Meet Your Songwriting Secret Weapon

PG contributor Tom Butwin reveals his favorite songwriting secret weapon: the partial capo. Watch how the Shubb C7 and C8 can simulate alternate tunings without retuning your guitar—and spark fresh creative ideas instantly.Shubb C8b Partial Capo for Drop-D Tuning - Brass

The C8 covers five of the six strings, leaving either the low E or high E string open, depending on how it's positioned. Standard setup: Placed on the 2nd fret while leaving the low E string open, it simulates Drop D-style sounds—except you're still in standard tuning (key of E). You get that big, droning bass feel without retuning. Reverse setup: Flipping the capo allows the high E string to ring, giving you shimmering drones and new melodic options across familiar chord shapes. A flexible tool that lets you simulate alternate tunings and create rich sonic textures—all while keeping your guitar in standard tuning.Shubb C7b Partial Capo for DADGAD Tuning - Brass

The C7 covers three of the six strings—either D, G, and B or A, D, and G—depending on how it's flipped. Typical setup (D, G, B): Creates an open A chord shape at the 2nd fret without needing your fingers. This frees you up for new voicings and droning notes in the key of A. Reversed setup (A, D, G): Gets you close to a DADGAD-style tuning vibe, but still keeps you in standard tuning—great for modal, spacious textures often found in folk or cinematic guitar parts. Use it alone or stack it with the C8 for wild, layered effects and truly out-of-the-box inspiration.