Despite their simple design and relative low-cost, the best guitar capos are powerful additions to any guitarists arsenal. When used effectively, a capo will open up your creative potential rejuvenating your tired old chord progressions and adding another tool to your songwriting.
Here at Guitar World we've been using capos for years, whether its just transposing a chord progression to a different key or completely revoicing a composition for two different guitars during recording. We've tested all the different kinds of capo, whether they're quick release, trigger capos, or the kind you screw on with a clamp. We've used capos at gigs, at home during songwriting sessions, and in the studio to change things up, so we've got a great overview of which are most effective, whether playing electric, acoustic, classical, or 12-string guitars.
Product guide
Type: Wrap spring clutch
Weight: 63g
Adjustable tension: Yes
Suitable for: 6-string acoustic or electric
+ Suits any fretboard radius
+ Easy to operate, even one-handed
+ Reasonably lightweight and slim
- Overkill for your first capo
You can buy a capo for less than 10 bucks, so what’s G7th’s big idea charging just shy of $55? Can it really be worth the outlay?
Well, the G7th Performance 3 ART features the company’s Adaptive Radius Technology – a system within the top bar which adjusts to the curvature of your guitar’s fretboard. The benefit? In theory, there should be no buzzing strings at the capo’d fret as the device makes even contact with all six strings. In turn, that gives the best possible tuning stability too.
Coupled with a rock-solid build, comfortable one-handed usability, and, actually being not quite the priciest offering here, the G7th is worth consideration for any guitarist who demands high performance from their capos.
Type: Quick-release spring-clamp
Weight: 63.5g
Adjustable tension: No
Material: Aircraft-grade aluminium
Suitable for: 6-string acoustic or electric
+ Ease of use
+ Robust build quality
- Tough competition from Ernie Ball
Dunlop’s Trigger capo has been around for a while. Some would say it’s another of those ‘industry standards’. Well, in 2020, it has a natural competitor in the Ernie Ball Axis model, both being spring-loaded quick-release designs.
Like the Axis, you can easily change the key with just a squeeze of the Trigger’s spring-loaded arms. Easy!
However, despite the Trigger’s reassuringly sturdy build – sure to offer steady intonation in use – the Axis has it licked for both price and flexibility. There’s nothing to dislike here though. It’s a great capo with proven longevity. If you want one, you can be sure the Trigger will serve you well.
Type: Quick-release spring-clamp
Weight: 99.8g
Adjustable tension: No
Material: Lightweight aluminium
Suitable for: 6, 7-string acoustic or electric
+ Quick, single-handed operation
+ Works with curved and flat fretboards
+ Suitable for six- and seven-string guitars
- Those arms may get in the way
Ernie Ball’s tasty-looking Axis capo sure has curb appeal but its talents aren’t purely skin-deep. Its main strength is easy, one-handed operation, which makes it our top pick for electric guitar players.
Need to move your capo mid-song? No problem! Just grab the Axis and move it. The springs deal with the tensioning for you. As long as you’re careful not to bend the strings in the process, capos don’t come easier to use than this.
And there’s no need to worry about the curvature of your guitar’s fretboard either. The Axis has two rubber-padded arms – one for flat fretboards and one for radiused. Just flip the capo around to suit your ’board. We do feel the arms can get in the way a little, but, generally, the ergonomics are pretty good so we’re not complaining.
Type: Wraparound
Weight: 45g
Adjustable tension: Yes
Material: Metal
Suitable for: 6-string acoustic
+ Even pressure ensures good intonation
+ Leave it behind the nut when not in use
- Can’t be adjusted for specific radiuses
- Not the quickest position shifts
We just had to include a wraparound in our list and the Paige is a worthy contender for your cash. A tension screw sits at the middle of the back of the neck, pulling on the capo’s front arm with even pressure across the fretboard. It’s a design which largely minimises sideways string pull – so expect steady tuning.
A version for electric guitar includes thicker rubber to allow for easier string bends and to accommodate all but the most curvaceous of fretboard radiuses. A wider variant is available too – an important concern with wraparounds. Make sure to measure your guitar neck to ensure it’ll fit the Paige’s 2.062 inch width (or 2.187 for the wide model) before buying.
Type: Lever/screw operated
Weight: 68g
Adjustable tension: Yes
Material: Nickel-plated brass
Suitable for: 6-string classical
+ Svelte shape won’t impede playing
+ Other models available for acoustic, banjo
- Lever/screw is slower than other designs
With the Standard C series of capos, Shubb has integrated many features previously only available in the S model. Deluxe spec at the standard price, then. Bargain! A capo of svelte design, its diminutive frame shouldn’t inhibit your playing around the clamped fret either.
Simply flip the lever to lock the capo in place or remove it – after you’ve adjusted the screw tensioner for optimal pressure, that is. Sure, it’s barely a 20-second task, but if you regularly move your capo around the fretboard or to a second guitar, the speed of a quick-release capo may be preferable.
Still, it’s a minor gripe. This is a great design for classical guitars, a well-built industry standard that should give years of reliable use. Buy with confidence.
Type: Trigger
Weight: 68g
Adjustable tension: No
Material: Aluminium
Suitable for: 12-string, 7-string, 8-string
+ Holds 12 strings tight
+ Strong steel spring
- Can be hard to open
With a 12-string guitar, you’ll need a dedicated capo as it requires much more force and a wider clamp to get correct intonation and no buzzing. The Kyser 12-String Quick-Change is perfect for 12 and extended-range guitars.
The ultra-strong steel spring provides excellent clamping, ensuring the intonation is spot on and you don’t get any strings that buzz. It can be difficult to clamp on for some, but once it’s on it will stay there.
Kyser is renowned for sturdily made capos and this one is no different. Made from aluminium it offers sturdy build quality and best of all, it’s relatively cheap. If you need a 12-string capo or one for your 7 or 8-string guitar, this is one of the best.
Type: Screw/spring-clamp
Weight: 45g
Adjustable tension: Yes
Material: Aircraft-grade aluminium
Suitable for: Six- or12-string acoustic or electric
+ Ergonomic slimline design
+ Micrometer adjustment helps minimize buzz
- You may need a second capo
- Not much really
Both lightweight and slimline, this capo from D’addario is designed to have as little negative impact on your playing as possible.
Minimal mass means the NS Pro doesn’t weigh your guitar’s neck down (a potential concern when capo-ing at the 1st or 2nd fret) and its diminutive stature makes for easy fretting beside the capo.
This model is for guitars with radiused fretboards. That means you’ll need another capo for classical guitar or generally flatter-radiused instruments, which, to be fair D’Addario does offer. Just be aware this isn’t a one-size-fits-all capo.
Type: Quick-release clamp
Weight: 45.4g
Adjustable tension: Yes
Material: Plastic
Suitable for: Six-string acoustic or electric
+ Fast clamp system
+ Adjustable tension
+ Lightweight design
- Takes some learning to use
Despite pretty much everything being monikered as ‘smart’ these days, the Fender Smart Capo really is quite clever. Its patent-pending design makes it the perfect capo for the player that needs to make rapid changes.
You can easily move this capo with one hand, great for performers when you need to quickly switch between songs or even in the middle of the song if you’re the daring kind. The squeeze on nature means that you can always add the perfect amount of tension too.
It’s super lightweight as well, so unlike some of the more cumbersome offerings it won’t change the balance of your guitar in the slightest.
Type: Side-grip universal partial capo
Weight: 45g
Adjustable tension: Yes
Material: Stainless steel shaft / Aluminium knob
Suitable for: Six-string acoustic or electric
+ Create alternate tunings without retuning your guitar
+ Fret notes above or below the capo
- Can impede string bending
A creative take on a humble device, the SpiderCapo allows you to clamp each string individually, in turn offering up a world of alternate tunings – many that you might not have otherwise tried. All without actually retuning a string!
You could, for instance, place a SpiderCapo at 2nd position, clamp the fretted strings of an open A chord and leave the others open – that’s open A tuning. You can only capo one fret however, so more complex chordal tunings are not an option.
The SpiderCapo is suitable for any fretboard radius, but you’ll be adjusting pressure on each individual string – which is a relatively slow process.
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