Shubb C7 and C8 Partial Capos

Two great capos for simulating alternate tunings.

November 1, 2023

Most guitarists are familiar with standard capos. Used to change the instrument’s overall pitch, capos are typically used to retain familiar fingerings in different keys or to match a singer’s vocal range. Capos that only partially cover the strings are less straight-forward. Pioneered by players such as Harvey Reed and Chris Proctor, partial capos are usually used to create voicings similar to those in alternate tunings without retuning the guitar. They can also be used to create sounds that aren’t possible in standard or alternate tunings. In the old days, players would cut up standard capos to create partial versions, but today, you can buy the most common variations right off the shelf. Shubb Capos’ C7 and C8 capos ($32.95 each) are two of the most popular options, and in this video, I demo both and discuss how they can be used.

Both the C7 and C8 use Shubb’s familiar over-center locking mechanism and silicone padding. The C7 is designed to cover three inside strings and is most commonly used to create the same open string sound as DADGAD by placing it at the second fret so that it covers strings three, four, and five. Another popular use is to install it so that it covers strings two, three, and four at the second fret, which creates an open A chord shape. There are, of course, many creative ways to use the C7, including using it in combination with standard capos. The C8 is designed to cover five strings, leaving one of the outside strings open. Installed at the second fret with the sixth string open, it simulates dropped-D tuning.

The great thing about partial capos is that they can create alternate tuning–like open string voicings without retuning the guitar. This means that any fingering above the capo remains the same as in standard tuning, so you can play familiar scales, barre chords, licks, etc. Shubb’s C7 and C8 work with most steel-string guitars (and some nylon-strings, depending on their string spacing) and are a simple, inexpensive way to experiment with new sounds and expand the guitar’s tonality.

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