What Capo Should I Buy?

Most guitar players, whether absolute beginner or seasoned pro, will encounter the need for a capo at some point in their playing career. 

Whether the capo is being used to change the sound of a piece of music or to put it in a key that’s easier to sing along with, a capo can be one of the most useful tools in your arsenal.

But which one should you buy?

There are dozens of capos on the market, so choosing the right one for you can be confusing.

After years of improvements in design, the most popular types of capo fall into three main categories - Trigger capos, Adjustable capos and Clamp-on capos.

Trigger capos (also known as spring capos) feature a ‘trigger’ lever and a tensioned spring to clamp onto the guitar neck. These are a great choice for stage guitarists who need to get a capo on and off quickly with one hand and clip it onto the headstock in between uses. The only downside can be that tuning may need a tweak due to the strength of the spring pulling the strings down.

Our choice: G7th Nashville Capo, Silver

Adjustable capos come in many shapes and sizes, but generally consist of a lever, a clamp and an adjustable screw. Once clamped onto the guitar’s neck, the screw can be tightened or loosened to give the exact amount of tension needed to allow the strings to ring cleanly. 

This type of capo is extremely accurate and allows the player to attach the capo correctly regardless of string gauge, neck shape or fret position making for a great studio capo. In live-use, they do need a little more time to fit and aren’t easily stored on the headstock. 

Our choice: Shubb C1 Steel String Guitar Capo

A Clamp-on capo takes the best elements of the trigger and adjustable models to make a highly accurate, versatile capo. 

One of the best examples of this type of capo is the Performance 3 Capo from G7th. This capo features a smooth ratchet mechanism that allows you to squeeze it onto the guitar neck at exactly the right amount of tension for your particular set-up. It also features a quick release switch to make removal a quick, easy task. This capo can also be clamped to the guitar’s headstock in between uses. 

These capos can be a little more expensive than the other variations, however, for accuracy and tuning stability, they are second to none.

Our Choice: G7th Performance 3 Capo