- The type of capo you are using: Some capos, such as spring capos, can change the tension of the strings slightly, which can affect the tuning. Other capos, such as lever capos, do not change the tension of the strings as much.
- The type of guitar you are using: Capos can also affect the intonation of your guitar. If you have a guitar with a floating bridge, it is important to be careful when tuning with a capo on, as the bridge may move out of alignment.
- The type of music you are playing: If you are playing music where tuning accuracy is critical, such as classical music, it is generally best to tune without a capo on. However, if you are playing music where tuning accuracy is not as critical, such as rock or pop music, it is often fine to tune with a capo on.
Here are some pros and cons of tuning with a capo on:
Pros:
- It can be faster and more convenient to tune with a capo on, especially if you are tuning a lot of different capoed positions.
- It can be easier to get a consistent tuning across all of the capoed positions.
- It can help to keep the capo from slipping out of place while you are tuning.
Cons:
- As mentioned above, capos can change the tension of the strings slightly, which can affect the tuning.
- Capos can also affect the intonation of your guitar.
- If you are playing music where tuning accuracy is critical, it is important to be careful when tuning with a capo on.
Overall, whether or not you should tune with a capo on is a matter of personal preference. If you are unsure, it is best to experiment and see what works best for you.
Here are some tips for tuning with a capo on:
- Use a capo that does not change the tension of the strings as much as possible.
- If you are using a guitar with a floating bridge, be careful when tuning with a capo on, as the bridge may move out of alignment.
- Tune each string individually, paying attention to the intonation.
- Once you have tuned all of the strings, play a few chords to make sure that the tuning is consistent across all of the capoed positions.