A partial capo covers only some of the strings, leaving the rest open, which creates open tunings and drone effects without retuning. The most common type covers the A, D and G strings at the 2nd fret, raising them to B, E and A, so the open strings sound as E, B, E, A, B, E.
What is a partial capo?
A partial capo covers only some of the strings, leaving the rest open, which creates open tunings and drone effects without retuning the guitar. A full capo covers all six strings and raises the whole guitar by the same interval, but a partial capo covers only two, three or five strings, so the covered strings go up and the open strings stay where they are, and the combination creates a new tuning, with some strings raised and some open. The result is a sound that is neither a normal tuning nor a full capo, but a hybrid, with open strings ringing as drones and the capoed strings providing the harmony. The most common partial capo covers the A, D and G strings at the 2nd fret, raising them by a whole tone: the A string becomes B, the D string becomes E, and the G string becomes A, so the open strings sound as E, B, E, A, B, E, from the low E string to the high E string. That tuning is open and ringing, with the low E and the high E both sounding as E, and it is used for songs that need a drone, a constant open note that rings underneath the melody. The capo calculator works out full capo positions, and the E major guitar chord shows the chord the partial capo tuning is built around.
How a partial capo works
A partial capo works by pressing down only the strings it covers, so those strings are shortened and raised by the capo fret, while the open strings are not touched and stay at their normal pitch. A partial capo on the 2nd fret covering the A, D and G strings raises those three strings by two semitones, and the low E, the B and the high E strings stay open, so the guitar is in a new tuning that is part capoed and part open. The strings that are capoed can still be fretted, and the open strings ring freely, which is why the sound is so open and resonant: the guitar is using open strings in a new tuning, with the capoed strings providing the harmony. The partial capo is also used to simulate a Drop D tuning, by covering five strings at the 2nd fret and leaving the low E string open, which gives a low, ringing bass note under the chords. The partial capo is a creative tool, not a transposing tool: it is used to create new sounds, new tunings, and new voicings, not to change the key of a song, and it is popular with fingerstyle guitarists, who use the open strings as drones and the capoed strings as melody notes. The D major guitar chord and the E major guitar chord are the chords the partial capo tunings are built around.
Worked example — the 2nd fret partial capo. Put a partial capo on the 2nd fret, covering the A, D and G strings, and play the open strings. The low E string is open, so it sounds as E. The A string is capoed at the 2nd fret, so it sounds as B. The D string is capoed at the 2nd fret, so it sounds as E. The G string is capoed at the 2nd fret, so it sounds as A. The B string is open, so it sounds as B, and the high E string is open, so it sounds as E. The open strings are E, B, E, A, B, E, which is an open, ringing tuning, with the low E and the high E both sounding as E, and the A string providing the colour. The fretboard note finder shows the notes at any fret.
How to practise with a partial capo
Practise by playing open chords with a partial capo, so you hear the drone notes ringing underneath the chords, and learn to use the open strings as part of the harmony.
- Put a partial capo on the 2nd fret, covering the A, D and G strings, and play the open strings, listening for the tuning E, B, E, A, B, E.
- Play an E shape with the partial capo on, and listen for the open strings ringing as drones underneath the chord.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major with a partial capo, and notice how the open strings change the sound of the chords.
- Try a partial capo on a different fret, such as the 4th fret, and work out the new tuning by counting semitones from the covered strings.
- Use the fretboard note finder to work out the notes of any partial capo tuning, and write the tuning down before you play it.
Common mistakes
- Treating a partial capo like a full capo — A partial capo does not transpose the guitar, because it only covers some strings, so the key does not change in the same way. A partial capo creates a new tuning, not a new key, and the chords must be worked out from the tuning, not from the capo fret.
- Forgetting which strings are open — A partial capo leaves some strings open, and those strings are part of the tuning, so forgetting them will make the chords sound wrong. Always work out the full tuning, open strings and capoed strings together, before you play.
- Using a partial capo without a reason — A partial capo is a creative tool, and it should be used because the sound is what you want, not because it is a shortcut. If the sound is not what you want, use a full capo or no capo, and save the partial capo for the songs that need its drone sound.
Quick reference
This table shows the tuning that a partial capo creates, string by string, so you can see which strings are raised and which stay open. The three middle strings, A, D and G, are capoed at the 2nd fret and raised by a whole tone, while the low E, the B and the high E strings are open and stay at their normal pitch.
| String | Normal note | With partial capo (2nd fret) |
|---|---|---|
| Low E (6th) | E | E (open) |
| A (5th) | A | B (capoed) |
| D (4th) | D | E (capoed) |
| G (3rd) | G | A (capoed) |
| B (2nd) | B | B (open) |
| High E (1st) | E | E (open) |
Use the table to work out the tuning of any partial capo: find the strings it covers, add the capo fret to their notes, and leave the open strings where they are. When you can work out the tuning of any partial capo without looking, you can use it creatively, and you will never be confused by a partial capo tuning again.
Frequently asked questions
What is a partial capo?
A partial capo covers only some of the strings, leaving the rest open, which creates open tunings and drone effects without retuning. The most common type covers the A, D and G strings at the 2nd fret, raising them to B, E and A, so the open strings sound as E, B, E, A, B, E.
How is a partial capo different from a full capo?
A full capo covers all six strings and raises the whole guitar by the same interval, while a partial capo covers only some strings, so the covered strings go up and the open strings stay where they are, creating a new tuning with drones and open notes.
What is a partial capo used for?
To create open tunings and drone effects without retuning, and to get new voicings and new sounds that a full capo cannot give. It is popular with fingerstyle guitarists, who use the open strings as drones and the capoed strings as melody notes.
Can I make a partial capo from a full capo?
Some full capos can be used as partial capos by covering only some strings, but a dedicated partial capo is designed for the job, with a shorter rubber pad that covers only the strings it is meant to cover.
Does a partial capo change the key?
Not in the same way as a full capo. A partial capo creates a new tuning, with some strings raised and some open, so the key must be worked out from the tuning, not from the capo fret alone.