Remember that a Ukulele capo is not a replacement for mastering difficult chords. Even the best capo will not do that for you. You will have to practice to learn. You can best use capo for different sounds. It can be used with other chord inversions and jam with other players, mostly unplanned.
The device is used to replace our finger’s work. It holds down the strings near the metal fret. Please don’t put it right on the fret. The sound will be suppressed while strumming. Ensure that it is straight up and down and not bent. Also, all the strings have to be held down.
After positioning it, play as you usually do. Finger the same chord positions. Earlier, you played C-F-G without Ukulele Capo. Position the capo on all strings of the second fret. The whole note will be moved up. Now the chords have become D-G-A.
Varieties of Ukulele Capos
Many varieties of ukulele Capos are available as per your preference. They are not very costly. You may try different ones if there is no budget problem. Choose the one which you like the most.
Different Styles of Capos
C Clamp
In this style, a lever is placed on the strings. It is then tightened using a screw. In this way, tension can be adjusted so that instrument strings do not buzz.
Spring
In this style, large capos are spring-loaded. They are quite accessible. You have to squeeze the handle and position it over the fret. However, they are heavy and can not be fine-tuned.
Toggle/Elastic
In this style, a capo is placed over the string. A toggle or an elastic piece is then wrapped over the neck’s back, which may leave small footprints. However, it may not hold the instrument strings properly sometimes.
Rolling
Such Capos can be positioned around the neck. In this style, capos have moving rubber pads. You cannot fine-tune the string tension. However, they can be moved across frets and keys.
Spider
They are challenging to use for beginners. In these specialized Capos, you can hold down individual strings. They can be fine-tuned for unique settings.
5 of the Best Ukulele Capo Products Reviewed
Comparison Chart
1. Planet Waves PW-CP-12 NS Ukulele Capo Pro
The surface of the capo is fully padded. The finishing of your instrument and, due to this padding, protects the strings. It is excellent value for money at a price of just above $10.
Pros
- Superb fine-tuning removes any buzzing sound;
- Durable;
- Down to earth but is not a significant issue;
- Can put on almost any ukulele, best for any size.
Cons
- It is not made for changing quickly;
- Priced a little higher when compared to capos in the spring-loaded category.
2. Creative Tunings SCM SpiderCapo Mini
It is made of lightweight alloy metal with a firm spring; the instrument is always protected due to its silicone padding covering the entire surface. This product is my favorite Ukulele Capo in this category and is guaranteed for one year.
Pros
- Excellent gripping with a proper tension state;
- Padding avoids scratches on the surface of the instrument;
- Attractive design;
- Accessible, easy to carry also.
Cons
- Priced a little higher than usually triggered capos;
- A customer review submitted for a tenor ukulele with dual spring mentioned that it has the worst fret buzzing sound while using it.
3. Dunlop 7828 Bill Russell Elastic Banjo/Ukulele Capo
It is manufactured to provide a steady grip on the strings with a good quality spring. The product is well-padded to ensure that the instrument is always protected from scratches while using it. The mini-size capo is available in some attractive color options.
Pros
- Can easily change positions with just one hand;
- The handles are made of metal and not plastic;
- Suitable in a soprano uke and also in concert ones.
Cons
- May not correctly set on banjo ukuleles or bigger ones;
- The surface finish feels quite glossy but slick;
- Some reviews reported quality issues of craft.
4. Shubb L9 ukulele capo (GC-20UL)
Its padding is quite soft and robust. You can adjust the tension the way you want. A reputed American firm manufactures this excellent Ukellele Capo.
The owner is in the business of making Capos for many decades. If you believe the reviews, it is confessed by many users that it is the ultimate ukulele capo in the market in the C-clamp category.
Pros
- Lesser weight due to aluminum;
- Durable build;
- Can adjust and fine-tune easily.
Cons
- It may not set on a uke having a thinner neck. A review mentioned that its fitting with tenor Kanilea was very loose;
- You can’t just change position with one hand with such ukuleles.
5. Kyser Quick-Change Capo for ukuleles, banjos, and mandolins
It has a unique build due to the use of lightweight aluminum with a robust steel spring. You can park the capo on the headstock when idle. It is similar to Ukulele Capos in the spring-loaded category. These American Capos are guaranteed for a lifetime by the manufacturer.
Pros
- Highly durable due to Aluminum build;
- The manufacturer provides a guarantee for a lifetime;
- It is excellent for musicians using many instruments as it sets quickly on any uke, banjo, banjolele, mandolin, and bouzouki.
Cons
- Costlier than the market average of other similar Capos;
- Some players have reviewed that it feels too tight.
Ukulele Capo FAQs
1. What does capo mean?
The word ‘capo’ is short for “capotasto,” which is Italian for ‘head of a fretboard.’
2. What is a capo used for?
A capo can be strapped around the neck of your ukulele to keep all the strings down on the same fret. In other words, the strings are automatically barred down on a fret, meaning they don’t have to be held down with the index finger.
This makes playing barre chords a lot easier. It also means you can play in different keys without learning new chords. Using a capo unlocks many songs that would otherwise be impossible or very difficult to play.
3. Where do you put a capo on the ukulele?
The capo can be placed on any fret depending on what key you want to play in. Ideally, the capo should be placed slightly behind the fret line.
It’s not an exact science, and as long as all the strings are firmly clamped down, the capo placement within the fret shouldn’t matter too much.
4. Should a beginner use a capo?
Capos are excellent tools for beginners, and there is very little reason not to use one. If you can learn just five chords, throwing a capo into the mix will give you access to thousands of songs. It can make learning new songs less strenuous and more enjoyable, thus motivating you to continue playing.
Another perk of using a capo is that playing higher up on the neck is easier on the fingertips. When a ukulele player starts out, their fingertips aren’t used to the prolonged pressure of pushing down on strings.
This means that they can only play for so long before the pain becomes too much. Eventually, calluses are developed, allowing them to play for hours on end. But until then, a beginner will find it a lot easier to play songs on higher frets with a capo.
That said, a beginner doesn’t have to use a capo. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to learn some fundamentals before getting started with this accessory.
5. Should I tune-up with the capo on or off?
The easiest method is to tune your guitar first, and then place the capo. As long as the pressure of the capo isn’t too intense, the strings should stay in tune. You can do some extra fine-tuning when the capo is in place, but because the open strings become different notes when they are capo’s, this isn’t easy if you aren’t familiar with alternate tunings.
The same goes for placing the capo before tuning. It’s possible, but you need to know each string’s notes when the capo is on a particular fret.
6. Will a guitar capo work on a ukulele?
Some guitar capos can just about fit on a ukulele, but in general, the size doesn’t quite match up. Ukulele necks are slightly smaller than guitar necks, and ukulele capos are designed accordingly.
It might be worth giving it a try if you have a guitar capo lying around, but you are likely to get far better results with a specifically-designed ukulele capo.
7. Should I use a spring-loaded or toggle style capo?
Spring-loaded capos are very easy to use. They can be applied and moved with just one hand, with nothing extra to adjust. This is great if you quickly want to add, remove, or change your capo positions in between songs.
However, the simplicity of spring-loaded capos is also their weakness. Since there is no way to adjust the pressure, the capo might be pressed down too hard on your stings, which can bend them out of tune. Or, it might not be pressing hard enough, creating the dreaded spring “buzz” effect.
Toggle capos come with an adjustable screw which can be turned to achieve the perfect amount of pressure. Once the sweet spot has been found, there should be no need to adjust every time you move the capo.
Though toggle capos aren’t difficult to put on or take off, they are a little more fiddly and usually require two hands. Most beginners start out with a spring-loaded capo.
They are very common and can be found for as little as $5 online. However, if you’re finding that the spring-loaded pressure isn’t quite right, it might be worth moving on to a toggle.