Tuning with capo

[Ollie!]

Hey guys,

I have a strange issue with the tuning of my Strat, hope someone can shed a light on this...

So, I was intonating my Highway Strat yesterday. It took me a while but finally all strings were intonated correctly. Now, the strange bit:
When I check the tuning on the twelfth position with my finger, the strings are tuned fine. However, when I put my capo on the twelfth position, it seems like the tuning is off... all strings are tuned a bit to high.

I can't find a logical explanation for this... it shouldn't make a difference, right?

Thanks for the info!
Oliver

[PinewoodRo]

12th fret might be a bit high for a capo - it cold be pulling the strings sharp as you clamp it down.

[Sherpa]

I think so too. You probably have a lighter touch when fretting at the 12th when playing and setting your intonation, whilst the capo clamps it down in a heavy-handed manner and is pulling/pushing the strings down to the fretboard and making them ring sharp.

Trust your fingers!

[GigsbyBoyUK]

Capos nearly always send at least some strings a little sharp if they are pressing down enough pressure to remove buzzing.

[Ollie!]

This actually makes perfect sense, thanks.

So: when playing with a capo, tune it with a capo

[limbe]

Now there are at least two capo/tuners on the market that senses the pitch when you pick a string (as clip tuners do) built into a capo.I made the mistake of buying the cheaper one where you can´t adjust how hard the capo clamps down.I am pretty sure they will refine the construction if there is a market and make capo/tuners with different curvature.
7.25" Western,12-string and so on.

[Vizcaster]

Keyser style trigger capos have no way to adjust the tension, and depending on the neck thickness it can be a problem. There's a Planet Waves NS version that allows you to adjust the spring. Or use one that allows you to dial in the tension. Set the capo as close to the fret as you can get it, but don't let it pull the strings sharp - just tight enough to stop the string from buzzing. Unless it's set the same way that you fret a note, it will pull the strings sharp.

[sjtalon]

Get a Shubb, problem salved.


H1's have those big honkin' frets, you need a capo you can adjust tension on.

[tfsails]

I have two Keysers for my one acoustic (go figure...) and one Shubb for my two electrics. The Keysers pulled both my Tele and Strat way sharp on the first fret. The Shubb works perfectly. The Keysers and the Shubb all work fine on the acoustic.

[GigsbyBoyUK]

Originally Posted by Ollie!

This actually makes perfect sense, thanks.

So: when playing with a capo, tune it with a capo

If you want to be absolutely in tune, yes.

When recording I always tune with the capo on (for songs where I'll be using a capo of course).

Live, I don't really want to be totally retuning every time so I let my ear and my pedal tuner tell me if there are any particular strings that have been pulled especially sharp.

[jefrs]

If you have a really good setup and good intonation then the capo does not push the tuning out.
The capo must not be set too hard, set it like your finger. If there is buzzing then setup is wrong.

Intonation should not just be set as octave at 12th but also throughout the neck - 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th, etc. You can get close, very close, but even then it is a compromise.
Peterson strobe tuner for intonation.

If you must retune with the capo on then release it a little every time you turn the tuner to let the string through.

[Ollie!]

Originally Posted by sjtalon

Get a Shubb, problem salved.

Thanks for the tip! I bought a Shubb capo last Monday, this is working great.