Guitar accessories for beginners and pros – Your checklist to get started

You’ve just bought your first guitar and now you’re ready to rock. You want to make music, have fun, and maybe one day conquer the lights of a big stage. But you’ll soon realize that in addition to the right guitar, you’ll also need the proper accessories to unlock your full potential. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about guitar accessories and get a checklist of the essential items every guitarist should have.

What you should know before choosing the right guitar accessories

The choice of guitar accessories depends on whether you play a classical guitar, western guitar, or an electric guitar. Each of these types has its own specific requirements and therefore needs special accessories. Before buying, always check whether the accessory is suitable for your particular guitar.

The guitar accessories checklist

With this checklist, you’ll get an overview of the most important guitar accessories. Below, we’ll explain each item in detail:

• Tuner
• Guitar bag
• Music stand
• Metronome
• Plectrum (Pick)
• Guitar strap
• Footstool
• Guitar amplifier
• Instrument cable
• Strings

1. The tuner – an essential companion

For a natural and beautiful sound, your guitar should be tuned regularly, ideally before each session. That’s why a tuner is an important – and even necessary – investment for all guitar types, unless you can tune your guitar by ear.

If not, we recommend using an electronic tuner. These come in various sizes, designs, and price ranges. Clip-on tuners, which can be attached directly to the headstock, are very practical and handy. Standard tuners are slightly larger but often have a clearer display and offer a jack input for electric guitars. There are also pedal tuners that mute your signal while tuning.

It’s best to choose a tuner that offers both a simple numbered display for standard tuning and a chromatic mode that recognizes all notes of the musical scale. The numbered display is especially helpful for beginners who are not yet familiar with all notes. A chromatic mode is useful when you want to try alternate tunings or your guitar is significantly out of tune. Pro tip: Many tuners allow you to calibrate the reference pitch – it should generally be set to 440 Hz.

2. A proper gig bag for transportation

A guitar bag protects your instrument during transport and makes it easy to take anywhere. Many beginner guitar sets already include a gig bag. When buying one, look for good padding, comfortable straps, water resistance, and extra pockets for accessories. If you have invested in an expensive guitar from the start, a hard case offers even better protection.

3. The music stand

Reading sheet music is not always the favorite task when learning a new instrument. However, it’s an essential skill. A music stand makes reading notes easier by keeping them at eye level whether you’re sitting or standing. They come in different versions, including portable folding models for on-the-go practice.

4. A metronome – your timing helper

Fun, motivation, rhythm, and timing are crucial in music-making. A metronome helps you develop proper timing and a strong sense of rhythm from the very beginning. Electronic metronomes offer features like adjustable tempo, time signature selection, and pitch references. While classic pendulum metronomes look stylish, they are usually less precise. For maximum accuracy, choose an electronic model with additional functions such as beat subdivision and different time signatures. Some guitars even come with built-in metronomes.

5. Plectrums (picks)

For electric and western guitar players, a pick is a popular accessory. Classical guitars, on the other hand, are usually played with fingers due to their nylon strings. Steel strings on electric or western guitars can hurt your fingertips over time, making picks highly recommended for these instruments.

Plectrums come in three main thicknesses. For electric and western guitars, medium or heavy picks are usually preferred. Thin picks are best suited for classical guitars with softer nylon strings.

6. Stylish & practical: the guitar strap

Every guitarist has a preferred playing position – some prefer sitting, others standing. But once you start a band or plan to play on stage, a guitar strap becomes indispensable. It’s a good idea to buy one early on if your guitar didn’t come with one, so you can try different playing positions while practicing.

7. Special accessories for classical guitars

Classical guitar players are often advised to use a footstool to optimize playing posture. For those playing classical pieces or flamenco, a footstool is a must-have accessory. Alternatives include guitar supports or a dynarette cushion, both of which promote ergonomic sitting positions.

8. The right practice amp for your electric guitar

The market offers many great practice amp solutions. Modeling amps are particularly interesting because they simulate the sound of various amp models and often include built-in guitar effects. This allows beginner electric guitarists to explore different tones without needing extra gear.

9. No sound without a guitar cable

To connect your guitar to an amp, you’ll need an instrument cable. Without it, no signal reaches the amplifier. Choose a cable that’s well-insulated, not too thin, and free from unwanted noise. They come in different lengths and with straight or angled plugs. The right choice depends on your guitar and its input jack.

10. Guitar strings

You should always keep spare strings on hand because they need to be replaced regularly and may break more often in the beginning, especially on electric guitars. Different gauges are suitable for different music styles and techniques. Beginners on classical guitars often start with “medium tension” strings, while western guitars typically ship with “light” strings (usually .012–.053). For electric guitars, a gauge of .009–.042 is recommended for beginners. Coated strings are more durable and need replacing less frequently.

Conclusion

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when choosing the right guitar accessories. What you really need depends on your personal preferences and the type of guitar you play.

If you’re still unsure, our guitar experts at Zoundhouse are happy to help you find the perfect accessories with their years of experience. You can reach us by phone, email, or contact form – or visit us in person at our music store in Dresden.

Shop guitar accessories now at Zoundhouse!