6 Essential Accessories to Accompany Your New Guitar

The thrill of buying a new guitar can be outrageous. You feel so amped up about playing on something different and something you can call your own. Don’t get me wrong, buying a new (or used) guitar is awesome, but there are a few things you need to buy in addition to your new axe. Most of them are fairly inexpensive, but they are a necessity for most players.

1. Picks:

For beginners, make sure you start off using picks with your guitar. They will help you tremendously in the long run, with many different styles of playing. Also, it’s easier to start using picks and move onto finger picking rather than vice versa. Picks come in many styles and different hardnesses. Choosing the right one for you is a matter of trial and error, but you will usually be able to use many different ones with ease.

2. A Strap:

Picking up a strap isn’t as much of a necessity, unless you’re a seasoned player and often play standing up. Most beginners will tend to sit while they play, but buying a strap and learning to play standing up is great, too. Guitar straps also come in great variety. You can buy leather ones, fabric ones and plastic ones. Some of them will have cool designs, too. These will really range in price. They can be found for under ten dollars for a cheaper one, but if you’re looking for a more unique one, they can be almost a hundred. Finding a guitar strap to match your personality is enjoyable, and also useful.

3. An amplifier:

Anyone with an electric or acoustic/electric guitar is going to want an amp. For electric guitars, you have very little choice, unless you want to be playing music that almost no one can hear. Amplifiers are usually a more expensive accessory, but you don’t have to break your bank to find one that works well for you.

4. A Tuner:

For anyone who doesn’t have perfect pitch (which is most of us) you definitely need a tuner. A tuner will obviously keep your guitar in tune. They sound very basic, but are necessary if you want your guitar to sound good. Tuners are usually around $10-20, and well worth their price.

5. A Capo:

Capos are great for people who sing along with their guitar. They will help you change keys with ease to match your vocal range. They are also nice for songs that reach higher in the fretboard. If nothing else, a capo will make your guitar sound the same key as any song that you learn. Most songs are not with capo, but the ones that are usually are for good reason.

6. A Metronome:

Any good musician will tell you to practice with a metronome. This is not a very guitar-specific purchase, but for anyone trying to become a better musician, you are going to need a metronome. This will help you stay in tempo and learn to play evenly. Metronomes are a great tool, and can even be found on your app store.

Again, purchasing a guitar in itself is a great thing, but can be made better with a few add-ons. These items will help you to play your guitar to its full capacity. They are all useful and can be purchased online or at your local music store. Make sure you get the full use of your new guitar with these great accessories.