Tommy Emmanuel: Capo discussion: Guitar Workshop Feb 9, 2013 San Francisco 

When you see this guy giving all of himself to this audience and interacting with them so personally and naturally without any airs and graces you tend to forget that this is one of the worlds finest guitarists, on a par with such untouchable artists as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.

Tommy is one of the guys who are hard to not admire and love.

What a wonderful human being...there is still hope for humanity

I'm still a beginner but whenever I watch Tommy play, I can tell that this guy is godly. He inspires me. I can already see myself playing his style- in my dreams

Tommy is awesome! It all starts with who he is, he brings his enthusiasm for life into the music and that's what makes him so special.

Tommy is such a master of the craft and generous with all his fans. Such a positive guy. Thanks Tommy!

A truly humble guy that is one hell of a player and a hell of a nice fella. Who else can make a Capo seem so interesting?

This really should end the capo discussion. Laziness is in the player. Not the tool.

what a lad he has a great sense humour, just one of the boys.

Love Tommy, he shares all his secrets generously.

College: used to play guitar in my dorm stairwell a LOT, and loved loved loved my capo. One day, I can't find my capo in my dorm room. Look all over the place, never find it. Bought a new one. Months later, I'm in a young lady's dorm room, and I see a guitar capo latched onto a shelf in her closet. Surprised, I ask her about it. She says she had no idea what it was, but she found it in the stairwell, and realized it would be a great hook on which to hang jackets and such. Mystery solved.

Love this man and the feeling in the music!

I bet Shubb appreciates Tommy's shout-out. One nice thing about the Shubb capo is a tension adjuster that can be set looser so it doesn't pull the strings so sharp. I use Shubb partial capos because they have the lowest profile with the least parts protruding so I can jump down and play the non-capo’d strings between the capo and the nut then jump back above with the least interference. Attach a partial capo at the 2nd or 4th fret and it will change your world. Anyone using capos regularly will notice the rubber sleeve eventually starts slipping. Remove the rubber sleeve then use a hacksaw to cut shallow slots across the bar every 1/8" above and below where it presses the strings then push the rubber piece back on. I did that about six months ago and haven't had that problem since.

Great tips, especially the tuning issue!

Wow...he articulated everything I've ever felt about being onstage. I thought there was something wrong with me for feeling like that. Seems I'm not alone in feeling that way when performing. ❤

I appreciate how much detail he puts into his work.

Yes!!! A Shubb! That’s what I use! However, I put it on from the bottom so I can cup it in my hand and apply pressure to get it in place. Shubb makes great capos!!

he just shares everything, every lick and trick every bit of stage buisnness how he prepares and paces his act, entertainers as a rule DON'T DO THAT. they are secretive and protective they put up smokescreens. lest someone steal their act. i guess he figures no one can steal his act. he's probably right

This guy is my idol

the king of guitar never let down !!!

I saw a kid on RU-vid do that years ago very smoothly

This guy is so many worlds and levels above the rest of us it's unreal

Thanks so much Tommy.

Tommy is such a genius. Always looking for the edge.

This is one of the best bits of advice I've ever seen!

Inspiring and fascinating! Life ain't a rehearsal right!

You are lucky people watching at this workshop as well as the benefits you will be able to achieve from tommy's great ideas and experience. AND NOW,GET WORK ...Good luck!!!

I never use the word: Best as it pertains to musicians - but Tommy Emmanuel is among the Greatest Guitar Players on the planet. ( nice, humble guy too ). Love him.

Thank you so much for posting this... I just love Tommy.. He is my idol.

Mahajohn. Great story about the capo in the wind. Use to play on the stairwell in my dorm at UMass! Great memories! Even though the young lady found it Ill bet you got the reward lol!

Tommy... I Friggen love you! You are amazing!

Other thing that helps is to crank the reverb as Tommy does and it helps to hide to hide the out of tune strings some. It is a way to full the ear, Like using vibrato when playing slide.

a great heart... bringing joy

I really wanna see him does this capo throwing move live

Tommy is simply the best, top bloke.

This guy is so cool. It seems like the real great players are like that. I mean the people the public doesn't really know out right. Like Eric Johnson, I met him once and he was the coolest guy. I just found out about Tommy Emmanuel from a friend of mine. This guy is fantastic!

Tommy might be the first to throw a capo off during a song, but I feel sure I saw Dave Rawlings whip one out of his pocket and put it ON during a number (with Gillian Welch). I can’t find that vid now, can’t remember what song it was, maybe I dreamt that ??

Thanks for the upload, i used to find the trigger capo's pulled my guitar out of tune, but i'll try this now and see if it helps, Thanks master :) more words of wisdom from the guitar god :) we love ya Tommy! can't wait till 12th and 13 of March 2 nights of Tommy and Martin Taylor can't wait.

How many time have you find a guitarplayer throwing off his capo in one tune. Well, actually I do. But, I would never compare myself to Tommy. He's amazing in many ways! :)

You will probably find that one capo is better than another as its curvature matches your fretboard curvature. I found the best capo to use was a Thalia as it has interchangeable inserts and I found one that matched my guitar.

Nick thank you for posting these videos of TE! Just discovered his music. Cool to hear him discuss it.

сибирский привет!!!! Спасибо, Томми, от души!!!!!💞🙋💕🎶🎼

Thank you Sir Tommy!

Whenever someone asks me what a capo is, I always tell hem it's something you clamp on so you can sing higher.

Kyser makes different capos that have the same shape. I don't think places like Musicians Friend sell them all so it seems like they only make one. He may have one acoustic and one electric Kyser capo.

thumbs up for the capo throw!

What model is that gold capo? I have a Shubb, and it's great, but I also want a quick release one.

Try the G7 company for capos

Trace Bundy has a tune where he uses 4 or 5 partial capos, and whips them all off in sequence, at the end... Look it up, if you get a chance... "Hot Capo Stew" - Trace Bundy.

Tommy is like the Tom Hanks of guitar. His saying would be "life is like fingerstyle guitar, you have to start with the thumb"

Tommy you need the Glider capo

Does anybody know what's d sound hole pick up being used here?

@6:49 I toss my capo just before the solo in Hotel California. "You can check out anytime you like (*Toss Capo*)...but you can never leave." Solo! :)

Tommy : thanks bro

I've read the comments and I've come to the conclusion that my Martin 12 and my Ovation 6. Ate soon the be firewood. LOL

Tommy should have True Temperament Frets.

what is the name of the capo he is using?

Yes but can he play smoke on the water..

thank you for this video :-)

More wisdom from THE guitar god.

Love this man so I do

Kyser capoes are the best...not too much tension unlike Dunlop's

What's the first song he was plays?

The last guy that picked up the capo , ....why did he not , stuff it in his pocket and turn and dash ....that would of given him a laugh. Dave

Elliot Capos are the best!

and what type of thumb picks he uses

come to think of it, ive never seen chet use a capo

He is so funny

Anyone know the make of the capo Tommy's throwing!

His hands are huge XD

Paige capos…the best

What capo did he use?

this is why I am not a professional guitar player

Nero's think every detail.All ordinary people don't.They go where the fence is lowest.

Haha! Tommy is a fuckin legend

Tommy, never confuse your trousers for your capo -- you'll frighten the younger members of the audience.

paige capos are as great as shubb. but of course you cant throw them off immediately

So funny how one says that the Shub is the baddest capo and another says Shub is probably the best, just figure it out for yourself and play the capo of your liking.

Awareness personified!

Irish Trad players have been doing the moving/throwing off the capo thingy for donkey's years

Can he play "more than words", if not then nick jonas > tommy emmanuel

So which capo is the quick-change one?

You are different.

A man

i seen it few times actually, but who cares :D

tommy has only 1 ear

a capo can b used for the sole purpose of a transposing tool..Example; you been playing a song in D, C, G...but now you want to try it in E. playing a D shape with the capo on 2nd fret becomes E sound. C shape, becomes D sound..G shape sounds like an A..Now take the capo off and play E, D, A..The capo for me, is my quick reference transpose tool. I don't think a great deal of guitar players have discovered this simple little way of transposing.....??

well he kinda look like tom hanks...

A free guitar lesson from the legendary Tommy Emmanuel is not good enough for 19 people.

My guitar teacher wouldn't let me use a capo years ago. He said that lazy guitarists use a capo and you should be able to transpose chords. Not that I'm sayin' Tommy is lazy. Just sayin'.

Lol! Epic fail tossing the capo, showing off a little me thinks! He is a great showman but no Segovia.

THIS GUY NEVERS PLAYS A SONG. FAKE MUSICIANS. NEVER PLAYS A FULL SONG. THROWS A CAPO, LOL