Guitar capos are of course very useful tools to have. They allow you to change the tone of your guitar and to mute strings with ease.
That said, there are plenty of guitar capos out there, so many that choosing one becomes quite difficult.
However, this is why we are here today, to help you find the best guitar capo around. Let’s get to it and take a closer look at the top five options out there.
Best Guitar Capos: Reviews
Kyser Quick-Change Capo
Here we have a beautiful and functional guitar capo that comes to use from a trusted brand name, Kyser. This particular model is designed for the ultimate in simplicity and ease of use. Let’s take a closer look.
Product Highlights
One thing that stands out about the Kyser Quick-Change Capo is that it looks very stylish. It actually comes in a few different colors and designs to choose from. What’s also neat is that you can even get one that looks like real wood, although it’s not real wood.
In fact, the Kyser Quick-Change Capo is made out of high grade aluminum. This aluminum is fairly lightweight, so it won’t weigh things down too much, yet is also very durable. Aluminum is a rather perfect material to use for this sort of guitar capo.
Now, do keep in mind that the Kyser Quick-Change Capo is technically designed for 6 string acoustic guitars. That said, it may very well also work for electric guitars, as long as the necks are the same shapes. The fact that it can rest on the headstock of your guitar when not in use is a bonus too.
What’s also nice about the Kyser Quick-Change Capo is that it is very easy to use with a single hand. It features a spring loaded design, complete with a stainless steel spring. You can easily move it around with one hand.
Moreover, that stainless steel spring is very durable and long lasting. It should keep its tension for a very long time. Also, it should apply more than enough force to mute the strings without causing buzzing or rattling.
The rubber component used to mute the strings is also quite durable, and hard too. It works rather well for 6 string acoustic guitars that have fairly light strings.
The Kyser Quick-Change Capo also features a rubber cover on the rear arm to ensure that the rear of your guitar neck is not damaged. At the same time, this piece of rubber also helps to hold it in place, so it doesn’t slip around.
What’s to Like About the Kyser Quick-Change Capo
One thing that stands out about the Kyser Quick-Change Capo is that it is built in the USA. In fact, it is handmade, and it even comes with a lifetime guarantee. There is of course also the fact that it is exceedingly easy to use, even with a single hand. The quality level here is quite high as well.
What’s Not to Like About the Kyser Quick-Change Capo
Although the stainless steel spring is very durable, it will eventually wear out. This is especially the case with prolonged use. Also, the Kyser Quick-Change Capo is not at all adjustable, which could be a problem for some.
Pros
- Durable materials
- Looks very nice
- Ideal for acoustic guitars
- High quality rubber
- Doesn’t slip or move around
- Easy to use with a single hand
- Handmade in the USA
Cons
- The spring will wear out with prolonged use
- Not adjustable
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Tree Monkey Guitar Capo
Here we have a guitar capo that comes to us at a fairly reasonable price. It has a lightweight yet durable all-metal construction, combined with a simplistic design for ease of use.
Product Highlights
One big aspect of the Tree Monkey Guitar Capo is that it is made with a zinc alloy construction. This automatically makes it very durable and long lasting. This unit is not going to bend, dent, or break anytime soon at all. There is also the fact that it actually looks quite stylish.
Speaking of durability, the stainless steel spring is more than strong enough to last for quite some time. It should continue applying pressure even with prolonged use. On that note, it definitely applies more than enough pressure to mute strings, all without affecting overall guitar tuning.
Keep in mind that the Tree Monkey Guitar Capo can be used with both acoustic and electric guitars. It’s technically designed for six string guitars, but may also be used with twelve string guitars as well.
The simple design means that you can use it on the go. It’s really easy to move around with a single hand for split second adjustments.
The Tree Monkey Guitar Capo also features silicone padding on the interior, which serves several purposes. For one, the silicone helps to ensure great grip so that this capo stays where it’s placed. It really shouldn’t move around on you.
At the same time, the silicone on the rear arm helps to protect your guitar from being scratched by the capo.
Furthermore, this silicone is ideal for applying an appropriate amount of pressure to the strings, just enough, but not too much. This silicone padding is actually quite durable and long lasting as well.
What’s to Like About the Tree Monkey Guitar Capo
What stands out about the Tree Monkey Guitar Capo is its overall high level of durability and functionality. That zinc alloy construction allows for a really durable capo while also remaining relatively lightweight.
What’s Not to Like About the Tree Monkey Guitar Capo
While the Tree Monkey Guitar Capo works great for guitars with lighter strings, it doesn’t perform too well with heavy strings. If you play really hard or have super stiff and heavy strings, it may not be able to apply enough force to effectively hold them down.
Pros
- Superior durability
- Easy to move with one hand
- Lightweight
- Grips the fretboard well
- Protects the neck from scratches
- Affordable
- Sleek and stylish
- Should work for most 6 and 12 string acoustic and electric guitars
Cons
- Not ideal for very heavy strings
- That spring will wear out eventually
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D’Addario NS Tri-Action Capo
If you are looking for an adjustable guitar capo with a high level of durability, this one might just be it. It’s not the cheapest one out there, although it may certainly be one of the very best.
Product Highlights
First of all, the D’Addario NS Tri-Action Capo is made out of very high quality aircraft grade aluminum. This aircraft grade aluminum is extremely tough and durable. It can definitely take a whole lot of punishment. That said, at the same time, it’s also extremely lightweight. It won’t add very much weight to the neck of your guitar at all.
What you may also like about this unit is that it comes complete with so-called tri-action geometry. The special geometry of this guitar capo allows you to easily close and open it with a single hand. It is therefore quite user friendly.
Moreover, this special geometry also allows it to apply even pressure across the fret board. It won’t apply more pressure on one side than the other.
Perhaps one of the best aspects here is how the stainless steel spring features a micro adjustment dial. This means that you can accurately adjust exactly how much pressure this guitar capo exerts onto your fret board.
This means that you can use it for lightweight and heavyweight strings alike. Let’s also keep in mind that this stainless steel spring is very durable and long lasting.
This unit comes complete with silicone padding. This silicone padding allows this capo to apply an ideal amount of pressure to the strings without applying too much.
The silicone padding also provides a secure grip so that it won’t slide around while in use. At the same time, it also helps protect the neck of your guitar from being scratched. All in all, this might just be our favorite guitar capo on the list today.
What’s to Like About the D’Addario NS Tri-Action Capo
Perhaps the best feature of the D’Addario NS Tri-Action Capo is the fact that it is adjustable. This automatically makes it extremely versatile. It can be used for a wide array of string types.
Moreover, being made out of aircraft grade aluminum is ideal too. It allows for high durability and a lightweight design. You might appreciate how it also comes with a built-in guitar pick holder.
What’s Not to Like About the D’Addario NS Tri-Action Capo
Some people note that this particular capo may actually produce too much tension for lightweight guitar strings. On a side note, the silicone rubber piece that protects the guitar neck might come off eventually.
Pros
- Very durable design
- Lightweight
- Secure grip
- Protects the neck of the guitar
- For acoustic and electric guitars
- Adjustable tension
- Easy to use with one hand
Cons
- Might have too much tension for light strings
- Some issues with the rubber padding on the rear
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Tanmus Guitar Capo
If you are looking for a super stylish, lightweight, and effective guitar capo, then this one might just be it. Let’s keep in mind that this is also by far the most affordable guitar capo on the list today. It might not be expensive, but it still works just fine.
Product Highlights
One thing that you should be able to appreciate about this particular guitar capo is the fact that it is made out of zinc alloy. This is an extremely durable material. It shouldn’t bend or break anytime soon. It can definitely handle a lot of punishment.
At the same time, this particular guitar capo is also very lightweight. It comes in at just 2.1 ounces heavy. It’s got enough weight behind it to actually work, but not so much that it weighs down your guitar neck. It helps avoid feeling a draping sensation when you are playing.
What is also worth noting is that the design of it is very user-friendly. You can easily adjust this unit with one hand and move it back and forth without much effort.
Next, this unit also comes complete with a very strong stainless steel spring. It does actually produce quite a bit of tension.
Technically speaking, this capo is designed for acoustic and electric six string guitars. Moreover, it is designed for guitars that have high resilience steel strings. It does produce a whole lot of pressure. When in good shape, this guitar capo should also apply even pressure across your frets.
This capo does also come with nice rubber padding. For one, this rubber padding helps to keep it in place, so it doesn’t slip around. It has a very secure hold on the neck of your guitar.
At the same time, this rubber padding also helps protect your guitar from being scratched by the capo itself. On the main arm, you also have rubber padding which serves to press the strings down quite efficiently without causing any damage.
What’s to Like About the Tanmus Guitar Capo
Something that we like about this guitar capo is the fact that it comes complete with a guitar pick holder as well as four guitar picks. Moreover, it’s just a fairly durable and lightweight unit that is also user friendly. There is also of course the fact that it comes in at a very reasonable price.
What’s Not to Like About the Tanmus Guitar Capo
Although it is a perfectly fine guitar capo for the price, it’s probably not the number one most durable or longest lasting unit out there. This is especially the case when it comes to the stainless steel spring. After a while, it may start to lose its tension and apply uneven pressure.
Pros
- Great price
- For acoustic and electric guitars
- High quality zinc alloy design
- Lightweight
- Applies even pressure
- Ideal for thick and heavy strings
- High quality rubber padding
- Easy to use with a single hand
Cons
- The spring will start to lose tension over time
- Cannot be adjusted for tension
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LRONG Guitar Rolling Capo
As far as the rest of the capos on our list are concerned, this is definitely the most unique one here today. This is a rolling guitar capo that is made out of high quality materials, yet is also lightweight.
Product Highlights
This is perhaps one of the most unique guitar capos on our list today. The reason for this is of course because it is a rolling capo. In terms of getting it onto the neck of your guitar, you do have to take apart the connector, put it on the neck, and then reattach it.
It is slightly more difficult to attach to the neck of your guitar than the spring loaded models that we reviewed above. With that being said, once it is in place, it stays in place very well. This is perhaps more so the case with this style of guitar capo than with the spring loaded ones we have reviewed above.
Due to the style of this unit, because it has one spring on both sides instead of just one spring, it applies very even pressure across the fret board. Generally speaking, this style will apply more even pressure than the others that we have talked about today. That said, it is of course a bit more difficult to work with.
However, this kind of rolling capo is pretty unique because you can easily move it around on the fret board. You don’t have to detach it to move it. You just have to use the finger roller on the rear. The finger roller on the rear is made out of soft rubber.
It’s hard enough to be very durable, but soft enough to ensure that it doesn’t damage your guitar. It’s also soft enough to ensure that it produces great grip on the neck of your guitar, so it doesn’t move around unless you move it.
The front of this unit, the part that presses down the strings, is also made out of soft yet durable rubber. It has just the right texture and consistency to hold down those strings without any buzzing or rattling.
It is also worth noting that all of the metal components used here, the stainless steel, is also very durable.
What’s to Like About the LRONG Guitar Rolling Capo
The fact that this is a rolling guitar capo is very cool in itself. It’s very easy to move around once you have it on the guitar neck. This makes it quite versatile. Moreover, for all of its durability and its lightweight, it actually comes in at a very reasonable price.
What’s Not to Like About the LRONG Guitar Rolling Capo
Due to the design of this unit, getting it on and off the fret board is a little difficult. Although this unit does have dual stainless steel springs, they will still wear out eventually.
Pros
- Great price
- Very durable for the price
- Lightweight
- Works for most stringed instruments
- Applies even pressure across the board
- Can roll back and forth
- Good grip
Cons
- Can be a bit difficult to attach
- The springs will wear out eventually
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Buyers Guide
There are a few things that you need to consider before you go out and buy a guitar capo.
Type of Capo
The first thing to consider here is the type of guitar capo that you want. There are actually many different kinds, including, reversible, trap, rolling, yolk, spider, spring loaded, full, and partial capos.
It is honestly too much to cover right now, but we recommend doing some more research in terms of which is best for you.
That said come as you can see, the majority of products we reviewed today are spring loaded. These tend to come with a good mix of durability, low weight, good tension, and overall functionality.
Fingerboard Shape
The next thing to consider here is that the shape of the capo matters too. Fingerboards on guitars may be curved or radiused, or flat. You need to make sure that the guitar cable in question is designed for the specific fingerboard shape that your guitar features. Some models out there do allow for adjustments to be made to fit different fingerboard shapes.
The Type of Guitar
Mostly all guitar capos out there will be specifically labeled in terms of what they are best used with. For instance, some are designed only for acoustic guitars whereas others are designed for only electric guitars, and some for both.
Also keep in mind that some are better used with guitars that have softer strings whereas others are best used with guitars that have stiffer strings. Also keep in mind that some units will work with only six string guitars, whereas others may also work with twelve string units.
Material – Weight & Durability
The next thing that you want to consider is the material that the guitar capo in question is made out of. As you can see, many of the ones reviewed today are made out of either zinc alloy or stainless steel.
Generally speaking, a lightweight yet durable metal like those two is completely perfect for this purpose. you need something durable enough to take abuse, yet also lightweight enough to not negatively impact the performance of your guitar.
The Rubber
You do also want to look for a guitar cable that has good rubber padding. That rubber padding serves many purposes. On the front of the unit, this rubber padding is required to press the strings down and to prevent them from buzzing. On the rear, the rubber is used to keep the guitar capo securely in place. It’s also designed to help protect your guitar neck from being scratched by the capo itself.
FAQ
Are guitar capos good for beginners?
Guitar capos are considered ideal for beginners as they can help make learning how to play the guitar much easier.
Do capos fit all guitars?
Although there is some variation, most standard guitar capos will fit most standard guitars.
Do you tune a guitar after putting a capo on?
With the right tension, a good capo should not cause your guitar to go out of tune. Therefore, you should tune your guitar before putting the guitar capo on.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best guitar capo out there, it has to be the D’Addario NS Tri-Action Capo. It’s not cheap, but it is durable, lightweight, and adjustable too. You really can’t ask for anything more than that.
