Guitar Gear

Repeat after me: A Capo is just a tool… A Capo is just a tool…

Over the years, a few people have approached me personally or online and have said that they considered a capo to be a “cheater,” simultaneously proffering a backhanded insult at the same time. The first time it happened, I laughed it off, and just said that it’s just a tool that I use to play the music in a key that I can sing certain songs that were originally written too high or too low for my voice. The second time it happened was after I finished playing “Something in the Way She Moves” by James Taylor, which is in the key of C, but JT capos on the third fret and plays an A shape.

I normally don’t lash out at people at my gigs; it’s just bad for business. But the facetious look and condescending tone the guy used really irritated me, even though he said he really loved that song. Then he made the mistake of telling me he was a guitar player. I said, “Cool. Now watch carefully…” Then I played the opening riff of the song for him, and asked, “You get that? Here, I’ll do it one more time,” and I played it for him one more time.

After that, I muted my guitar signal to the PA, unplugged from my pedal board, removed my capo, unstrapped my guitar, then handed the guitar to him saying, “Okay ‘Mr. Guitar Player,’ that song is in the key of C. I want you to play the opening riff that I showed you without a capo. You say the capo is a cheater. I want to see you play that without ‘cheating.’ Also, don’t forget the bass notes which are integral to everything JT plays.”

Of course, the guy balked at my challenge. But, not being mean-spirited, I decided instead to be conciliatory, so I said, “A capo is merely a tool to help me move the key to an appropriate place and allow me to play open chords in that key. I could use barre chords, but I wouldn’t get the ring that using a capo gives me. Furthermore, James Taylor used a capo in most of his songs. By your tone, you implied that players who use them are somehow lesser players. Considering that JT is a multi-millionaire and is known for his virtuosity on the guitar, would you think he’s a lesser player? Of course not. For him, it’s merely a tool.”

And speaking of making millions, do you think Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones actually gives a shit that someone calls the capo a “cheater?” Here’s a great video of the Stones doing Jumping Jack Flash at Hyde Park:

OMG! He’s using a capo!

Sorry, I know I’m being rather pissy about this, but my irritation about this got triggered from another person commenting to me (accompanied by what I thought was a smirk), “I didn’t know you have to play that with a capo. I never use one.” I just smiled and shook my head. Luckily, I realized in time that he probably had been flailing around with the song (it was another JT song: You’ve Got A Friend). So instead, I told him to go search for “James Taylor tutorials” online where JT shows people how to play his most popular and loved songs.

Whew! I almost bit the kid’s head off, and I’m glad I caught myself. But it did trigger a rather bad memory.

I know, I’ve talked about this subject before, but it bugs me because, to me, the lowly capo has always just been a tool and nothing more than a tool to get the sound that I want. And I supposed I get irked that some people just don’t see the painfully obvious. I’ve never been one to suffer fools.

Okay… rant over… Back to smiles. 🙂

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…I read threads like this where the discussion turns to artists selling out. Who’s to know what motivates the creative process of an artist? Only the artist. This particular thread focuses on Maroon 5 and what happened to them. Invariably, considering it’s The Gear Page, there will be those members who only have negative things to say, and accuse the band of selling out; or one respondent saying Adam Levine is a douche, and doesn’t substantiate as to why he or she thinks that. In my opinion, those who make those kinds of statements are the real douche bags, and frankly, I think their negativity is borne more out of jealousy than anything else.

The plain fact of the matter is that no one but the artist really knows what drives them. And many songwriters will actually say that they don’t know how they come up with songs. They just come, and they write them down. If that’s what happened to Maroon 5, that’s what happened. It’s pretty arrogant for people to throw out the oft-repeated phrase “they sold out.” Maybe Adam Levin wanted to explore a different direction; maybe songs like “Moves Like Jagger” written with Christina Aguilara was just something fun to do. WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE?

Several years ago, I remember being at a cast party of a community theatre production after a show and this aspiring “starlet” (I say this facetiously, mind you) said, “I only want to work in theatre because the actors in TV and movies have sold out, and they don’t really care about the craft.” I just looked at her in amazement, then somehow blurted out, “You are SO full of shit! But if it gives you any comfort, I can guarantee that people like Tom Cruise (that’s who she was talking about) are so upset with the opinions of ‘real’ actors like you that they’re crying all the way to bank.”

And so it goes with the musicians who are perceived to have sold out. Let me tell you, with their millions of fans, they’re more relevant than you could even imagine. Of course, with the finicky public, that could change in a heartbeat. As for me though, I celebrate the success of hard-working musicians.

That said, I do need to draw the line between those musicians who’ve worked their tails off and write their own stuff versus those who are invented. I have much more respect for people who perform their own creations. A good example of this is Taylor Swift versus Britney Spears. The former writes much if not all of her own stuff, while the latter was pure invention by someone else. I’ve never liked either one’s music, but I can appreciate people who originate their art. Taylor Swift has done a great job of bouncing back and forth between country and pop. What has Britney done lately? Talent judge? Hmm… 🙂

But then again, I can’t fault Britney for wanting to make a buck, and heaven knows she’s had great commercial success, but in my mind, if I were a fan, I’d be much less concerned about her “selling out” because she didn’t create the songs in the first place.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. I’m know I’m known more for my positive and upbeat tone, but some things just piss me off…

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