Information and Advice on Installing 5th String Capo Spikes When Purchasing a Banjo

Information on adding 5th string capo spikes when purchasing a banjo

Our prices to install capo spikes are reasonable or in many cases, free, depending on which banjo you are purchasing.
You can choose which frets to add them too with a drop down menu that appears just above the Add to Cart Button for the banjo you are purchasing.
You can choose either the 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th frets or a combination of these.

More Information and Background on 5th String Capo Spikes

Unlike a guitar when you place a banjo capo that covers four strings of the banjo, the 5th string of the banjo needs to be capoed separately.

Someone unknown (who should receive a great deal of credit) started using HO Railroad Train set spikes to use as hooks to install on a banjo fretboard for raising the pitch of the 5th string to match where the normal capo is placed. These "spikes" are sometimes call nails for 5th string, 5th string tacks or hooks.

After the spike is installed you simply slip the string under the spike and it raises the string pitch.

This is by far the most widely used method for capoing the 5th string on a banjo and has been for the last 40 years.

These are important to have. Banjo players use a capo often to play in different keys. A capo is sometimes called a "Cheater" because with a capo you still play what you already know in Open G tuning but you can be in a different key.

A first time beginner player should also have capo spikes installed for these very good reasons.

• First, a practical one, its not easy to find some who can do it. To do this later down the line will likely be more expensive and an inconvenience.
• Second, just because you are not playing with others yet and may be satisfied to just practice in open G, using a banjo capo some times is good for your learning process. It actually makes the banjo easier to play. Using the capo brings the frets closer together which can help new students "break through" sometimes. The strings will feel tighter and can make moves such as pull-offs and hammer-ons easier to get the hang of.
• Third, it breaks things up by giving the same old thing you've been practicing over and over a new sound. That can be critical in renewing your interest and can help you get you out of learning ruts.
• And...Many of the songs you are learning like Cripple Creek are fiddle tunes, and most fiddle tunes are meant to be played in the key of A. To play in the key of A on the banjo you just put the capo on the 2nd fret and under the 7th fret spike on the 5th string. Most fiddle tunes just sound better in A and seem to have a lot more punch.

Here are the options for which frets to install the 5th string capo spikes on

IMPORTANT:
You choose which frets to add them too with a drop down menu that appears just above the Add to Cart Button on the page of the banjo you are purchasing.
You can choose either the 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th frets or a combination of frets.

Adding them to Frets 7 and 9 is the most common and what I recommend if you're not sure what to get.

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7th Fret spike is for when a banjo capo is on the 2nd fret  - Key of A
8th Fret spike is for when a banjo capo is on the 3rd fret  - Key of Bb
9th Fret spike is for when a banjo capo is on the 4th fret  - Key of B
10th Fret spike is for when a banjo capo is on the 5th fret - Key of C

Add 5th string Capo spikes at the 7th fret only
Add 5th string Capo spikes at the 7th and 9th frets - Most common
Add 5th string Capo spikes at the 7th, 9th and 10th frets
Add 5th string Capo spikes at the 7th, 8th and 9th frets
Add 5th string Capo spikes at the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th frets