Banjo Capo

While I do play without a capo much of the time, I still occasionally rely on a capo for playing bluegrass tunes in the keys of A and B.

Every banjo player needs a good capo. The great news is you don’t need to spend a fortune

Here is the banjo capo I use:

Planet Waves NS Banjo Capo

D’Addario Accessories NS Banjo Capo, Mandolin Capo – For 4 or 5 String Banjos and Mandolins – Micrometer Tension Adjustment for Buzz-Free, In-Tune Performance – Black

Planet Waves Banjo Capo Review

I’ve been using the planet waves capo for at least two years and so far, it is my favorite.  It is light weight and produces a clear sound.

At a price just over $15, you can’t beat it.  

Another thing I like about it is it doesn’t get in the way of the fretting hand like some capos.  Some banjo capos are so big that as you move them up the neck, they get in the way (you can bump them, knocking the banjo out of tune).

I don’t like the Shubb capo because they always sound dull to me, either from the get go or after they are worn in.  The Kyser capo sounds good but always pulls the strings out of tune.  You need an adjustable capo.  Why?  You only want as much pressure on the strings as it takes to make it sound clear.  Excess pressure just pulls the strings out of tune.

Really my only complaint against the planet waves capo is I can’t clamp it anywhere.  Therefore, it just stays in my pocket.  The screw on the capo has also worked it’s way loose once or twice over the years, but no big deal.

If you are a beginner banjo student and looking for a good capo, this is the one I recommend.  I’ve used it onstage for years and it hasn’t failed.