In the video above, we take a hands-on look at the Planet Waves NS Artist Capo with tuner — a clever little accessory that combines two essential guitar tools into one. If you’re building your capo toolkit, be sure to visit our full learn how to use a guitar capo for tips on getting the most out of any capo you own.

D’Addario (Planet Waves) designed this capo to solve a real problem: every time you clamp a capo onto your guitar, your tuning shifts slightly. Having a tuner built right into the capo means you can check and correct your pitch without reaching for a separate device.

How the Capo With Tuner Works

The tuner is built into the body of the capo and uses three LED indicator lights — green in the center for in tune, and orange or red on either side when you’re sharp or flat. It’s not a full chromatic tuner that tells you what note you’re on. Instead, it tells you whether the note you’re playing is in pitch or not. For quick checks between songs or after repositioning the capo, that’s usually all you need.

The tuner picks up vibrations directly through the capo’s contact with your guitar neck, so it works even in noisy environments. You don’t need a quiet room to get an accurate reading — a big plus for live performance situations.

Build Quality and Feel

One feature that really stands out is the adjustable tension control on the back. Many spring-loaded capos apply a fixed amount of pressure, which can cause problems. Too much tension pulls your strings sharp. Too little and you get buzzing. This capo lets you dial in exactly the right amount of force for your guitar’s neck width and string gauge.

The grip feels comfortable in your hand — it has a slightly textured surface along the top that keeps it from slipping when you squeeze. The overall build feels solid without being heavy.

What We Liked

The convenience factor is the biggest win here. You already need a capo and a tuner at every gig and practice session. Having them combined means one less thing to keep track of. The tension adjustment is also a standout — we wish more spring-style capos included this feature.

It also works while capoed, registering vibrations through the neck contact. So you can tune up right after placing the capo without removing it first.

What Could Be Better

The tuner is limited. If you need to know exactly what note you’re playing — say, when using alternate tunings — you’ll still want a full chromatic tuner. The three-light system is great for quick checks but not for detailed tuning work.

The battery for the tuner is also something to keep an eye on. It’s a small cell battery, and if it dies mid-gig, you’re left with just a capo (which, honestly, is still perfectly fine).

Who Is This Capo For?

If you play live or jam with others regularly, this is a practical addition to your gig bag. The built-in tuner saves time between songs, and the tension control means you’ll stay in tune more reliably than with a basic spring capo.

For players who want to see what else is possible with capos, we have posts on the Spider Capo and double capo tricks that are worth checking out.

Overall, the Planet Waves NS Artist Capo with tuner is a solid, practical tool. It does two jobs reasonably well in one compact package — and for most playing situations, that’s exactly what you want.