Cheap, easy guitar capo

For those not in the know, a capo is a device used to help take the pitch up on a guitar, further than tuning up would be able to do. However, most stores like charging 10-15 bucks for a simple device, so I made one with objects you probably have lying around...

Step 1: Materials

You'll need, as you can see in the picture, two of those LiveStrong bracelets that were cool 3 years ago, a thick marker (or I guess a thin one would be better for an acoustic guitar...dunno, havent got one to try it with). Obviously, you'll need a guitar.

Comments

[jglee1]

i was looking for a cheap capo until i clicked on this whoo love shirt : ) !

[ladypunzel]

GREAT! my son used this when he needed a capo... thanks for the idea! and we like the t-shirt - huge pacman fans!

[beehard44]

awesome! needed a quick capo to play dont stop believing (glee version slightly modified so that it sounds better) but made mine using a pen and wire

[Morriscow]

 wont work for some not classical guitars bc the fretboard is curved too much

[Jonesgilkar]

In my classical guitar it sometimes work and sometimes don't. But sometimes only the Fat E string muted and sometimes the A string.Weird? But sometimes it works.

[Gksarmy]

umm you realize that a classical guitar's fretboard is curved less than a conventional acoustic guitar right?

[topkiller]

I took a Aluminum bolt and since i make my own bolts i used an aluminum cutter and cut the bolt into small pices and used 2 of my boughters hair bands lol. and it works great makes a good like glass bottle slide also lol....

[kingwyatt5000]

could a human arm bone be used rather than a marker? and as for the rubber bands... what about kitten pelts?... hahaha, i'm kidding... as far as you know! ;D no really though, this hepled!

[jsimondsmalamud]

thanks man! and, by the way, that would look kickass! i'd personally go with like, a finger bone, since an arm bone seems a tad long and heavy, though i'd be worried about the inward curve...maybe if you found yourself a nice bonesaw and straightened it out a bit.

[kingwyatt5000]

well, personally i was thinking more along the lines or a rib, to be quite honest.. one of the smaller ones.. it's lightweight, small, straight... ish... yea! that'd work pretty well... now all i have to do it contact one of my resources... do you know a dr. lector?

[WurdBendur]

Most people's finger bones would be too short, and a rib would have an annoying curve, but one of the metacarpals of the hand or metatarsals of the foot would probably work.

[sabbysayshi]

 CHICKEN BONE >:O

[dareliqe]

nice t shirt

[euphoricazn]

yo this was amazing 8D it totally worked for me. thanks :D

[dreath77]

i used a magic marker and a rubber band from those moon shoes, and it worked

[ECullen]

wow ur cheap

[Joanassie]

That's kinda the point.

[Metal4God]

you should make a guitar slide ill get right on it

[radiobath]

Ghetto guitar slide = lighter.

[rabidsnakemonkey]

I do (or did) something similar that probably works better. You can cut a pencil in half [in the direction so that you have a long semi-cylinder], sand it smooth, and put some scotch tape on top to protect your strings. You just have to rubberband it down well. Of course, then i went out and bought a real one for like 4 bucks. Thats probably the best solution.

[Boomfly]

For a 'femenine' version you can use a maybelline mascara tube and hair ties.

[WurdBendur]

Or a tampon.

[kanamin]

Holy crap I needed a capo the other day and did THE EXACT SAME THING, except I used a hilighter of probably exactly the same size. Still using it now.

[goku724]

wow this is great you just saved me 10 bucks thanks

[slimguy379]

I have that same shirt (just needed to be said)

[Fenwick]

me too!

[Sadam and Osama]

i made something similar, but rather, i sued 2 popsicle sticks, and many rubberbands. oh and tissue to prevent scratching the back

[shadowgravity]

you ment to write used, right? because you can't sue popsicle sticks

[berky93]

I can...

[uberchoob]

Hmm... I'm thinking the handle to a 10 gallon bucket and some rubber bands would make a slidable capo.... An instructable on the way! .... maybe

[jsimondsmalamud]

Toilet paper thing! Nice! I tried duct tape and an index card...it didn't work. I suppose rubber bands might work, but they need to hold the marker really tightly without snapping which, assuming you can get them on, bracelets are pretty good at.

[Spectrace]

instead of those bracelets, cant you just use some nice rubber bands? rubber bands are more stretchy.

[RyanPotter]

Haha, nice idea. For a slide I always use the toilet paper roll holder thing.