Capo with open high E-string
A capo put over five strings instead of six can give a guitar sound with resemblance to open tunings. Very nice ringing chords are one of the pleasent things that happen.
In this article, the high open E-string open (the thinnest string) is left open whereas capo is pressing down the rest of strings. The idea can be applied in all possible capo positions, but some will be less thankful. Perhaps the smoothest transition from standard tuning thinking with this approach is with the capo on the fifth fret (see below).
Capo 2 with open high E-string
G6
A
Aadd11
Dadd9
Bmadd11
Bm11
F#m7
E5
Comments
This capo placement emulates the tuning F#-B-E-A-C#-E. It's especially suited for E major and its relative minor key progressions.
See also chord progressions for this emulated tuning in pdf (seven progressions with diagrams visible for each progression).
Video
Capo 5 with open high E-string
Cadd9
Am7
Fmaj9
Em7
Comments
This capo placement emulates the tuning A-D-G-C-E-E. The double E on the highest strings can be utilize in chords such as 024300.
Some other chords that can be used in this configuration in shorted notations (notice that absolute frets are used, i.e. the fret position of the capo is excluded):
Dadd9: X57770
Dmaj9: X57670
D9: X57570
A/D: X02100
Am/C: 322000
Cadd11: 330000
Amadd11: 002000
See also The Capo Chart ebook with lots of additional chord diagrams and progressions for capo positions with both low and high open E-strings.
Capo 7 with open high E-string
E
Bsus4
Asus2/B
F#m7/E
Dadd9
Bmadd11
G6
Em7
Comments
This capo placement emulates the tuning B-E-A-D-F#-E. Playing all strings open results in Dadd9/B or Bm11.
Some other chords that can be used in this configuration in shorted notations:
Em11: X 7 7 7 8 0
F#m9: X 9 7 9 9 0
F#9: X21220
A6/C#: 977977
Badd11: 799870
As mentioned above, more chords can be found in The Capo Chart ebook.
Video
Choose the right capo
For accomplish partial capo positions some capos are better than others. Models which you put on manually are generally better for this purpose. Among the three models seen on images below, the construction of the two first will probably be better.
