Partial capo techniques & tablature notation
Tricky topic!
I recently saw a pull request in MuseScore's Issue Tracker regarding the banjo's 5th string
The 5th string is essentially a partially capoed string so I wondered, "Could the finished concept be applied to stringed instruments when partially capoed?" The following image includes some illustrations of partial capo examples:
Here are some of my thoughts on partial capo techniques.
scorster
Comments
A nice idea. I just had a play with 022222 and, of course, it's a pseudo drop-D tuning. How are these described at the top of score? e.g. where you might see "capo 2"
(Not sure how a capo can press B,G,D without pressing top E)
In reply to A nice idea. I just had a… by yonah_ag
>> I just had a play with 022222 and, of course, it's a pseudo drop-D tuning.
I usually use the name Partial Drop-D when referring to the pseudo drop-D effect . This means:
• The guitar is in standard tuning EADGBE
• The capo is placed on strings 1 through 5, with the 6th string uncapped. I indicate this capo arrangement as a simple fret list, i.e. Capo: 022222
With this configuration:
• you have all the function of Drop-D tuning—if you only fret on the caped strings—except you're actually in the key of E. The sounded notes of the open strings (capped or not) are EBEAC#F#
• you have the function of Standard Tuning on any frettable note—which is not the case in Drop-D. That's why the bass note of a G chord is on the 3rd fret of the Low E string, whereas in true Drop-D that G note would be on the 5th fret. And the uncapped open strings do NOT behave like Standard tuning.
Arranging music with a Partial Capo can be a really fun and very rewarding exploration. Since a partial capo "invirtuates" two overlapping worlds most people initially find the capo's effect logical one moment ... and surprising the next. You'll gain a creative and solid footing (with the various partial capo techniques) once you understand the overlapping perspectives.
Comprehension of these "blended" realities is illuminating when exploring situations with less strings capoed, like 022200.
• Standard Tuning + capo 022200 produces Partial-DADGAD, but in the key of E.
• again, the open strings and fretted notes on capoed string work exactly like DADGAD
• simultaneously all the frettable notes act like Standard Tuning; additionally, as in the previous example ... and the uncapoed open strings no longer behave like Standard Tuning.
This type of clarity helps us keep our wits particularly when combining partial capo with alternate tunings! Here's an example.
I originally wrote Between the River and the Road in the slack key tuning CGDGBE. UPDATE: I've posted Between the River and the Road here on MuseScore.com.
I soon noticed that the CGDGBE tuning is quite like G tuning, so I realized I could Capo: 002220 and lower the 6th string a whole step. The result is Drop-D Capo: 002220. And nicely, since the performance only frets notes on the capoed strings, the piece plays exactly the same whether my guitar is fully retuned to CGDGBE or in standard tuning capoed as described. The only difference is that the resulting key is a whole step higher.
Later still I discovered I could use two capos (Capo 024440). And that eliminates the need to retune any strings! I accomplish the 024440 by placing a full capo on the 2nd fret, omitting the 6th string, just like Partial Drop-D; and I put a partial capo above to attain the 444 —as shown in the following diagram. The key is now another whole step higher, but one can play the piece without any retuning.
scorster
In reply to >> I just had a play with… by scorster
I like your composition - but no sign of it here on MuseScore.
I'll have to check Amazon for the specialised partial capos as my capo has no way of bridging an open string. Partial drop-D, (which actually isn't dropped at all!), is fun and reminds of the time that I first experienced an open tuning, ("Romeo & Juliet", Dire Straits, open G), as it adds a new dimension to playing.
I found this on Amazon:
![Screenshot_20210206-200156_Chrome.jpg]( "Screenshot_20210206-200156_Chrome.jpg")
In reply to I like your composition -… by yonah_ag
>> I like your composition - but no sign of it here on MuseScore.
Thanks. I haven't yet started posting to MuseScore.
UPDATE: I've posted Between the River and the Road here.
Randall Williams sent me a complimentary copy of his book when it was first published. I thought it was pretty good, but like others who write about partial capo, he never really explains how it works, or how to look at it. Most author skirt the core issues and simply say the effect is "like DADGAD" or "like Open G." So you're left to wrangle your own understanding of the situations. My online article fully explains the needed perspectives.
Regarding hardware, if you're looking to explore 022200 or 002220 I recommend the Shubb CB7 capo. The Kayser capos are big and get in the way of my hand. I use a regular Shubb capo for 022222, as shown in my article.
scorster
In reply to >> I just had a play with… by scorster
Guitar Pro 7 has a simple, elegant interface for designating partial capo configurations, as shown in the images below.
I'll title each of the following examples as a "fret list"—my textual capo nomenclature, where the series of numbers indicates the capped fret(s), from the lowest string number to the highest.
For instance, full capo 2 is written 222222—in other words all frets capped at the second fret.
The first example below can be named "Partial Drop-D" but its' cleared to specify: 022222—where the 6th string is left uncapped.
Capo: 022222
Capo: 022200
Capo: 355533
Capo: 557775
I'd like to see Musescore match this ... and go a step further by allowing multiple partial capos.
One of my original compositions Between the River and the Road can be played using partial capo: 024442.
IF Guitar Pro 7 could make this 024442 configuration it would look like this:
Capo: 024442
Which is also represented by the following diagram of capos on a guitar fretboard:
When Musescore support partial capos I hopeit will go the extra step of allowing multiple partial capos!
scorster
In reply to Guitar Pro 7 has a simple,… by scorster
Musescore has implemented capo as an attribute of text elements rather than attributes of the guitar tuning setup which seems a bit odd, (you can change capo position with every note!), but it should still be easy to provide multiple capo support since it's just an alternate tuning. I guess there's not enough user requests to justify the programming effort.
In reply to Musescore has implemented… by yonah_ag
yonah_ag wrote > Musescore has implemented capo as an attribute of text elements rather than attributes of the guitar tuning setup which seems a bit odd ...
Agreed
yonah_ag wrote > ... you can change capo position with every note!
Yes, I'd like to see a guitarist keep up with that.
yonah_ag wrote > it should be easy to provide multiple capo support since it's just an alternate tuning
At first blush the affect of a partial capo appears to be equivalent to an alternate tuning, and it's often helpful to think that way. For instance:
Capo 022200 behaves exactly like DADGAD—though two semi-tones higher: EBEABE, essentially DADGAD capoed at the second fret—but ONLY when fretting on the capoed strings or playing any open string. Conversely it's exactly like standard tuning except when you play on the uncapped open strings; even fretted notes played behind the partial capo behave like standard turning.
The full story here in an article I wrote.
That said, tablature notation is another hurdle. It would require:
• a symbol for open strings at the nut
• a symbol for open strings at any capo
• negative frets referring to frets behind the capo — OR—uniquely identifiable positive fret numbers from the nut to the nearest capo, and then restarting at the capo
I have solid ideas regarding partial capo notation, but not a full proposal.
I had only recently remembered about GP7s partial capo setting and I haven't yet delved into its approach for notating. I hope to do so soon.
scorster
In reply to yonah_ag wrote > Musescore… by scorster
I just checked how Guitar Pro 7.5 deals with partial capo tablature. From where I stand, it's not pretty. Which is a shame because, as mentioned in this thread, the GUI for defining the partial capo is simple and elegant—a touch of panache in GP7's overall slog field.
Here's the skinny.
When notating for partial capo GP7 users must enter the "absolute" fret numbers, i.e. frest relative to the nut, rather than frets relative to the capo. That likely simplified life for the developers ... and it surely creates cognitive dissonance for guitarists. I could probably learn to read it, but I won't.
Here's the only "partial capo" entry in the GP7 User Guide:
And indeed this is true, I mean, truly the way GP7.5 handles partial capo notation. (And kinda of humorous that the User Guide includes the caveat that a partial capo is meaningless behind a full capo.)
So, for anyone interested, I'm attaching a simple GP7.5 test file with:
• open strings
• a I chord
• a IV chord (in two voicings)
• a V chord
Partial Capo 022200.gp
In the attached score (on line 1) you'll see that due to the "absolute fret numbering" all the second frets sound the same as the open strings. So everything but the 3rd fret sounds like the open strings. Sure. That stands to reason from an absolute perspective: the real second fret also equals the open capoed string ... but it's not a natural or reasonable presentation for the reading guitarist.
Also in the attached score (on line 2) you'll see that that the absolute 4th fret sounds the 2nd fret above the partial capo. It's written as 4 ... but a guitarist would naturally think of it as 2. And that's not good. But everything sounds right—you can hear the I-IV-V progression.
Janky! And that's the way it is in GP7.5.
Musescore could do it better! I'm glad to advise.
scorster
The way to write the tablature is different to the 5th string of the banjo:
it is only one string and it starts at the 5th fret so in tablature it is clear that the first frettet note is fret 6.
If I take your last diagram: to write like this the easy way would be to make the 4s on string 2-4 invisible and make it to 0 (with text or a symbpl). the playback will still be ok. If we put every number down like with a capo on fret 4 what to do with string 1 ? I would recomend to seperate the notes on the real fret 0-4 (differnt colour, size ....) from the virtual frets 1 (5), 2 (6) ...