Learning guitar is a fun and challenging activity. As a beginner guitarist, you might think you only need a guitar to get started making music, but there are actually a few other accessories you need to make playing a little easier. Buying all of these items individually is certainly an option, but you can find great guitar starter packs that give you everything you need in one order. Below are seven things every beginner guitarist needs to have, so make sure you don’t forget anything.
Guitar picks, also known as plectrums, come in a variety of sizes and thickness to give you control and sound. They are easily lost, and you will soon find out most of them end up inside your acoustic guitar, have fun getting them out. This little guitar accessory actually stores up to 15 picks.
A lot of people get a regular floor stand for their guitar when starting out, but we actually recommend a guitar hook. The hook lets you hang up your guitar on the wall so it’s safely out of the way. This will give you more space in your room and most importantly give you easy access to your guitar and everything you need in one place.
Unless you’re planning to remain seated every time you play the guitar, you’ll need a guitar strap. The strap will hold the guitar in the right position and makes playing a little easier. You can easily adjust this strap to bring your guitar to a position that’s most comfortable.
As a beginner guitarist, it’s likely you have certain songs in mind you want to learn how to play. The capo clips to the neck of the guitar and compresses the strings to shorten play length, changing the key to be played. This is essential when playing with other B flat instruments and singing in higher octaves.
Your guitar will need to be tuned nearly every time you play it to ensure the strings are as tight as they should be. A tuner will help you get each string to the correct pitch for the song you are playing. They are essential when playing with another instrument i.e. guitar or piano (electronic keyboards cannot be tuned to match your guitar). Some people can tune by ear, but as a beginner, it’s best to stick with an actual tuner device.
Over time, guitar strings stop producing the right sound and will eventually break. You don’t want to be in the middle of practice and have a string snap without a backup available. You should have at least two sets of extra guitar strings available at home. Keep in mind that strings come in options of light, medium, and heavy gauge. Research which ones have the best control and sound that works for you.
Beginner guitarists are usually surprised by this suggestion, but a metronome can seriously improve your guitar playing. By using a metronome, you can greatly improve your rhythm and create better music. The best thing about this item is you don’t even need to purchase a physical metronome. There are plenty of apps available that will keep track of the tempo for you at little to no cost.
Check out our accessory starter pack to get all of the beginner guitarist gear that you need.