Capo on my Megatar

[TheEclectic]

I purchased a G7th Performance Classical guitar capo for use on my Megatar. I put it on the 2nd fret (the first fret that does not have the dampening) so that I can play it like a guitar, with open strings and such. The capo overshoots the treble course and captures the first two string of the bass course, but that is not much of a problem.

I have always tuned my Megatar to guitar intervals and with the capo on the 2nd fret it is tuned exactly like a guitar.

I have been playing my classical repertoire on it and it is not been that hard, but I have been very surprised that I keep forgetting passages – muscle memory is a strange thing. I often have to pick up a guitar to help bring my finger patterns into consciousness so that I then play it on the Megatar.

With my modified strap location I can position the Megatar like a guitar and can achieve a very comfortable position by placing my right leg on my classical guitar foot rest (as opposed to the left leg, which is the traditional classical guitar seating position)

My right hand fingering is over the fret board, but I have found that it does not interfere with my technique. I was even doing tremolo with good success.

I am contemplating doing a YouTube video, just for the heck of it. We shall see.

I hope that one day this will open the door to classical style with some added bass – but that day is a good year or two away.

[traktor]

Wow, that sounds really cool. A photo of the capo would be neat, if not too much trouble.

Even better, I vote for the video; I'd very much like to see that.

One comment I have. On a normally tuned Megatar (with bassbottom tuning), the lowest four open-string guitar notes would fall at fret three.

So on a normal BassBottom tuning a person would just drop the highest two strings a half step, and at fret three -- presto! -- standard guitar tuning. (From lowest string up it would be E - A - D - G - B (!) - E.)

However, in your case, I assume that your instrument is tuned just slightly lower, so that your EADGBE falls at fret two, where the double dots are. Correct? Am I understanding you right?

[TheEclectic]

I assume that your instrument is tuned just slightly lower, so that your EADGBE falls at fret two, where the double dots are. Correct? Am I understanding you right?

That is correct.

I use custom string gauges to give me more string tension. The standard Megatar strings are to loose when tuned like this and when I play the Megatar like a guitar the strings tend to bend to easily - creating chords that are out of tune.

I vote for the video

Give me a month or two. I would like to do something I have not yet videoed, but I may end up taking the easy road and doing a remake of an existing piece.

I will be sure to post when I have done so.

--

I can see several non-traditional techniques that can be applied to the Megatar and that is one of the reasons I like it. Trouble is I still suck as a player and it will take me years of diligent practice to be able to pull-off my visions. Little did I know what I was getting myself into.

[TheEclectic]

OK, here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEjF051cDQA

Lots of open strings and a few overtones to boot.

Water Sign Excerpt -- Dmitry Zemsky
From 'Exotic Guitar' by Uros Dojcinovic -- Mel Bay

Proof of concept: Megatar using a G7th Classical Guitar Capo to play the tap instrument like a guitar.

Tuning at capo: E A D G B E

Voices:
VG-88v2: Nylon II
VG-8s1: Last June
VG-8s1: VioOrch2
V-Bass: Fretless