using capo or not/playing from chord charts

Hi everyone,

I have a question to ask about use of the capo while playing from
chord charts or "fake books". I'm playing accompaniment on electric
guitar in this instance.

At the moment I'm playing the beatles song, "Michelle", and according
to the "beatles fake book", the song is in the key of Ab. Well, I
haven't analyzed the song thoroughly, but it has 4 flatted notes in
the key signature.

I've been following the tab as I'm practicing the chord progression,
and few of the chord shapes here and there are kind of difficult at
first because I'm not accustomed to playing in THAT key, I'm still a
relative beginner to guitar as I haven't been playing for that long,
though I do have some years playing music on other instruments.

So my question is, should I attempt to play the chords according to
the tab as written, or should I use the capo to "cheat" to arrive at
that key and use chord shapes that I'm more familiar in another key
that I've done a lot more practicing in? Isn't that how most would
approach it...whether they be a beginner or not?

I've done some reading up on the song online and have noticed mention
of the song being originally played with use of a capo, supposedly.
However, the "beatles fake book" doesn't seem to reflect that (I
wonder if any of them do?).

I guess I *could* practice this particular song without using the
capo.

Well, what I was really wondering ...should I practice playing this
Beatles song, Michelle, in that particular key WITHOUT using the
capo,which will have some "chord shapes" in first position area that
I'm not particularly practiced at, or for the sake of expediency
should I approach this song (and others like it) by opting to use a
capo by default to "cheat" and arrive at that key? Perhaps what I'm
driving at is:: why learn a bunch of new shapes for a key that I
probably won't play much of anything in when I can use the capo and
just use shapes I already know ..and didn't McCartney originally capo
up his guitar for the song?

thank you for reading and I will certainly appreciate any responses
you may have to offer,
tysteel
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: miscellaneous questions
    ... on my CD's they refer to the 5 string chord that one gets ... fret, and then strumming strings 1 through 5, as an A minor cord. ... the song. ... that call for a capo at the first fret. ...
    (rec.music.theory)
  • miscellaneous questions
    ... on my CD's they refer to the 5 string chord that one gets ... fret, and then strumming strings 1 through 5, as an A minor cord. ... the song. ... that call for a capo at the first fret. ...
    (rec.music.theory)
  • Re: Combing blues and mixo scales - how is it done?
    ... "Okay I need to start off playing a D ... entire progression with a C major scale using your ear to determine ... C major scale if it's a sweet song. ... All I was trying to say was if you use a chord based approach ...
    (alt.guitar.beginner)
  • Re: Some beginner questions
    ... "don't worry about scales...just play songs". ... Now I use Guitar Pro for tabs and playing along, ... Tascam to play along with the real song at the slowest tempo and work ... and play that chord, I'm only playing part of the chord for that particular ...
    (alt.guitar.beginner)
  • Re: I IV V songs...
    ... >> I'm looking for a little help here on playing I IV V songs. ... > internalize a song. ... you'll find that the 4th note would be the root of the IV chord. ...
    (alt.guitar.bass)