D’Angelico guitars get an encore after 50 years

Every musician loves to get new accessories to go with their instrument and guitarists are no different. The best guitar accessories are actually relatively inexpensive. They are fabulous gifts that will make any guitar player happy and many of them are great stocking stuffers too, if you have Christmas in mind.

Who Needs Accessories?

Well the truth is all guitarists, regardless of their skill level, will appreciate and benefit from guitar accessories. I am by no means a pro guitarist but I own all of the accessories I am about discuss.

My Top Best Guitar Accessories

This list does not cover all of the accessories available for the guitar. They are simply the most common accessories used by guitarists.

Picks – picks are often used by guitarists to pluck the strings. Using a pick, rather then your fingers, creates a richer and louder sound. Picks come in a variety of shapes but they are most commonly in the shape of a triangle with rounded edges. They also come in many different sizes, colors and thicknesses.

Picks are very inexpensive allowing you to purchase several at once. If you do not know the thickness that the guitarist on your list uses I would recommend purchasing several different thicknesses or a variety pack.  There are also picks made specifically for electric and acoustic guitars. I would definitely recommend finding out which type of guitar they own before purchasing picks.

Tuners – Tuners are a must for every guitar owner. There’s nothing like playing a freshly tuned guitar. Each guitar string needs to be tuned to a specific pitch or note in order for it to produce the proper notes and chords. It is also helpful for prolonging the life of your strings. Tuning by ear could eventually lead to too much tension on the strings, causing the strings to weaken and break. Guitar strings is one thing you don’t want flying in your face.  Even a professional guitarist needs to use a tuner to get them started.

There is a huge selection of tuners available in a variety of price ranges. A tuner does not have to be overly expensive to be effective. I paid roughly $20 (Canadian) for my tuner. It is a chromatic tuner (meaning it is capable of tuning any pitch) so I can use it for tuning all my instruments. You can also purchase tuners that are specifically made for guitars and bass guitars.

to learn about my favorite tuner.

Capo – A capo is basically a clamp that can be placed on the fret board to raise the pitch of the strings. The pitch is raised because the capo shortens the length of each string. Quite often guitarists use capos to play in a different key without having to change the fingerings or chords used. I find the capo beneficial for learning new songs that have chords I am not familiar with. I simply place the capo on a fret that will achieve the same key as the new song but allow me to use a key that I know well.

Capos come in many different styles but they all create the same outcome. The major difference is how easy they are to attach.

Guitar Stand – A guitar stand provides a resting place for the guitar when it is not being played. Having to place your guitar back into a case each time you are finished playing can be pretty annoying. The guitar stand can make the guitar more accessible. I like it because I can have my guitar on display all the time. Most guitarist love their guitar and will want to show it to others.  I also seem to play it more often when it is sitting in plain view. This is a bonus for anyone paying for guitar lessons. The more a player practices the better they will become.

Music Stand – If the guitarist reads music or tablature a music stand will be very helpful and much appreciated. Music stands are essentially used to hold music. It is much easier to see the music when it placed in front of you on a music stand then on a table or chair. Music stands promote proper posture and positioning of the instrument. You can learn more about choosing the right music stand

Guitar Straps – A strap is essential to the guitarist who wants to play while standing up. it allows the player to transfer the weight of the instrument to their shoulders, making it much easier to play. Most straps are adjustable so you don’t need to worry about length, but make sure before you make your purchase. Most guitars will have a place to attach the strap.

Strings – If you are familiar with the type of strings that  the guitarist on your list uses you can surprise them with a fresh new set. However, I strongly discourage purchasing guitar strings if you do not know what you are looking for. There are several factors that need to be considered when purchasing guitar strings. These factors include:

• Weight (Guitar strings come in a variety of weights ranging from light to heavy)
• Type of Guitar (There are specific strings for electric, acoustic, classical, and bass guitars.)
• Brand (Some guitarist prefer using a specific brand of strings.)

Guitar string preferences are different for each guitarist. It really depends on there skill level, the guitar itself, and how often they play. For example, I do not play often, nor do I change the strings often so I have opted for a set of light weight strings that will produce a quality sound for a considerable amount of time.

If you would really like to get guitar strings without consulting the guitarist first you should speak to someone who has a considerable amount of knowledge regarding guitar strings. Your local music store would be a great place to start. But you will need to know whether the guitar is an acoustic, electric, classical or bass.

Where to find Guitar Accessories

Guitar accessories can be purchased in a wide variety of places. A great place to find them would be your local music store, but many retailers online also sell high quality accessories at fantastic prices. Check out the following links to see the variety of guitar accessories available online.

The Final Word

Whether you are purchasing guitar accessories for a skilled guitarist or someone who hasn’t even started yet the accessories mentioned above will be excellent choices. They are all necessary additions to a guitarists “tool box.” The best guitar accessories are those that assist in making it easier to play and maintain the guitar. These are just my favorite accessories but I bet other guitarist could add to this list. So I am calling on all guitarist to please leave a comment below if there is something I have missed or that you would like add. I also encourage questions!