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Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 19:25:31 -0500
Subject: Questions about Bouzoukis

Hi,

Hi John,

Glad to assist:

I am looking for a bouzouki but I have never really tried one. Is it true that capoing a bouzouki works like a charm?

It can work effectively...however, I've never had any call to capo one...If an off-key arises, within a session or performance, I've found it very easy to play a zouk out of the closed positions. The zouk is designed to be played in any key with ease...yes, there are new chordal positions to be learned...even so, after learning a few closed chord positions, they easily repeat themselves up and down the neck as inversions...

If you feel the need to use a capo, this would work fine on a Bouzouki...I believe the banjo capos fit it best...as would also be applied to the Octave and Mandola.

Does the instrument not lose its intonation even if capoed as high as the VIIth fret?

It depends on how well the zouk is set up...along with how well the bridge is adjusted...it would be the same principle as playing a barre chord with the index finger...it should also sound in tune even at the 7th fret...now, I'm not sure why you would need to capo at the 7th fret...however, I believe whatever works for the individual artist is best...my only suggestion, and to become more adaptive to any playing situation, would be to learn the entire neck both chordally and melodically...then you can face any playing challenge that may arise...yet, with the option of using a capo if you wanted.

If so, why is it? I can't do such a thing on the guitar.

Well, again, if the guitar is true to pitch, you should be able to capo to the 7th fret without a problem...I can capo my guitars at the 7th with very little retuning...Tension on the capo is critical too...a Shubb Capo, with tension screw, works superior to other cheaper capos...since you can adjust the level of tension applied...the thicker portion of the neck, at the 7th fret, requires far less tension than the first few frets...

Keep on pickin', Mickey

Thanks in advance.

John

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