Pre-Order Shipping Note: Orders containing an Andy McKee “Motion in Form” Pathfinder Capo will ship together once the pre-order item is available. If your order includes additional in-stock items, those items will be held and shipped with your Andy McKee capo beginning in mid-October.

Andy McKee Pathfinder Capo – Motion in Form

Andy McKee is widely recognized as one of the most transformative figures in modern acoustic guitar. With albums such as Nocturne, Dreamcatcher, and the landmark Art of Motion, he helped define a new vocabulary for the instrument—one built on alternate tunings, percussive techniques, and deeply expressive composition.

His early YouTube performances became a viral phenomenon, introducing millions to fingerstyle guitar in a way that had rarely been seen before. Among them, “Drifting” became a defining performance, while “Rylynn” revealed another side of Andy’s creativity—and an early connection to Shubb.

For “Rylynn,” Andy famously used a Shubb C5 banjo capo as a partial capo, positioned from the bass side across four strings at the fifth fret, making the capo itself an integral part of the song’s distinctive tuning and voice.

That creative use of a Shubb capo helped begin a relationship with Shubb founder Rick Shubb that has continued for years. Now, as Art of Motion celebrates its anniversary, the Pathfinder Artist Series brings that history full circle. This special edition celebrates an album and an era that helped reshape the reach of acoustic fingerstyle guitar, while honoring Andy’s enduring instinct to explore the instrument in unexpected ways.

Two Capos — One Pathfinder Design

For this Pathfinder release, we created two distinct Andy McKee models.

The Steel-String Guitar Capo is a traditional six-string capo, designed for everyday use across all six strings.

The Banjo-Size Capo connects directly to Andy’s history with Shubb. Made to the same specifications as the Shubb capo he famously used as a partial capo on “Rylynn,” it can be positioned from the bass side to cover four strings at the fifth fret—recreating the capo configuration that became an integral part of the song.

Two different capos, each with its own purpose: one looking forward, and one paying tribute to where our paths first crossed.

About the Capos

Both versions share the same distinctive Motion in Form design, reflecting a visual language rooted in movement, music, and place.

A matte silver frame provides a clean, understated foundation, complemented by rich brown elements that echo the warmth of acoustic tonewoods. The custom inlay—featuring a stylized sunflower rising alongside a flowing blue river—draws a direct connection to Andy’s home state of Kansas, while also nodding to the spirit of “Drifting,” where movement, rhythm, and melody unfold in a continuous current.

Small circular accents subtly reference the beaded necklace Andy is known for wearing, bringing a personal and recognizable element of his identity into the design. His signature across the arm and initials set into the screw make each capo unmistakably his.

The balance of natural symbolism and refined detailing creates a Pathfinder capo that feels both grounded in origin and alive with motion—just like the music that inspired it.