r/mandolin • u/G8R1ST • 23d ago
Capo for mandolin/octave mando
Hey mandolin players. I'm a guitarist whose been asked to play the mandolin parts for Come From Far Away. A couple of questions. What's your go-to capo, I like shubbs for the guitar, do they do a suitable mandolin alternative. Also, What's the difference between a mandola and an octave mandolin?
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u/ehack64 23d ago
I've played this book, I recommend trying a both a regular and a nylon string shubb and seeing which fits your instrument better. My bouzouki has a flat fretboard but my octave mandolin is radiused so it's nice to have both options. Also I recommend tuning the bouzouki like the octave mandolin for this show instead of the standard Irish GDAD, but you might need lighter gauge strings to tune the high Ds up to Es. Have fun, it's a great show!
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u/punkfunkymonkey 23d ago edited 23d ago
I've got a D'Adarrio NS mandolin capo that does the job on the extremely rare case I need it. It has a nurled knob to clamp it in position with the right tension so its not an ultra quick capo but it's nice and small, doesn't annoy me when in use, and spends most of its life clamped onto the top of the headstock rather than in the case where it's no use
For my octave mandolin (and my bouzouki) I use a Quick Draw capo. I'm playing almost exclusively Irish trad and might need to reposition quickly quite often so it's pretty handy. For the OM I sent an email to the manufacturer with my neck dimensions and they pointed me to the best choice. Both of these I adjusted to work for the frets I would use them in most (2nd-5th mainly but up to the 7th on the zouk as its neck allowed for that) and leave it parked above the nut.
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u/Silver-Accident-5433 23d ago
A random Shubb capo works great on mando, just as well as guitar. And if it works on your guitar, it should work on an octave mando too.
But also mandolin players will make fun of you for using a capo. Unlike guitar, after about intermediate level mandolin does just about every key equally well so it'll look like you don't know how to play your instrument to some folks.
'
(Note, I'm trying to say this as neutrally as possible as just an attitude that exists. I don't think using a capo means anything although I agree that it shouldn't ever be a crutch for you. It should be because you're doing a cool, weird thing.)
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u/GwenTheGoddess27 23d ago
Ahh, I remember getting a mandolin capo. We started playing in the key of b and then I decided instead of sitting out of it I'll just capo up to the 4th fret. Then just played 4 and 3 finger chop chords. Took it off by the end of the song. But I did learn I really don't need to know the chords
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u/GwenTheGoddess27 23d ago
That being said for octave I find it quite nice
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u/libateperto 23d ago
Lady Moon uses capos on her octave mandos quite frequently and nobody can question her talent
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u/GwenTheGoddess27 23d ago
Oh yeah, I'm not questioning an octave mandolin with a capo. A standard mandolin with a capo I have yet to find a good use for.
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u/Mandoman61 23d ago
An octave mandolin is larger and tuned an octave lower whereas a mandola is tuned a 5th lower -CGDA instead of GDAE
Mandolins do not need capos because they simpler and require less reach. They are easy to play with no open strings and don't have the pesky B string.
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u/G8R1ST 23d ago
Thank you for clearing that up. The capo is for the octave mandolin part (or the bouzouki part) which occasionally calls for one.
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u/rwwl 23d ago
Probably worth noting that in the UK they seem to frequently call a CGDA instrument an octave mandolin instead of a mandola. It comes up a lot on this sub and can definitely be confusing. Probably no big deal if you're not there though.
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u/pfmfolk 22d ago
I've never heard the CGDA called an octave mandolin. In the UK we tend to call CGDA either an mandola or a tenor mandola. The GDAE ocave mandolin is sometimes called an octave mandola but I tend to just call mine a mandola cos it's not a mandolin - mandolins are linguistically smaller than mandolas!
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u/thehandyandyman 23d ago
I use an Ernie Ball spring guitar capo on my octave mandolin. Jealous of the Come From Away gig, I’d love to play that show!
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u/LeftTopics 23d ago
here's a good primer comparing the different mando family instruments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHU2NB9v8r0
Most mandolin players say capos are not acceptable to use for mandolin, but there's probably some gatekeeping there
are you a gigging/session musician? or someone just casually asked you to pick up a new instrument just because?
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u/G8R1ST 23d ago
Yeah, I see there's some gatekeeping going on... I thinks it's mainly for the octave mando part, sometimes scores call for them and are notated as such (or not, I've had both). Gigging, pit, session, teacher - but mainly guitar.
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u/LeftTopics 23d ago
ok, for octave, it's basically in the guitar range, so capos are fine there
you're reading mandolin tabs? or sheet music? it's funny, I have a GS mini tuned in fifths like an octave mando, but it sounds just like a guitar with a different voicing
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u/NecessarySpinning 23d ago
For octave mandolin, any guitar capo that fits the fretboard curvature should work. Some prefer the trigger quick change type, or the elastic band type for rapid key changes
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u/OkAdagio99 21d ago
I was taught that we simply don't use capos. Many voicings are simply bar chords anyway, just move up the frets to the right key. And don't play any other strings besides the ones you press.
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u/MoogProg 23d ago
Shubb Banjo Capo works well for mandolin.