Primarily a guitar capo is used for changing the key of your instrument. For example, if you place a capo on the second fret of your guitar and play the chord shape that would ordinarily be an open E major, you’ll now be playing an F# major instead. This can be really useful when working with different singers, as they may need the pitch of the song changed to match their respective vocal range.
Capos also offer up interesting uses when revoicing chords. You can take a regular chord progression, add the capo and change the chord shapes. This gives you the same chords but with a different voice, and thus a more interesting sound. Pair it up with a guitar playing the original voicings and you can add a much richer tone to your recordings.
Lastly, a capo can be used as a purely creative tool, allowing you to use ringing open strings to create chords that would be impossible to fret without the use of a capo. Many bands over the years have utilized this, so next time you’re feeling uninspired, whack your capo on and try those same chord progressions again - you might well find something truly inspiring at your fingertips!
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