Hi
In my 50+ years of playing banjo, I've never felt the need to place the capo behind the nut. I spent many years playing semi-professionally, and on stage there was always time between numbers to take the capo from my pocket, fit it where necessary and adjust the tuning if required. I guess it's just down to personal preference. I don't like the untidy look of the capo behind the nut, and yes I suppose it could affect the tuning.

Hi, HSmith
It could have been me, who had written your post! I'm 78, and started playing semipro, in the early 1970s. I can only conclude, that the reason people park their capo behind the nut, is to show off what expensive, trendy versions they can afford.

Some capos are now designed to be parked there, and they don’t affect the tuning if not tightened. However, there is a danger they slip back on to the fretboard if not tightened slightly.
When performing on stage, I have found it convenient to park them behind the nut. Yes, there is normally time to fish one out of your pocket between numbers, but not if you are switching instruments to guitar, mandolin, etc, and also trying to hold the audience’s attention as the band’s MC as well.
What I think is more visually distracting though is the current trend to leave clip-on tuners on the headstock, which looks rather amateurish to me. If retuning on the hoof, I’m old enough to manage it by relative tuning across the frets (a technique that is likely to be lost with the current reliance on electronic tuners surely).

If you want to kick the habit of putting your capo behind the nut maybe you need a banjo like mine

I certainly agree with Jerry's comments about clip-on tuners. I've also seen banjos where the peghead finish is marked through prolonged contact with the cushioning material in the tuner attachment. I use my device to initially tune the banjo, I then remove it and make any tuning adjustments during my playing session by ear.

It's your capo, park it wherever you want to. I put mine behind the nut and am not a professional player. I don't put it there so people can see how much it cost; what a statement. I put it there because it will go there. I don't over tighten it so no, it does not affect the tuning. It does keep me from misplacing it. It does allow me to play in different keys reasonably quickly, without having to fish it out of my pocket back and forth. My t-shirts don't have pockets anyway. Its' case is in another room so that option is out. It is in my banjo case when my banjo is in its' case however.

Bobby

I use Elliott and Shubb capos. The Elliotts rest just behind the nut and don't affect tuning. You develop a "feel" for how to tighten them so they don't slip around. It's not difficult. I hang the opened Shubb capos in my left pants pocket with the lever-handle outside the pocket for easy access. Elliotts don't hang in a pants pocket well unless you open them all the way, which kind of defeats the purpose. Cause then you have to close them when you put them on the banjo.

As always, WWED (What Would Earl Do?). He rested his homemade capo behind the nut.

As noted previously: it doesn't affect the tuning as long as you don't overtighten it.

As to why do it? Because I always know exactly where it is, that's why! After I lost my third Shubb at a jam, I switched to stirrup-style capos and store them behind the nut. Haven't lost one since. The only time I take them off is when I'm changing strings - and putting the capo back is the final step of that process.

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Originally posted by eagleisland

As noted previously: it doesn't affect the tuning as long as you don't overtighten it.

As to why do it? Because I always know exactly where it is, that's why! After I lost my third Shubb at a jam, I switched to stirrup-style capos and store them behind the nut. Haven't lost one since. The only time I take them off is when I'm changing strings - and putting the capo back is the final step of that process.

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In your situation, I would do exactly the same. A very sensible reason.

I hang my Shubb in the corner of my pants pocket just like Dick described. I take my Paige off and stick it in my shirt pocket. I don't like to leave the capo behind the nut because it interferes with my left hand when I use the D tuners.

I've used Shubb capoes for decades because of their preset function.
Simply flip the lever shut for application.
It lives in my right side shirt pocket as in most chamois shirts.
If I'm wearing a left pocket only shirt the capo waits in my left pants pocket.
Wherever I can grab it with my left (pick-free) hand.
I like how it is ready to play as soon as clipped on.

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Originally posted by steve davis

I've used Shubb capoes for decades because of their preset function.
Simply flip the lever shut for application.
It lives in my right side shirt pocket as in most chamois shirts.
If I'm wearing a left pocket only shirt the capo waits in my left pants pocket.
Wherever I can grab it with my left (pick-free) hand.
I like how it is ready to play as soon as clipped on.

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+1,  Shubb in the shirt/pant pocket or hanging from the strap under the heel is how it's dun.

I use a Paige D capo for playing up to the 4th fret. I can't go higher up the neck due to the long Shubb capo. I installed (using a small piece of double sided tape) a small piece of wood under the strings just above the nut. The capo rests there with a little bit of tension. The plastic sleeve fell apart so I fitted a Shubb one. It works well.

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Originally posted by BobbyE

It's your capo, park it wherever you want to. I put mine behind the nut and am not a professional player. I don't put it there so people can see how much it cost; what a statement. I put it there because it will go there. I don't over tighten it so no, it does not affect the tuning. It does keep me from misplacing it. It does allow me to play in different keys reasonably quickly, without having to fish it out of my pocket back and forth. My t-shirts don't have pockets anyway. Its' case is in another room so that option is out. It is in my banjo case when my banjo is in its' case however.

Bobby

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Well said!

If folks are waiting for you to put your capo on and get in tune you might want to consider what's slowing you down.

First of all, I've spent a lot of money on banjo capos that just didn't work for me. The most recent was last month. This one in particular is a ukulele capo that I had long before I started playing banjo. I think it cost me six dollars. What do I like about it? It is small, it is fast, I can snap it on one handed, and it stores out of the way and not hanging on the head. What I don't like about it? It doesn't get me into the cool kid crowd. I just clip it there on the pot when not in use, where it is handy.
 

Alas, I'm no real help .... I was trying to come up with some combination of capo + garage, or (car)park, or some such notion where we park things. Then, "put it where yer Granny can't see it." popped into my noggin ... and now I fear I've emptied my well of creativity.  

in my pocket ...

I don’t put my capo behind the nut anymore. I used to but my left hand would bump into it and it knocked against the peg head leaving marks on its edge. Now I tuck it into the flange hole closest to me and it’s ready to go.

It depends upon the situation. I have a tobacco tin that holds my picks, string winder, slide, tuner, and capo. If it's an informal jam, it goes where it's handiest. For performing, tuner, capo, and picks go in convenient pockets (vests are very good for this). I use Shubb capos. I don't use spring capos and, if I did, they wouldn't go on the peghead. My tuners leave the peghead as soon as they've done their duty. I don't consider pegheads, especially inlaid ones, to be storage space.

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Originally posted by Paul R

My tuners leave the peghead as soon as they've done their duty. I don't consider pegheads, especially inlaid ones, to be storage space.

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I agree. I don't think it is a bad thing, I've done it, but in the end I just don't like a bunch of stuff clamped at the end of the neck like that. It starts looking like a cellphone tower.  I bought a Paige yoke style capo thinking it would be handy and fast, but it was neither, at least for me. I really wanted to like it, but In the end I gave up on it. That old ukulele capo I pictured in my previous post seems to win out every time.

I use open-ended capos--specifically, Shubb or Planet Waves NS. I usually insert the end of the bar (or whatever you call it) into one of the holes in my flange when I'm not capo'ing.

"What I think is more visually distracting though is the current trend to leave clip-on tuners on the headstock, which looks rather amateurish to me."

Kids these days, eh?

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Originally posted by Barnacle Joe

"What I think is more visually distracting though is the current trend to leave clip-on tuners on the headstock, which looks rather amateurish to me."

 

Kids these days, eh?

 

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I don't want to get into a "thing," but orchestras, jazz bands, etc. manage to play in tune just fine without everyone permanently clipping a digital tuner onto their instruments. Admittedly it does have some utility in a studio recording setting, as well as in certain  live environments where it's hard to hear yourself. But otherwise, yeah, use it then put it back in the case.