ADJUSTABLE CAPO DEVICE FOR FRETTED STRINGED INSTRUMENTS

摘要

An inventive set of small devices (‘capo elements’) to mechanically secure a string or strings of a guitar or other fretted stringed instrument at selected fret positions in order to selectively vary the string vibrational length and pitch when the string is plucked. This plurality of capo elements comprises a series of individual rectangular shaped blocks having formed on their upper portions a groove running parallel to the strings so shaped as to secure the string using an interference fit, thus preventing vibration at the distal end of the string and changing its pitch when plucked. Said capo elements feature a lip in the underside of the proximal portion of each capo element, so shaped as to overhang the raised fret, to ensure correct positioning of the capo element, and to secure the string at the same length as would otherwise have been achieved by fretting the string in the regular manner. Said capo elements have an adhesive bottom surface to secure them temporarily to the instrument fretboard. Said capo elements are made of a hard plastic so as not to dampen any vibration and deaden the tone, and are so sized as to enable them to be used adjacently on the same fret without impeding the movement of the musician's fretting hand. A plurality of capo elements are provided, one for each of the strings, though the musician has the option to leave desired strings unaltered without fitting capo elements. After use, the elements are removed manually and should not mark the fretboard.

主权项

1. A capo element for use with a fretted stringed musical instrument having a fretboard surface containing a plurality of frets and at least one string stretched between two points to provide a vibrational length of string that overlies the plurality of frets on the fretboard surface, the capo element comprising:
a body a groove in one of the faces of the body, which groove is configured to accommodate and mechanically secure the string part of the way along its length, wherein the groove has a width that prevents vibration of the string beyond the capo element thereby selectively setting the vibrational length of the string to be between one of the two points and the capo element, and an adhesive on another of the faces of the body that can secure the capo element to the fretboard at the desired position.