20 Essential Guitar Accessories Every Guitar Player Must Have
As someone who has been playing guitar for over 10 years, I can definitely say that there some essential guitar accessories that I wish I knew about sooner, as they would have made my life a whole lot easier.
In this article, I’ll share 20 of the best essential guitar accessories that every guitar player must have.
Whether you’re a beginner guitar player or an experienced veteran, hopefully, you’ll find some guitar accessories on this list that you didn’t know about.
Table of Contents
20 Best Guitar Accessories
Extra Guitar Strings
This one’s a no-brainer. You should always have an extra pair of guitar strings with you just in case. This is especially true if you’re a performer. You never know when one of your strings is going break while you’re at a show. Also, you should just get into the habit of changing your strings regularly to keep your guitar sounding sharp and in tune. My personal favorites are Elixir guitar strings because they typically don’t require you to change them as frequently. Regardless of which strings you prefer, just make sure you always have a pair on hand, and ready to change. If you need help picking out strings, check out my guide on how to find the best electric guitar strings for you.
Extra Guitar Picks
Guitar picks are among the easiest guitar accessories to lose out there. The last thing you want is to go to a lesson, or a gig, and find out that you’ve lost your only guitar pick. You should always have a ton of extra guitar picks in your gig back at all times. My pick of choice is the Dunlop Tortex or the Dunlop Jazz III. They’re all available in a variety of different thicknesses, so just pick whichever you prefer.
Dunlop 5005R Pick Holder
If you have trouble keeping track of your guitar picks, then this is the perfect guitar accessory for you. It’s not fancy, but the Dunlop 5005R is an inexpensive pick holder that allows you to store all of your guitar picks in one convenient place. You can stick it right on your guitar on the back of the headstock, so you’ll always have extra picks with you when you need them. Purchase it here on Amazon.
Electric Guitar Cables
This is an obvious one. Cables are essential guitar accessories as they allow you to plug into an amp or interface. You don’t’ need fancy expensive cables. Though some cables offer some slight advantages in durability and noise, most cables are relatively similar in sound. Just make sure you get a decent cable that’s long enough for what you’re using it for, whether you’re performing on stage or just jamming in your home studio. I just use basic Fender guitar cables on Amazon. They’re cheap and they get the job done. You can also choose between different length options.
Capo
A capo is just one of those “must have” guitar accessories that you should always keep close by. Throughout your guitar playing career, you’ll without a doubt run into a song that requires a capo. Capos are very useful if you’re playing guitar to accompany a vocalist. Since everyone’s vocal range is different, you can use your capo to help match your vocalist’s preferred key without having to change your chord shapes. Decent capos are very cheap, so there’s really no reason to not have one. Just pick up a basic capo on Amazon, and leave it in your gig bag. You never know when it could come in handy.
Gruv Gear FretWraps String Muter
If you’re a guitar player that usually plays high gain metal or rock music, then the Gruv Gear FretWraps is a must have guitar accessory. At some point, you’ve probably seen player wrap a sock or hair tie around the neck of their guitar. This is to help mute or dampen the strings to prevent the strings from ringing out and causing unwanted noise. These FretWraps have the same function but look a lot more sleek and elegant than a sock. This helps immensely if you regularly perform finger tapping techniques or sweep picking. FretWraps are especially useful in a recording setting, where it’s imperative to have the cleanest sound possible. Since all of the music I play is high gain, I typically always have one on my guitars. You can even purchase them in different sizes for thicker guitar necks, 7 string guitar, and bass guitars. You can buy them individually or in packs of 3 on Amazon.
Planet Waves Planet Lock Guitar Strap
If you stand while you play guitar, then chances are that you use a strap. Personally, I HATE using normal guitar straps because they are a complete pain to put on. Also, they never seem securely snug onto the strap buttons on your guitar. If you’re a performer, then you’ve likely experienced a time where the guitar popped right out of the strap and fell. This Planet Waves guitar strap solves this issue. It has a locking mechanism that easily fits any guitar without hassle, and locks in place, so you can rest assured that your guitar won’t fall out. You can get yours on Amazon.
Clip-On Guitar Tuner
Nothing sounds worse than a guitar that’s out of tune. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, you should always have a guitar tuner with you at all times. Clip-On Guitar tuners are convenient, accurate, and very affordable. All you have to do is clip the tuner onto the headstock of your guitar, and strum a string. It’ll sense the vibration of the string and display the pitch on the screen. There are plenty of different clip-on tuners you can choose from, but I personally have experience with the KLIQ UberTuner. Its reliable, accurate, and also displays various different guitar tunings right on the screen, which is very helpful for beginners who aren’t yet familiar with different tunings. Find it here on Amazon.
Planet Waves Pro String Winder and Cutter
Let’s face it. Changing guitar strings is always a chore. That’s why we tend to leave the same strings on for months, even though they’re grimy and disgusting. Having the right tools can make the whole process a lot less painful. The Planet Waves Pro String Winder and Cutter are the perfect all in one package to increase the efficiency of changing your strings. It allows you to quickly turn the tuning pegs on your guitar to help speed up the process. It also has a built-in wire cutter so you can cut away the excess string ends, or remove your old strings. Check it out on Amazon.
Ibanez Quick access multi-tool MTZ11
This handy little tool is the Swiss army knife of guitar. It has everything you need for a full guitar setup. It has all screwdrivers, Allen keys, and rulers that you’ll ever need all in one compact package that fits in your pocket. With this one tool, you’ll be able to adjust the action, intonation, and truss rod of your guitar. This useful guitar accessory used to only ship with Ibanez’s prestige line of guitars, but due to popular demand, they are now sold separately on Amazon. I absolutely love this thing, as it has made the guitar setup process a breeze.
Dunlop 6504 System 65 Guitar Tech Kit
Over time, your guitar will naturally collect dirt and dust build-up on the body and fingerboard. Also, typical fretboard wood tends to dry over time. This Dunlop guitar cleaning kit has everything you need to clean your guitar, so it’s good as new. It includes guitar polish, string cleaner, and lemon oil to restore the moisture in your fretboard. I always keep this cleaning kit handy with me when I change my strings. Check it out on Amazon.
Fingerease Guitar String Lubricant
Guitar string lubricant is probably something you’ve never heard of before, but once you try it, you can’t go back. If you love the smoothness of a fresh set of guitar strings when you’re maneuvering around the fretboard, then this is perfect for you. It is basically a spray that helps clean and protects your strings, extending their life. It also reduces your finger tenderness and smoothens callouses. The best part is that it’s really inexpensive, costing under $10 on Amazon.
USB Audio Interface
For anyone who is interested in home recording or even the convenience of not needing an amplifier, an audio interface is a must-have accessory. A USB audio interface allows you to plug your guitar directly into your computers, and even studio monitors. From there, you’ll be able to use VST amp simulator software for all of your guitar tones. This is very convenient because you’ll be able to record guitar directly into your DAW without expensive microphones or amplifiers.
The audio interface that I recommend to all beginners is the
Apogee JAM 96k Guitar Interface for iOS and Android
The Apogee JAM 96k is a guitar interface that allows you to plug your guitar right into your iOS or Android device. This essentially allows you to bring an entire recording studio with you on the go. You can use applications such as GarageBand on iPad so you can record and mix full projects. You also have access to amazing mobile amp simulator software, such as JamUp Pro by Positive Grid, or Amplitube by IK Multimedia. See the price on Amazon.
Luvay Guitar Pickup Acoustic Electric Transducer
The Luvay Acoustic Electric Transducer is a magnetic pickup that you can place on any steel string acoustic guitar that essentially transforms it into an acoustic-electric guitar. This pickup allows you plug your acoustic guitar into an amplifier making your acoustic guitar much more versatile. It’ll also allow you to plug your acoustic guitar into a USB audio interface for direct recording into your DAW. The best part is that this accessory is only $12 on Amazon.
Vox Guitar Headphone Amp
If you live with roommates in a small space, then you know the struggle of not being able to play through your amp because of the noise. The Vox Guitar Headphone Amp is an awesome mini self-contained amplifier that plugs right into your guitar. You can then plug your headphones right into it so you won’t disturb anyone around you. It also comes in handy when you’re traveling and want to be able to practice. It’s very portable and doesn’t require any cables, making it a convenient way to practice on the go.
Marshall MS2 Micro Guitar Amplifier
The Marshall MS2 is an awesome little portable guitar amplifier. It’s really meant to be used as a practice amp, or when you’re traveling and want to bring your guitar along. For me personally, it really came in handy when I was taking guitar lessons. I don’t own a full amplifier, as I primarily use amp simulators. So when my guitar teacher would come over, I’d use this amp for my lessons. For the price, you really can’t beat the convenience. Check it out on Amazon.
Universal Guitar Stand
If you’re someone who leaves your guitar in your case, or just leans it against the wall when you’re not using it, you should really consider getting a guitar stand. It’ll make your life a whole lot easier. With a guitar stand, you’ll be able to keep your guitar on display for easy access and know that it won’t fall over. I personally prefer the height adjustable tripod style stands because they keep both the body and neck of your guitar secure, rather than just having a spot to rest the body on. You can check out my favorite guitar stand on Amazon for less than $20.
Guitar Wall Mount Hanger
If you don’t have a lot of space in your home studio for a bunch of guitar stands, you should definitely consider getting guitar wall mount hangers. They’re a very cheap solution for displaying all of your guitars when you’re not using them, while not taking up any space. You can find them here on Amazon.
Adjustable Guitar Foot Rest
Having an adjustable guitar footrest is excellent for your posture during long practice sessions. Whether you play fast metal or complex classical guitar, it’s essential to make sure that your playing position is comfortable so you can be as efficient in your playing as possible.
This adjustable footstool is a one size fits all with 4 different adjustable height settings. It also folds completely flat, you can put it right in your gig bag when you’re not using. I use mine every single guitar sessions, so I would highly recommend this to any guitar player. You can find the one I use here on Amazon.
Conclusion
That wraps up my list of 20 “must have” guitar accessories for every player. Hopefully, you found at least one thing on this list you didn’t know about. Please feel free to leave a comment with some of your favorite guitar accessories that you can’t live without. I’m always looking to add to this list.
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