capo use...

how do i use a capo. and tell what key im in?

Put the capo on the fret itself. Not in between frets like alot of people do. The key you are in depends on the notes/chords you play....

I have to disagree with Bodom on this. The capo isn't put 'on' the fret itself, but slightly in front of it, as close to the fret as possible.

I agree with both bodom and paerdeveygh. If you put the capo ON the fret, you will generally not get as much fret buzz, because the strings are not being pushed as far down. However, the intonation may not be as accurate as you move further up the neck, due to the fact that part of the capo is on one half of the fret, while the rest of the capo is on the other half, so there is not a completely stable nut/zero fret in place. If you place the capo BETWEEN frets, then all the aboove works the other way round.

Afro

Well here is my reason for putting it on the fret. First it will be straight all the way down (same spot on each string). Try this, get an electronic tuner play an open E string...it should read E on the tuner. Now put a capo on the first "fret" it should read F. Now put it in the middle of the fret, it no longer is F its flat. The frets are the mark where you go from one note to the other so it only makes sense to put the capo there. Now you can put it as close to the fret as you can but I think that puts alot of stress on the strings and the capo and you get buzz.. also the width of the capo pushes it farther one way, sharp or flat. I jut find it better to put it on the fret itself.

I've been playing for quite a while and I'm very confused by all this. If you are picking up fret buzz when you are using a capo it would seem that you might need your frets leveled, or the capo is so far away from the fret and you are strumming so hard that the strings are bouncing up and down on the fret.

Also if you capo directly on the fret and your F is in tune then you move the capo in between the nut and the first fret your F should still be in tune. The frets should keep the note in tune other wise it would be like playing a violin or upright bass ect. If your tone changes at all it would be sharp, not flat. If your tone is changing with the location of your capo then there may be too much tension being generated by the capo. In effect you are bending the string up to a higher tone. Are the strings actually touching the wood of the fret board? (I'm pretty sure that isn't supposed to happen)

And what do you mean by "part of the capo is on one half of the fret while the rest of the capo is on the other half" do you mean that the capo will see-saw on the fret itself changing the tone? I can see that I guess but still just very confused.

I would thing that if the proper place to barre a chord is very near to the fret but not directly on the fret then a capo would follow the same principle. and if you get very close then the capo shouldn't change the tone any more than playing any barre chord. Not to mention that according to what kind of capo you have and how well it fits your guitar you may be a bit out of tune no matter where you put the damn thing.

as far as the key goes. If you are playing an E A B C#m you are in the key of E. But if you have the capo on the third fret then you are really playing G C D and E minor and are playing in the key of G.

@ luckyhubbie
Read what I wrote again.
Put the capo on the first fret and pluck the open E string it should be a F now (with the capo on) Now instead of putting it on the fret put it in the middle (between the nut and the first fret). Its no longer an F its a bit flat. Just think of putting a capo on like moving the nut down the fret bored, it should be where the frets are. But to each his own.