Strumstick Capo

Model CAP
A capo is a device for clamping all the strings at a particular fret, changing their pitch.
On Guitar it simply changes the key. On the Strumstick, it changes the key, but also changes the type of scale you get.
Almost any capo you may have can be used. Ours is a small elastic strap type, by Bill Russell, originally made for banjos.

Standard (G) Strumstick
Capo at 1st fret gives key of A minor
Capo 3rd fret gives C major
Capo 4th fret gives D minor

Grand (D) Strumstick
Capo at 1st fret gives key of E minor
Capo 3rd fret gives G major
Capo 4th fret gives A minor

Why does the capo change the scale ?
The Strumstick frets are in an irregular pattern to give a diatonic (major) scale. This pattern (W=Whole tone, H=Half tone) is: W W H W W W H. If you capo at the first fret, you raise all the strings by a whole tone (to A, on the Standard Strumstick) but you also change the pattern of frets to: W H W W W H W. This pattern gives you a minor scale now in key of A. Some of the fret patterns you get with a capo are useful, some are less so. Generally frets 1 (A minor), 3 (C major), and 4 (D minor), or even 8 (G, an octave higher), give the best results. Keep in mind that the extra fret (the flatted seventh) may please or annoy you, depending on which fret you are capoed at. Also, if you are using an alternate tuning you will get different results. Experiment!