A capo is an incredibly important tool, that every guitarist should own.
Not only does it allow you to quickly change the key of a song (to play easier chord shapes, or match the key of a singer), but overall they make it much easier to play certain songs.
This is why professional acoustic guitarists and electric guitarists alike always have one nearby.
However, with so many different styles and options available, it can be difficult to know which to choose.
In this buying guide, we’ll go over all of the best guitar capos and provide some buying advice, which will help you to choose the best capo for your specific instrument and playing style.
Quality Over Quantity
Before we go any further, I want to urge you to avoid the temptation to skimp on your capo.
There are hundreds of offerings for cheap junk out there. The truth is, if you decide that you’re only willing to spend $5 on a capo, you’re going to be left disappointed.
Cheap capos do not always provide equal tension across all of the strings, leading to buzzing and a worse playing experience. Having to adjust the capo a dozen times just to get each string to resonate is irritating and not something you want to have to worry about, especially if you’re a performer.
Cheap spring-loaded capos are also notorious for applying too much pressure to the strings (which you can’t adjust), pulling them sharp and throwing you out of tune.
Finally, they are also far more likely to break or lose tension over time, meaning you’ll have to pay to replace them anyway.
Therefore, it’s usually a much wiser idea to invest more money in a quality capo that will last years or even decades, as this isn’t really something you’ll need to ever replace (unless you lose it!)
With that out of the way, let’s go into our recommendations.
1. G7th Performance 3
Pros
- Adjustability both for tension and to the radius of your guitar’s neck.
- Very quick to put on and take off.
- Available in silver, black, and gold.
- Modern, sleek design that doesn’t draw attention.
- Lifetime warranty.
Cons
- Doesn’t fit guitars with more than 6 strings.
- Expensive.
If there were only ever one capo we could keep with us, it would probably be this one.
Straight away, you’ll notice that the G7th Performance 3 boasts a very, modern sleek design that doesn’t draw a lot of attention to it when you’re on stage. The capo is light and compact, making it very popular among touring musicians.
However, it’s in our opinion that functionality is more important than looks, and the G7th Performance 3 may just be the single best option available on the market today.
Here are some things we like about it:
G7th Performance 3 – The Pros
Unique Adjustment Capabilities Makes It Suitable For Any Guitar
The G7th Performance 3 is unique in the sense that is extremely adjustable.
Not only can you adjust the tension across the strings by pushing down on the top of the capo, the capo will also adjust to the radius of your guitar’s neck.
Essentially, you push the capo into place, and it stays there until you release it. This ensures a perfect fit and just the right amount of tension for your specific guitar – allowing all strings to resonate properly without being pulled drastically out of tune.
If you want to use it for multiple guitars (acoustic or electric), just repeat the process.
Quick To Put On, Quick To Take Off
Despite having so much adjustability, the G7th Performance 3 is very quick to use. Just slide it over the desired fret, clamp it down, and you’re done.
When you want to take it off or make an adjustment, just press down on the little switch on the side of the capo. The capo will release, and you can instantly move it wherever you’d like. This can be done easily with one hand, which can’t be said about all capos.
We will cover other adjustable capos on this list, but the fact that the G7th is so adjustable and quick to use is what landed it the top spot on our list.
G7th Capos Are Extremely Durable
This isn’t unique to just the Performance 3 – G7th capos as as whole are extremely durable. If you are looking for a ‘buy it for life’ option, this certainly may be it.
Although their performance line of capos only launched in 2004, we have used G7th capos for over 10 years that have had no noticeable damage whatsoever, with the exception of a few scratches.
G7th Performance 3 – The Cons
As a general all-around capo, there isn’t really anything negative that can be said about it.
The only issue you might run into is that despite its adjustability, it may not be large enough to fit on guitars with more than 6 strings.
For the general 6-string acoustic or electric guitarist however, there really isn’t anything to worry about other than its price.
2. Shubb Deluxe S1
Pros
- Fine-tune adjustment capabilities.
- Made from durable stainless steel.
- Replacement pads available if divets develop.
- Value option – great performance for the price.
- Very stable.
- Loved by artists of all genres.
- Similar Shubb capos are also available in black and bronze colors.
Cons
- Slower to put on.
- Lots of moving parts.
- Requires 2 hands to adjust.
- Readjusting takes time, if changing guitars.
- Can’t put it on the headstock of your guitar.
- May not fit guitars with larger necks.
Next up on our list, we have the Shubb Deluxe S1.
If you’re not looking to spend quite as much on a capo yet you still want an incredibly effective, quality option, the Shubb Deluxe S1 makes an excellent choice. It is used and loved by artists spanning all genres and styles, and is another one of those choices that you really can’t go wrong with.
Shubb Deluxe S1 – The Pros
Fine Adjustment
The Shubb Deluxe S1 features adjustable tension, meaning that you can adjust the tension that the capo provides to fit your specific guitar.
The Shubb is a little unique in the way it handles this however, using an adjustable screw you can twist and turn on the back of it.
This allows you to get very detailed and specific with how much tension is applied, allowing you to make really small adjustments. This helps you avoid applying too much tension, and potentially putting the guitar out of tune.
Made In The USA From Durable Stainless Steel
Shubb is another one of those companies that makes capos that last years or decades.
The Deluxe S1 is made in the United States from stainless steel, which doesn’t scratch or get damaged very easily. Even if it does get scratched, the low-profile nature of the capo makes these scratches difficult for anyone to see.
In venues with low or poor stage lighting, some audience members may not be able to see the capo at all – which many performing guitarists consider to be a plus.
Replacement Rubber Sleeves Available
If any part of the capo is likely to become damaged over years of use, it is likely to be the padding that actually presses against the strings.
It is possible for these to develop divets over time, where the strings press into it. This isn’t something we’ve ever had a problem with, but it is a possibility.
Rather than replacing the entire capo, Shubb sells replacement pads that can slip on and off, allowing you to get more life out of the capo. These run quite cheap – about $1 per sleeve, so it definitely beats replacing the entire capo.
Considering that the Shubb Deluxe is already one of the best acoustic guitar capos in terms of value, the option to replace the rubber makes it even better.
Shubb Deluxe S1 – The Cons
Slower To Put On, Versus Other Capos Available
Because the Shubb allows such a fine degree of adjustment, it unfortunately takes slightly longer to put on and adjust before it can be used.
In a home practice or studio section, this isn’t really a problem. Taking the extra time to get the absolute best sound is worth it. On a stage or in a performance setting though, it can become a little problematic if you need to make multiple adjustments throughout your set – especially since this capo requires both hands to really adjust it.
All of this is especially true if you are planning on using the capo for multiple guitars.
I wouldn’t say that the setup time is significant, but it is noticeably longer than some of the other capos on this list.
Lots Of Moving Parts
The Shubb certainly isn’t the simplest capo on this list.
In theory, more moving parts means that there are more points of failure (although I wouldn’t really consider that to be a problem with a quality capo such as this one.)
Although it’s not hard to use once you get used to it, the Shubb can look a little bit daunting to a beginner who hasn’t used one before. Therefore, it may not make the greatest gift for a new guitarist.
Shubb (adjustable for each guitar, replacement pad available if it develops divets, very durable) con – needs to be adjusted, slower to put on, can’t put on headstock of guitar, lots of moving parts
You Can’t Put It On The Headstock Of Your Guitar
This one may not be important to some people, but you can’t really keep the Shubb on the headstock of your guitar when you’re not using it.
Some people really like doing that, so I wanted to include it.
3. Kyser Quick-Change Capo
Pros
- Very quick to put on and adjust with one hand.
- Dozens of color options available.
- Can stay on your headstock when not in use.
- Lightweight.
Cons
- Tension is not adjustable.
- Separate version recommended for electric.
- Large, bulky and noticeable.
Another incredibly popular option, the Kyser Quick-Change Capo makes our list for the best guitar capos available. But what makes it so great? Let’s look into it a bit further.
Kyser Quick-Change Capo – The Pros
Quick To Put On
Living true to its name, the Kyser’s best feature is arguably that it can be put on and off quickly, and with only one hand.
This capo uses a spring to clamp the capo down on the guitar, without any ability to adjust it. This means that if you place it correctly, you shouldn’t need to do anything else.
Dozens Of Color Options Available
If you’re looking to personalize your capo to fit your style or match the color of your guitar, there is a seriously large number of color options available (which you can view by clicking here.)
Not only do you have standard solid colors such as Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, etc, but you also have a number of patterns available such as camouflage, the American flag, and tie-dye.
Quite frankly, it’s neat having a capo that suits your style, especially if aesthetics are important to you. We’ve also found many parents purchasing Kyser Quick-Changes for children, both due to the ease of use but also due to the fact that options are likely available in their favorite color. That being said, the tension with this is strong, and young children may have difficulty actually using it on their own.
Kyser Quick-Change Capo – The Cons
Tension Is Not Adjustable
The biggest con of the Kyser Quick-Change Capo is that the tension is not adjustable.
Like many of the cheaper capos on the market, the Kyser Quick-Change uses a spring mechanism that clamps the capo down as far as it can go. This means that it applies more tension to your strings than you might like, throwing them more out of tune than the other two capos mentioned so far.
However, the selling point is that it’s quick to use. You can generally trust that you’ll be able to quickly throw the Kyser on and have the strings resonate without fret buzzing – important during a live show.
Bulky
Like many capos of this style, the Kyser Quick-Change is quite large, bulky, and noticeable to others.
If you are someone that prefers something that doesn’t draw much attention, it would be best to go with another option on this list.
Of course, if you are playing by yourself, this may not matter as much.
Separate Version Recommended For Electric
The Kyser Quick-Change really is tight – even on bulky acoustic guitars.
Therefore, the company recommends purchasing a separate version for use on electric guitars, which you can view by clicking here.
If you were looking for something that could be used on both acoustic and electric guitar, there are better options available if you don’t want to purchase two separate capos.
4. D’addario Pro Capo
Pros
- Adjustable tension.
- Slim, ergonomic form factor.
- Lightweight.
- Single-handed operation.
- Fits 12-string guitars.
- Available in black, silver, gray, and bronze.
Cons
- None
D’addario Pro Capo – The Verdict
The Planet Waves D’Addario NS Pro Capo is a solid all around choice with no real drawbacks.
In all honesty, there isn’t a lot to say about other than it looks good and it works. It also fits 12-string guitars, so if you have one of those, you can use it for that too.
Tension is adjustable to the micrometer using the screw-like mechanism in the back. Although I wouldn’t say it’s quite as good as the G7th or the Shubb, it is much cheaper than the G7th and much quicker to use than the Shubb.
Therefore, it’s a solid all-around option that I can’t really say anything negative about.
5. Paige Original 6-String Acoustic Capo
Pros
- Adjustable tension.
- Fits over the nut when not in use on most guitars.
- Paige may send replacement sleeves if one wears out.
- Despite its name, this capo will work for most electric guitars.
Cons
- May not be the best choice for performers with multiple guitars.
Paige Original 6-String Acoustic Capo – The Verdict
If you take a look at the Paige Original capo, you’ll immediately notice that it looks quite a bit different to the other capos on this list!
The Paige Original is a yoke-style capo. Rather than clamping on, it rests around the neck of your guitar entirely, and features a tension screw to fully adjust the tension for a smooth contact with your strings.
When you’re not using it, you can take it off or simply move it up over your guitar’s nut, where it has no effect.
Unfortunately, this style of capo takes slightly longer to put on, which makes it a sub-optimal choice for guitarists that frequently change between guitars.
Still, this capo will happily live on your acoustic or electric guitar’s neck, and if by chance the rubber sleeve ever wears out we have heard that Paige will send replacements free of charge. We have not tried this ourselves though, so take that with a grain of salt.
Overall, the Paige Original 6-String Acoustic Capo does a good job of applying just the right tension to the strings, relatively quickly. It is not as fast as the G7th Performance 3 or the Kyser Quick-Change, but for a york-style capo it is a fantastic choice.
Special Capos
In this next section, we’ll look over a few capos that I consider to be for ‘special circumstances ‘ – such as certain types of guitars, or just novelty capos that not everybody would use or need.
Therefore, if you’re just after a regular, plain capo for your acoustic or electric guitar, there isn’t much need to read further. Each of the options above are a fantastic choice and will serve you well.
Still, a couple of the capos I’ll mention below are very interesting as well, so I wanted to share them in this article.
The Best Capo For Classical / Flamenco Guitar: G7 Performance 2
Pros
- Adjustable tension.
- Slim, sleek design.
- Very quick to put on and take off.
- Available in silver, black and gold.
Cons
- Expensive.
G7 Performance 2 – The Verdict
If you compare the Performance 2 to the Performance 3 mentioned earlier in this article, you’ll notice that they look almost the same.
There are a lot of similarities between the two. Both use the unique tension control system that allows you to simply squeeze the capo to your desired tension – ensuring that you neither have it too loose (causing fret buzz) or too tight (pulling your guitar out of tune.)
Both also feature the quick release system, allowing you to simply pull the lever on the back to release the capo.
There are a couple of key differences though. The Performance 2 doesn’t have the adjustment system to conform to the radius of your guitar’s neck, although frankly for classical or flamenco guitar it doesn’t need it.
Most importantly, the Performance 2 is longer and shaped to fit both the width and the shape of a classical guitar’s neck.
By purchasing a capo specifically for your classical or flamenco guitar, you ensure that you can get it on and off and seamlessly as possible, without the need for excessive adjustment.
The Best Capo For 12-String Guitar: Shubb Deluxe S3
Pros
- Fine-tune adjustment capabilities.
- Made from durable stainless steel.
- Replacement pads available if divets develop.
- Very stable.
Cons
- Slower to put on.
- Requires 2 hands to adjust.
- Readjusting takes time, if changing guitars.
- Can’t put it on the headstock of your guitar.
Shubb Deluxe S3 – The Verdict
Perhaps the best 12-string guitar capo is the Shubb Deluxe S3.
Like classical guitars, 12-string guitars have different physical properties that warrant a unique capo.
Although some capos may work for 12-string guitars, it’s best to purchase a capo specifically made for 12-strings when possible.
The Shubb Deluxe S3 is designed almost identically to the Deluxe S1, it is just a bit larger to accommodate the wider and thicker necks of 12-string guitars.
This means that it has the same benefits and drawbacks as well.
The Shubb Deluxe line of capos are incredibly precise and you can get a wonderful sound out of them – adding just the right amount of tension to make the strings resonate. This comes at the expense of taking a little bit longer to setup than other capos available on the market.
However, most guitarists won’t be switching between 12-string guitars as frequently as they would say, a 6-string acoustic to a 6-string electric, or switching between two 6-string acoustics. This makes the setup time a bit less of an issue for 12-string players.
In any case, Shubb capos are build to last and honestly you probably won’t ever need to replace it. If any part were to wear out, it would be the rubber sleeves, which Shubb sells replacements of for about a dollar per piece.
Glider Capo By Greg Bennett Co
Pros
- Unique design allows you to simply roll the capo up and down your guitar to change key.
- Can be stored above your guitar’s nut when not in use.
- Fits acoustic, electric and classical guitars.
- Handmade in the USA.
Cons
- Tension is not adjustable.
- It takes a little practice to use without pulling it off the strings.
Glider Capo – The Verdict
If you’re looking for a really unique capo that will allow you to change key in the middle of a song, this Glider capo by Greg Bennett Co is very neat!
Essentially, it uses a rolling mechanism on the back to allow you to move it up and down your guitar’s neck without having to take it off or adjust it.
You’re able to do this one of two ways – you can either use your thumb on your playing hand to push or pull it, or you can take your strumming hand and roll it on the top.
Although it doesn’t roll quite as seamlessly as the sales videos would suggest, key changes within a song can easily happen without having to stop.
It’s a very neat concept, especially if you want to change key frequently and open yourself up to new songwriting and performance capabilities.
The only downsides to the glider capo is the tension is not adjustable, and it takes a little bit of practice to be able to roll the capo up or down without pulling it off the strings. This is something that you could get used to quite quickly though, so I wouldn’t necessarily consider it to be a huge con on its own.
While we would still recommend something like the G7th Performance 3 or the Shubb for a standard first capo, this is a great one to play around with and have with you as a backup. As a bonus, it can be stored above the nut when not in use, so acoustic guitarist’s especially may let this one live on their guitar.
Creative Tunings SpiderCapo
Pros
- Very unique design allows you to capo individual strings, rather than all of them.
- Opens up the possibility for hundreds of different tunings.
- Multiple SpiderCapos can be used for additional possibilities.
- Tension is adjustable for each string.
- Fits acoustic, electric, and classical guitars.
Cons
- Significant setup time.
- Not recommended for beginners.
Probably the most interesting and unique capo I’ve ever seen is the Creative tunings SpiderCapo.
With the SpiderCapo, you’re able to selectively choose which strings you want the capo to press down, leaving some open and unaffected. Then, you can can play on either side of the capo.
As you can imagine, this allows you to create some very unique and creative tunings that would otherwise be impossible. Some people even use multiple spider capos at once to take things a step further.
I’ve got to be honest, this capo is best suited for intermediate to advanced guitarists – beginners are unlikely to make the most out of it until they’re ready to experiment with different tunings.
With strange tunings, – something that’s very possible on the SpiderCapo, it’s harder to make pleasant sounding chords, and much of what you’ve learned so far may no longer apply. However, there are guides available online that give some recommendations, so don’t be afraid of it! You can always use it like a normal capo anyway.
In any case, this can be a lot of fun to play around with if you’re the type of person that really likes to try new things out.
As for the capo itself, it’s solid and does its job provided you take the time to set it up. The biggest complaint is that you have to set it for each individual string, so it’s not as easy as simply throwing it on and taking it off. If using this in a live setting, you may want to keep the capo either on a separate guitar or plan your setlist so someone is addressing the crowd while you adjust the capo.
If you’ve been playing guitar for a while and you don’t already have one, I highly recommend trying it out! It also makes a great gift for guitarists that don’t yet own one as there really isn’t anything else like it.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve covered all of the best capos for acoustic, electric, and classical guitar. We’ve also discussed some options for flamenco and 12-string guitars as well.
We’ve been careful to select capos that are a grade above the rest, and in all honesty you can’t go wrong with any of the capos listed here.
Although the G7 Performance 3 is our number one pick for a general use capo, each of these are a fantastic choice and will serve you for years to come.
If you have any questions about any of the capos on this list, or purchasing guitar capos in general, feel free to let us know by leaving a comment via the form below. We’ll always do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you for reading, and I hope that you enjoy your new capo!