Sr. Martins)

altered tastes are for dancers and singers, i play guitar :) and love drop D-C-B tunings! - and nothing can beat a nice DADF#AD tuning :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2012 10:08:51

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

stupid question no2 is: how do you protect your nails?

no3: I'm looking for tab of composition x, could you send it too xxx@xxx.x?

no4: Which strings are the best for flamenco?

no5: Can I fail at flamenco?

Because everybody tends to say, there are no stupid questions but only stupid answers hurrdurr... Here the most stupid answers:

No1: All answers that are longer than a page.

No2: Answers that are signed by the person who wrote it.

No3: All answers that start with:

actually
And the tone
Some palos like
Some solos can
Playing for singing requires
A capo will make you look cool
you'll lose quantity, but
I
Mario Escudero used to
Good point ,..........
i prefer
You guys hate quality women
not true, i
Alternate tunings? Oh,
This works for me:
strange that you say that
@RTC
Kiko:
Stupid <-- pretty self explanatory.. lol
It's also possible that
altered tastes are for dancers
stupid question no2 is:

Doitsujin

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2012 14:51:02

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to Doitsujin)

You just described how an internet forum works

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2012 15:55:05

Shawn Brock

Posts: 271
Joined: Sep. 19 2011
From: Louisville KY

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

It all depends on the guitar... Some palos seem to sound better on one fret over another on some guitars.

It seems that more flamenco soloists play without a capo now than ever before... Maybe its because of influences from other music? Maybe its because of exploring a sound and area of the fretboard which was mostly ignored in some earlier flamenco? Maybe its because in jazz and classical a capo is frowned upon most of the time? Maybe players are just to damn lazy to put it on...

When composing you will hear a complete difference which I refer to as tone color, from key to key... If you don't have a cutaway and start putting in licks above the 12th fret, you'll probably choose to play without a capo or capo low on the fretboard...

If your working with a singer who is doing solea out of the true key of A, would you rather play capoed at the 5th fret and play from E? Or would you rather play open and play in A? I'll choose E at the 5th fret 99 times out of 100... Some times its just about the sound which you like best, and which chord you like for the palo. For solea E is my favorite over all, so I'll gravitate to it when I can. If I can't I don't mind, but when I have a choice I'll bust that E chord... Having said that, the 6th fret is pretty much my cutoff point. When using a capo and having a choice, I stick between the 2nd fret and the 5th fret...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2012 0:19:13

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1890
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to Shawn Brock)

i saw a video of MAC accompanying Arcángel por soleá with capo 9 on...it was pretty cool :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2012 1:10:46

kudo

Posts: 2064
Joined: Sep. 3 2009

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

my rule is simple:
bright,up-beat, happy palos: capo 2-4

sad,dark palos: no capo or capo 1

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2012 2:07:50

Dave K

Posts: 155
Joined: Mar. 29 2006

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to Doitsujin)

Stoopid answer #4 - Classical guitarists play mostly without a capo, also - Doitsujin = Japanese colloquilisim meaning "No ***king cejilla"

'Nuff said? (Stoopid question#6)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2012 4:37:56

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to clevblue)

i choose my capo position in alphabetical increasing numbers starting with capo on 1 por alegria...

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2012 10:28:20

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: Stupid Question No1 (in reply to Dave K)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave K

Stoopid answer #4 - Classical guitarists play mostly without a capo, also - Doitsujin = Japanese colloquilisim meaning "No ***king cejilla"

I didn´t get this one. Explanation?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2012 10:57:31