| Capo is selling to a market that includes folks who (and I'm included) would easily throw an extra $100 into a guitar because it has a nice rosewood back & sides versus mahogany. That $100 isn't going to help you play any better. It'll make you sound different, but it isn't improving your ability to play. The same can be said for buying a $30 guitar strap, quick-release pins for $20, a pedal for $80, etc... For $50 (as of July 1), Capo _will_ help you play better, and using it regularly will make you a better overall musician. So will the other tools, which also cost $50. My reasoning is probably quite similar to why they're priced the way they are--it is a seriously helpful tool to those that need it, and it is worth the money. Now, why do I think someone would choose Capo over the other tools? I think Capo is easier to use, more well-integrated with iTunes, performs very well, looks far better, and is generally more Mac-like (see point 1 below). Any one of these reasons would be a valid reason to choose Capo. In some respects, one could argue that I should charge more than my competition based on those 'better' points (see Eric Sink's software pricing article, for instance). However, Capo is a 1.0 product, and I need to build Capo's reputation, and a large following of users. I hope this answers your question (and helps others out there looking for more discussion about pricing their own products)! (point 1) The other apps are cross-platform, and have some odd quirks. The UI isn't quite right in areas, the keyboard shortcuts are strange (to me, anyway), and behavior isn't always what I'd expect. |
Yes...but the guitar will be seen/heard on stage. People will generally spend a lot more on their t-shirt than on their underpants or socks. Nobody with an interest in musical performance wants to advertise the tedium or difficulties of musical practice, so because that part isn't glamorous. So don't base your price point on appealing to the musician's ego about investing in themselves.