In the video above, we show you how a partial capo guitar setup can give you the sound of alternate tunings — without actually retuning a single string. If you’re new to capo techniques, start with our complete our guide on how to use a guitar capo to get the fundamentals down first.

A partial capo is exactly what it sounds like: instead of clamping all six strings, you only capo some of them. The most common approach is to place your capo from below the fretboard at the second fret, covering strings 2 through 5 (or sometimes 1 through 5) while leaving the low E string completely open. This gives you something that sounds remarkably like Drop D tuning — but in a different key and without touching your tuning pegs.

How Partial Capo Guitar Setups Create New Sounds

When you capo five strings at the second fret and leave the sixth string open, every chord shape you play gets shifted up by a whole tone. A D shape becomes an E. A G shape becomes an A. An E minor shape becomes F sharp minor. But that low open E string stays right where it is, giving you a deep bass drone underneath your chord voicings.

The result is a wide, rich sound with real depth. You get the brightness of capoed chords ringing out higher on the neck, combined with that full, low bass note. It’s a similar effect to what you hear in Drop D tuning, where players love letting that low D string ring under everything they play.

Setting Up Your Partial Capo

You can use a regular spring-loaded capo for this — just attach it from below the fretboard instead of from above. Position it so the low E string sits outside the capo’s clamp and rings freely. Make sure the capo isn’t touching or buzzing against that open string.

Some players prefer a dedicated partial capo (like the Spider Capo, which lets you choose exactly which strings to clamp). But a standard capo applied upside-down works surprisingly well for this technique.

One important tip: always check your tuning after placing the capo. Clamping down on strings tends to push them slightly sharp, and even a small pitch shift can make your playing sound off — especially if you’re recording or performing.

What Makes This Different From Drop Tuning

In standard Drop D tuning, you lower your sixth string from E down to D. That changes the interval between your two lowest strings from a fourth to a fifth, which means your familiar chord shapes on those strings no longer work the same way.

With a partial capo, you avoid that problem entirely. Your guitar stays in standard tuning. The low E string is still E. You just get the benefit of capoed chord shapes ringing higher while that bass note holds steady underneath. It’s a great compromise — the sound of an alternate tuning with the comfort of standard tuning chord shapes.

Chord Progressions to Try

Start with simple open chord shapes. Play a D shape (which now sounds as E), then move to a G shape (now A), and an A shape (now B). Let that low E string ring through each change. The contrast between the bass note and the capoed chords creates a full, almost orchestral sound that works beautifully for both strumming and fingerpicking.

If you like experimenting with creative capo techniques, be sure to check out our post on double capo tricks — another way to get unique sounds from your standard-tuned guitar.

Give the partial capo a try at your next practice session. It’s one of those techniques that sounds complicated but is actually simple to set up — and the results are immediately rewarding.