A banjo capo can be used to change the key in which you are playing the banjo simply clamping the capo onto the banjo’s neck. When using a banjo capo, one disadvantage is that the fifth string, or top string on a five-string banjo, is not as long as the bottom four strings. This necessitates the use of a separate capo for the fifth string. Once the capo is in the desired position on the banjo neck, you can eliminate the need for a separate capo tuning the fifth string to the desired pitch. When the banjo capo is placed on the banjo’s neck, the instrument can be played normally.
A banjo capo is used in the same way that a guitar capo is used, with one exception: a capo designed for use on a banjo usually consists of two parts. A separate fifth-string capo is commonly used in conjunction with the common banjo capo in order to properly capo the fifth string. A bracket is screwed onto the banjo’s neck to secure the fifth-string capo. Simply slide the fifth-string capo down the neck as many frets as you intend to place the banjo capo and tighten it in place on the fifth string once it has been installed.
While many capos are self-adjusting, others are not, and must be adjusted properly to produce a good sound and avoid damaging the banjo neck. Simply squeeze the capo open and place it on the neck at the fret you want to play at with a self-adjusting capo. You’ll need to position an adjustable banjo capo on the banjo’s neck at the desired location and tighten the tightening nut until the capo is just snug in the open position. The banjo capo is clamped tight on the neck once properly adjusted, and you can play the banjo just like you would without it.
You can simply install the main capo onto the neck of your banjo and tune the fifth string to the proper pitch to work with the capo in place if you don’t want to drill the neck of your banjo and install a bracket for the fifth-string capo. This can be done with an electronic tuner or tuning ear, which is a more traditional method. To use this method, simply place the banjo capo on the instrument and pick the fourth and fifth strings until the pair produces proper intonation.