Best Guitar Capo — Buyer’s Guide
A guitar capo is a small device that clips onto a guitar’s fretboard. It shortens the length of the guitar’s strings in order to raise their pitch.
Raising the pitch of the guitar can surely unlock new ways for a player to express their creativity and find new interesting sounds.
There are capos that differ in build materials, form, and type of guitar they’re built for. In this article, we will break some of the best capos and help you find the right one.
The Comparison Table
To help you better see similarities and differences between capo models we review in the article, we have come up with this table. Here you can see fundamental features that the reviewed capos have: this way, you can take a quick look at a particular model and see if it has something you’re looking for.
You will find more detailed reviews on each capo below the table.
| Product | Build material | Dimensions | Compatible instruments |
| TANMUS 3in1 Zinc Metal | Aluminum, silica gel | 3.39 x 3.15 x 0.45 inches | Folk, acoustic and electric guitar, ukulele, mandolin, etc. |
| WINGO Guitar Capo | Aluminum alloy, silicone | 3.2 x 3.1 x 0.47 inches | Acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, ukulele, mandolin |
| UGY Capo | Plastic steel, silicone | 4.72 x 3.35 x 0.71 inches | Acoutstic and electric guitar, ukulele |
| Kyser Guitars for Vets Capo | Aluminum, rubber | 4.1 x 0.5 x 5.8 inches | Acoutsitc, classical, electric guitar |
| WINGO Quick-Change Capo | Aluminum alloy, rubber | 4.2 x 3.4 x 0.8 inches | Electric and acoustic guitar, ukulele, banjo, folk guitar, mandolin |
TANMUS 3in1 Zinc Metal — The Most Variety
Design
Here we have a capo in a standard form — it has a handle that you can squeeze in order to release the spring and mount the capo on the fretboard. When the handle is released the spring expands back, locking the capo. The device comes in a selection of colors including matte black, glossy black, white, and several options with wooden textures.
Features
This particular capo is a well fit for a variety of instruments, like folk, acoustic, ukulele, mandolin, electric guitar, and other string instruments. The clip which presses the strings has a thickened silica gel layer to protect the strings and fretboard from scratching. On top of the clip, you can find a section where you can store your picks.
WINGO Guitar Capo — Best Acoustic Capo
Design
Another standard spring-based form factor. The primary material here is aluminum alloy, painted in this wooden texture. The clip itself has a thick silicone pad to protect the strings and hold them down nicely and tight. There are three colors to choose from: metallic white and two wooden finishes.
Features
That is surely the best capo for acoustic guitar, and it also works with electric instruments, including banjo, ukulele, or mandolin. The string mechanism can be removed with one hand while retaining a strong grip on the strings. This way, you will be able to quickly change the pitch of your sound by moving the capo on the fly.
UGY Capo — The Best Capo for Electric Guitar
Design
The string-based mechanism keeps the string pressed down really well. The black finish blends in with the guitar and does not disrupt the aesthetic of the instrument. The capo is built from lightweight plastic steel, with the string made of steel for the best durability and longevity. Unfortunately, the model offers only one color — black.
Features
Like the previous models, this capo features a spring mechanism that allows you to easily remove and mount it with just one hand. Doing so, the capo still holds the string well to produce the best sound possible. The thickened silicone padding protects the fretboard from scratching. The device is compatible with acoustic, electric guitars, and ukuleles.
Kyser Guitars for Vets Capo — Hands-Down the Best Capo for Classical Guitar
Design
Despite the traditional form, the Kyser model sports a flashy look to it. The design was produced in partnership with a non-profit organization “Guitars for Vets” that gifts the instruments to the veterans recovering from the effects of war. Apart from a more patriotic finish, we have here a variety of colors and ornaments including wooden textures.
Features
The clip mechanism is reversed to provide a better press on the strings. The primary material here is aluminum, with spring being made out of steel. The capo also features one-hand switching, meaning you can take it off and clip it back on with ease. The capo is made for 6-string instruments, so it will work great for acoustic, classical, and electric guitar.
WINGO Quick-Change Capo — The Great All-Rounder
Design
Wingo Quick-Change Capo brings a traditional form-factor with a couple of extra features: we have rubber padding not only on the slip but on the handle as well to make it easy to put the capo on and remove it from the fretboard. The only color available in black, which blends in nicely with the instruments and doesn’t attract too much attention. The chassis is made of aluminum alloy.
Features
The spring mechanism has an internal memory feature that helps to eliminate fret buzzes. On top of that, silicone padding on both sides of the clip protects the fretboard from scratching. The size of the clip allows the capo to work well with electric and acoustic guitars, ukulele, banjo, folk guitars, and mandolin
Best Guitar Capo — Buyer’s Guide
So, we have reviewed some of the best guitar capos out there. Now some other questions to answer are: what makes a great capo? How do you choose the capo that will satisfy your needs and work well with your particular instrument?
Don’t worry, we got you covered — here are some signs to look out for when shopping for the best capo:
Build quality. There are several materials that capos are made from. Some are made of plastic, which makes them lightweight and cheap, but they might not be strong enough in terms of longevity. Stronger capos feature an aluminum build, but they do come at a higher price.
Size. The size of the clip determines what instruments the capo can work with. Some can only sit on 6 string fretboards, meaning they will work with traditional acoustic and electric guitars. If you play a 12 string, or a classical guitar — make sure that the capo you buy has a clip large enough.
Spring mechanism. The spring mechanism is what keeps the strings pressed down to the fretboard. You have to make sure that it is made out of steel, so it is strong enough to keep the strings. Otherwise, you won’t get a clear sound when playing. On top of that, make sure your capo has a quick change feature: this way it will be easier for you to remove the capo and mount it back on.
Additional features. There is nothing that makes or breaks a deal for you, but some of those things can be nice to have. Some capos can have different color options and finishes you might like, while others come with additional guitar picks.
Conclusion
As you can see, guitar capos do not have much to stand out from each other: it’s the details that matter the most here.
Most of those do their job well, but you might need more than that. For instance, if you’re looking for a capo that will work with a ton of stringed instruments — WINGO Quick-Change Capo.
For those who need something extra like a guitar pick holder — there’s TANMUS 3in1 Zinc Metal.
Want to help a good cause and look cool while doing it — Kyser Guitars for Vets Capo features a variety of designs and donates its profits to G4V (Guitars for Vets) organization.
Hope that this article sheds a bit of light on capo shopping for you. Good luck!
FAQ
Unfortunately, there’s no tension adjustment.
No, the clip is a bit short for that. There’s another model B07CNV5J2W with a longer clip.
The clip is a bit curved to match the fretboard.
Kyser Guitars for Vets Capo: Has anyone used this on a classical guitar? I’m assuming it would be fine, it looks fairly universal, but I’d like to check.
The clip has a curve to it, so it might be tricky on a classical guitar.
It works very well on 6 string and 12 string guitars.
