Last Updated on June 11, 2023 by Teemu Suomala
Author: Tyler Connaghan
Editing & Research: Teemu Suomala
Having played guitar for almost two decades in various settings, including studios, stages, and rehearsal spaces, I’ve had plenty of experience in dealing with guitar gear and accessories.
I like to think of guitar accessories as any additional items that make the playing experience easier. Of course, while some of the most essential accessories include strings, cables, and guitar amps, for the sake of this article, I’m talking about the accessories that you wouldn’t often acquire right off the bat.
Let’s dive in!
9 Best Guitar Accessories
1. Guitar Tuner
Now whether you think you have a keen sense of hearing or you can just use the piano you have at home to aid you in the tuning process, neither of these things can live up to the reliability of having a dedicated guitar tuner in your guitar rig. It’s THE ultimate guitar accessory.
So what about that tuning app you have on your smartphone?
Sure, it can be a convenient and effective way to achieve a quick tune, though in the end, the accuracy just isn’t there.
The thing is, even if you’re ready to get your hands on a legit guitar tuner, there are several different variations to choose from. Let’s take a look at some of the umbrella categories of tuners.
Clip-On Tuners
Although clip-on tuners are relatively new to the game, they’ve gained immense popularity among contemporary guitarists, thanks to their user-friendly and compact designs. These tuners can be effortlessly attached to the headstock, and their sensors detect string vibrations as you play each note to determine whether you need to tune up or down to reach your desired tuning.
And while clip-on tuners can provide decent accuracy, less expensive models struggle to perform in really noisy environments, picking up extraneous vibrations from instruments like drums and bass, which impact how effective they are.
On the plus side, these tuners are extremely convenient. Many guitarist keep them attached to their guitars at all times, allowing for easy tuning whenever they need it. Of course, some might say that clip on tuners detract from the guitar’s aesthetic, which can be a concern for anyone who plays a visually stunning instrument.
Some of my favorite products include the TC Electronic PolyTune Clip Tuner, the Korg PitchClip, and the Peterson StroboClip.
Pedal Tuners
The pedal is an ideal choice for gigging guitarists, offering convenience during live performances. These tuners allow for effortless tuning in-between songs by simply activating the footswitch. Plus, most pedal tuners come equipped with bright screens, making it super easy for you to see tuning information in dimly lit environments.
Pedal tuners are typically the most precise, as they receive the signal directly from the pickups. Plus, most pedal tuners are equipped with true bypass, ensuring that the signal remains unboosted and unaltered when off.
In addition to its primary tuning function, the pedal tuner offers another useful feature — it can mute the guitar’s signal entirely, making for silent tuning. At first, tuning without any audible feedback can be challenging, though with practice, you can become adept at visually gauging your tuning accuracy. Of course, this muting feature also ensures your audience doesn’t have to endure the sound of you repeatedly adjusting the G-string to perfect pitch.
Some of my favorite tuner pedals include the Boss TU-3 Chromatic Tuner Pedal, the TC Electronic Polytune 3 Tuner Pedal, and the D’Addario Pedal Tuner.
Who is this for?
A tuner is for any guitarist that doesn’t want to play out of tune (hopefully, that’s every guitarist). A well-tuned guitar is the foundation for any great guitar track, which is why investing in a quality guitar tuner can help improve the way you sound and the way you play along with others.
2. Strap
If you ever want to play guitar live, you’re going to need a strap.
Of course, there’s a vast array of brands and options to choose from when it comes to guitar straps. Every strap is unique in its design, though they all serve the same purpose of supporting the guitar while playing standing up.
Whether you prefer a clean leather strap adorned with detailed engravings or a flashy, multicolored strap with flames is totally up to you and your stylistic preferences.
I just recommend finding one with enough padding that makes playing for long periods comfortable. Some higher quality guitar straps come with extra padding for the shoulders, perfect for playing heavier models.
Who is this for?
Straps provide the freedom to move around while you play, so anyone looking to perform on stage should definitely invest in a quality guitar strap.
3. Guitar Case & Gig Bag
Want to keep your guitar safe as you schlep around from gig to gig?
How about protecting it when it’s stored away in your crowded storage closet or garage?
If so, you’ll want a guitar case.
Guitar cases can generally be separated into two main categories, each of which is suited for different purposes.
Gig Bags
Gig bags are typically made out of polyester, nylon, or some combination of these and other materials. Sometimes referred to as soft cases, they come with carrying handles and often have a single shoulder strap. Some of these even come with backpack-style straps, allowing you to wear the bag on your back while keeping your hands free for any other activities, such as riding your bike to your next gig.
Plus, most gig bags feature large outer pockets for accessory storage, such as straps, cables, picks, and sheet music. Higher-end gig bags sometimes include reinforced rubber on the exterior surfaces for more protection.
In the past, gig bags were considered a low-cost option that only offered minimal protection, and where mostly suited for inexpensive guitars that wouldn’t endure rough handling during transport. However, quality of gig bags has improved significantly over the years, and although lightweight and budget-friendly options are still available, many quality manufacturers, such as Fusion, Mono, and GruvGear, offer high-end gig bags with incredible protection.
Hardshell Cases
If you want to protect your guitar from impact and damage, hardshell cases are the way to go. These come with an outer shell that is made of one or many hard materials, such as metal, wood, fiberglass, plastic, or carbon fiber.
They usually come with soft, lined, and padded interiors, plush enough to make sure that the guitar inside does not get damaged or scratched, and most have small internal compartments for accessories.
While these ensure far better protection than gig bags, they’re often much heavier and harder to lug around.
Who is this for?
For anyone that cares about the safety of their guitar and wants to facilitate more reliable transport, a guitar case is an essential accessory. It’s not only for those who like to travel with their guitars, but for anyone who wants to provide their instrument with the best possible protection at all times.
Check these gig bag and case guides of ours:
4. Pick Set
The thing about guitar picks is that they are a highly personal preference, even more so than string gauges in many instances.
There are certain picks that I find myself gravitating toward for the majority of my playing. For example, the Dunlop Tortex 1mm with the powder finish is one of my absolute favorite picks. However, there are times when I need something just a bit (or much) lighter.
This is why I love having a multi-gauge pick set on hand.
Every gauge of pick offers a different feel and tone. For example lighter-gauge picks produce much brighter tones and are more flexible, while heavier-gauge picks produce much darker tones and give you more precise control.
When you have a versatile set of guitar picks with different gauges, you get the freedom to experiment and find the perfect pick for the style music you’re playing at any given point.
Who is this for?
A guitar pick set with multiple gauges is great for anyone who wants the ability to tailor the sound of their playing to their liking in a pinch.
5. Guitar Stand
If you want to keep your guitar both safe and accessible at all times, a guitar stand is essential. Although it might seem like a pretty straightforward piece of gear, some stands can be pretty pricey, especially if they can hold multiple guitars.
However, if you only need a simple stand that can hold a single guitar, getting a basic, well-built stand will suffice.
Before I began mounting all of my guitars on the wall around my studio, I had plenty of A-frame and tripod stands lying around. While A-frame stands are definitely the most portable and affordable option for both acoustic and electric guitars, tripod stands provide more stability with their multi-leg designs and added neck support.
Who is this for?
A guitar stand is a crucial accessory for just about any guitarist, as it provides both safety and accessibility for your guitar when it isn’t in use. I love having my guitars on stands right next to me so I can easily access them whenever I want to play, without having to pull them out of their respective gig bags or cases.
6. Strap Locks
How many YouTube videos have you seen of guitarists swinging their guitars around their necks and failing miserably because their guitars ended up flying off their straps headfirst onto the stage?
If the answer is “more videos than I can count,” you’re not alone.
Now while the strap pegs that are commonly included on guitars are pretty sturdy, when you frequently use a guitar strap, no matter how high quality it is, the small openings that wrap around the pegs will gradually wear down over time and get bigger.
If you’re like most guitarists, you want to keep your guitar from falling at all costs.
To avoid the looming risk of damage, one of the best solutions is to purchase a reliable set of strap locks from a company like Schaller, Dunlop, or Grover.
It’s worth noting that installing strap locks will require a minor adjustment to your guitar strap, as you need to attach a locking notch to the strap to make use of the lock. Plus, you have to remove your old strap pegs and replace them with new locking pegs, so if you’re not comfortable modifying your guitar, you might want to take it to your shop to get them professionally installed.
Who is this for?
Strap locks are great for anyone who wants to feel significantly more confident that their instrument will remain secure and in position, irrespective of what’s going on around them or how hard they’re playing.
7. Capo
If you want to be able to play songs in various keys without having to come up with new chord fingerings, a capo is a handy guitar accessory to have. You can position a cable anywhere on the neck of your guitar, allowing you to use chord shapes you’re already familiar with for any song you want to play.
While there are plenty of costly capo options available, you can also find them for pretty affordable prices, and most of them function similarly and provide the same outcomes.
Let’s take a look at some of the different types of capos you can expect to see on the market.
Lever or Elastic Band Capos
Both lever-style and elastic band capos are inexpensive and lightweight tools that are great for beginners.
Lever-style capos employ a notched mechanism that clamps onto the strings, while elastic band capos draw the band across the back of the guitar neck, attaching to a grommet hole on the opposite end. The beauty of both of these types of capos is that they are extremely affordable, meaning you can purchase multiples in case you lose or break them.
The downsides, however, is that many of these capos are flimsy and the tightening mechanisms have a tendency to pull guitar strings out of tune.
Spring-Loaded Capos
Spring-loaded capos are pretty popular, thanks to their efficient design that allows you to attach or remove them quickly. They’re only slightly more expensive than lever or elastic band capos, though a bit more accurate and can be clamped or unclamped with one hand.
Just make sure you don’t get a cheap spring-loaded capo, as the amount of pressure applied to your strings with a cheap spring-loaded capo may not be suitable.
Kyser is one of my favorite spring-loaded capo manufacturers.
C-Clamp Capos
C-Clamp capos use a screw on the back end, which you manually tighten to apply pressure to your strings.
In terms of overall reliability and accuracy, these are the best, as they have less of a tendency to pull your guitar out of tune and can be pressure-adjusted, depending on the needs of your guitar.
D’addario makes some of the best C-Clamp capos on the market.
With all that said, when it comes to overall functionality and quality, Thalia Capos has long been my favorite capo manufacturer. It’s difficult to categorize Thalia capos, as they have a unique design all around. What’s worth mentioning is that this is the only capo that is designed to match the fretboard radius of your guitar, and each capo comes with 14 fret pads, so you can find the perfect match for the perfect tune.
Who is this for?
The primary benefit of utilizing a capo is that it allows guitarists to play songs in various keys using first-position open-string chords. Overall, these shapes tend to produce richer and more sustained tones than barre chords, opening up your playing style.
Plus, capos allow you to play certain songs that would otherwise be impossible without one. I’m a huge Smiths fan, and Johnny Marr has some of the best chord voicings that are pretty much impossible to play without a capo.
8. Pedalboard
If you’re planning on purchasing multiple guitar pedals, or if you have already amassed a large pedal haul, you might consider investing in reliable pedalboard. There are several excellent pedalboard options available, many of which can last you for several years if taken care of.
Of course, if you have specific needs, you can also build your own!
When looking for a pedal board, consider the size, portability, durability, cable management options, and whether or not it comes with a built-in power supply. Think of the future as well, and whether or not you plan on purchasing more pedals or downsizing your current collection.
Who is this for?
If you have multiple guitar pedals, a pedalboard can provide a central location for you to power and organize your pedals. Plus, if you’re someone that plays gigs or plans on touring one day, you’ll want to have a portable and accessible place for all of your pedals to exist.
9. Slide
Just about every guitarist has fantasized about wielding a slide at least once in their lifetime. It’s undeniable that slide players exude a certain level of cool, whether or not you dig blues music.
Fortunately, because guitar slides are relatively inexpensive, there’s no excuse for any guitarist not to have one.
The one main factor that you want to look out for when buying a slide is the material it’s made out of. Some of the most common materials in slides include glass, metal, and ceramic. Let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of each.
Glass Guitar Slides
In the past, guitar slides were exclusively made by cutting the tops off of wine bottles, meaning glass was the sole material option available. Among the different slide materials, glass is the lightest and softest, producing the shortest sustain and the warmest tone. And due to its smooth texture, it glides over guitar strings with the utmost ease.
One of the main disadvantages of glass is that it is fragile and can break easily if dropped.
I highly recommend going for a glass slide if you’re primarily using it on an acoustic guitar, as the smooth sound is typically the most complimentary. Just make sure to opt for a thicker model to get the most sustain and volume.
Metal Guitar Slides
Metal slides are much harder and heavier than glass slides, producing a much brighter tone with a longer sustain. With much more built-in attitude, many rock and blues guitars prefer metal slides. Moreover, metal is more durable than glass, offering the added advantage of reliability.
Steel and brass are the two most commonly used metals for guitar slides.
Brass, which is slightly softer and denser than steel, produces a somewhat louder yet darker sound, though the same level of sustain.
Ceramic Guitar Slides
Ceramic slides are a relatively recent technological advancement, and many guitars consider them a compromise between metal and glass. They have a hardness, texture, and weight that falls somewhere in between the two, giving them glide, tone, and sustain that is, as you might guess, right up the middle.
However, it’s important to note that these specific characteristics of ceramic slides depend on the precise mixture of materials used in manufacturing them. Some ceramic slides can be coarser and harder than others, resulting in a different tone and feel.
The name drawback of ceramic slides is that they can be even more fragile than glass slides, meaning you need to handle them with care to avoid breakage.
Who is this for?
If you want to explore the unique sounds and techniques that come with slide playing, you’re going to need a slide. Plus, even if you don’t dive headfirst into slide playing, having a guitar slide lying around gives you a tool to expand your musical palette and add a new dimension to your playing whenever you feel inspired to do something different.
Check our guitar slide reviews:
- 5 Best Guitar Slides
- 5 Best Guitar Slides for Electric Guitar
- 5 Best Guitar Slides for Acoustic Guitars
7 Runner-Ups
1. Metronome
Of all the important guitar accessories out there, one that is often overlooked is the metronome.
While there are plenty of metronome apps you can certainly download on your phone, I like having a dedicated metronome in my studio so that I can be ready to practice at any time.
There are plenty of advantages of using metronomes, and whether you prefer a physical or digital device, I recommend incorporating one into your routine.
2. Guitar Pick Grips
Do you frequently drop your guitar picks while playing?
If so, one helpful solution might be a pick grip.
Long gone are the days when guitarist would resort to gluing sandpaper to their picks to enhance the grip. Nowadays, you’ll find plenty of grip designs available, made from a variety of materials from cork to rubber.
Monster Grips is one of my favorite manufacturers for reliable rubber grips.
3. Fret Wraps
It seems that just about every Instagram guitarist uses fret wraps, and over the past couple of years, it feels as if they gained immense popularity out of nowhere.
Of course, I’m not complaining, as they are extremely useful, helping to reduce unwanted string noise by muting any strings that aren’t in use. In effect, you get minimal additional sympathetic resonances from other strings, making for a cleaner playing experience.
4. Humidifier
If you have an acoustic guitar, I highly recommend getting a humidifier for your case.
Wood is highly susceptible to humidity changes, which can damage your guitar over time. To maintain proper humidity levels and keep your guitar in good condition, humidifiers are essential. This is especially true if you often leave your acoustic guitar in a case for an extended period or travel to different locations with varying climates.
5. String Winder
There is no better time-saving tool when it comes to changing guitar strings than a string winder. There isn’t much variation between different string winders, so just look for an inexpensive option that suits your needs.
If you play acoustic guitar, you might look for a string winder that has a pin notch on top to pull the bridge pins out of your acoustic guitar when changing your strings.
6. String Cutters
String cutters are great for trimming the excess string after restringing your guitar. While you can certainly use a standard wire cutter, I recommend getting a dedicated string cutter for better precision.
It’s also worth noting that many string winders come with built-in wire cutters, so you may consider looking for one that has that feature.
7. Guitar Multi-Tool
To perform various tasks on your guitar, whether adjusting the bridge height during a setup or tweaking the truss rod, you’ll want to have a guitar multi-tool with a set of hex wrenches. Some bridge types, such as the Floyd Rose bridge, require hex wrenches for basic tasks, such as changing strings and tuning.
Full Guitar Accessories List
| Guitar Accesory | Use | Check The Price (Affiliate links) |
| Microfiber cleaning cloth | Keep your guitar nice and tidy | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guitar cleaning kit | A set of tools and products for cleaning and polishing your guitar | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guitar cables | Connect your electric guitar to an amplifier, pedal, or audio interface | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Cable ties | Small devices that secure your cables and prevent them from tangling or getting damaged | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guitar strings | Thin metal wires that produce sound when plucked or strummed on a guitar (duh) | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guitar picks | Small pieces of plastic, metal, or other materials that are used to pluck or strum the guitar strings (duh) | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guitar pick holder | A device that attaches to your guitar, microphone or guitar stand, or strap and holds your picks for easy access | Sweetwater |
| String cleaner | A product that removes dirt, oil, and corrosion from your guitar strings and extends their life | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gig bag or hard case | A protective cover or container for transporting and storing your guitar | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Clip-on tuner | A device that attaches to your guitar headstock and displays the pitch of each string. aka. tune your guitar | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Tuner pedal | A device that connects to your guitar cable and allows you to tune your guitar by stepping on a footswitch | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guitar tool kit | A set of tools that can be used to fix, maintain, and setup your guitar | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guitar pedals | Devices that alter the sound of your guitar by adding effects such as distortion, delay, reverb, chorus, etc. | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Pedalboard | A platform that holds your guitar pedals and organizes them in a convenient way | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Pedal power supply | A device that provides electricity to your guitar pedals and eliminates the need for batteries | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Patch cables | Short cables that connect your guitar pedals to each other | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Metronome | A device that produces a steady beat to help you practice your timing and rhythm | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guitar strap | A piece of fabric or leather that attaches to your guitar and allows you to play it while standing up | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Strap locks | Devices that secure your guitar strap to your guitar and prevent it from falling off | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guitar strap pad | A cushion that attaches to your guitar strap and reduces the pressure on your shoulder | Sweetwater |
| Guitar stand | A device that holds your guitar upright when you are not playing it | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Hanging wall mount | A device that attaches to your wall and holds your guitar horizontally or vertically | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Capo | A device that clamps onto your guitar neck and changes the pitch of the strings | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Slide | A tube of metal, glass, or ceramic that fits over your finger and allows you to play notes by sliding along the strings | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Case humidifier | A device that maintains the humidity level inside your guitar case and prevents your guitar from cracking or warping due to dryness | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Multi-tool | A device that combines various tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, etc. for adjusting different parts of your guitar | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Headphone amp | A device that amplifies the sound of your guitar and allows you to listen to it through headphones without disturbing others | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| In-ear monitor (personal monitors for playing live) | A device that delivers a custom mix of sound to your ears through earphones while you are performing on stage | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Acoustic soundhole cover | A device that covers the soundhole of your acoustic guitar and reduces feedback when playing with a microphone or pickup | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Acoustic soundhole pickup | A device that fits inside the soundhole of your acoustic guitar and converts the vibration of the strings into an electric signal | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Finger strength trainer | A device that exercises your fingers and improves your grip, dexterity, and endurance for playing guitar | Thomann |
| Headstock phone holder | A device that attaches to your guitar headstock and holds your phone for easy viewing of tabs, chords, lyrics, etc. | Amazon |
| Fret wrap | A device that wraps around the neck of your guitar and dampens the unwanted string noise and overtones | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ebow (electronic guitar bow) | A device that creates a magnetic field around a string and makes it vibrate continuously without plucking it | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Foot rest | A device that elevates one of your feet and improves your posture and comfort when playing guitar while sitting down | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Nut lubricant | A product that lubricates the nut slots of your guitar and reduces friction, tuning problems, and string breakage | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| String winder | A device that helps you wind or unwind the strings on your tuning pegs quickly and easily | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| String cutter | A device that cuts off the excess length of your strings after changing them | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Neck support | A device that supports the neck of your guitar when you are working on it or cleaning it | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Work mat | A mat that protects the surface of your table or floor when you are working on or cleaning your guitar | Sweetwater – Thomann |
FAQ
What Accessories Should I Buy With An Acoustic Guitar?
Some of my favorite acoustic guitar accessories include clip-on tuners, humidifiers, capos, guitar picks, durable gig bags or hard cases, and stands. For live playing, you may also consider installing a pickup if your acoustic doesn’t already have one!
What Accessories Should I Buy With An Electric Guitar?
A few of the best accessories for electric guitar include strap locks, cables (both long cables and patch cables for pedals), pedalboards, tuner pedals, slides, fret wraps, and hard cases.
What Guitar Accessories Should a Beginner Buy?
As a beginner guitarist, a few of the most important accessories you’ll want to have include:
-Picks
-Guitar strap
-Tuner (ether pedal or clip-on)
-Capo
-Gig bag or hard case
-Cables
-Small practice amp or headphone amp
-Metronome
Conclusion on Best Guitar Accessories
I hope you found this list of essential guitar accessories helpful! If there are any I forgot, please let me know! Hopefully, these inspire you to enhance your playing and keep your guitars in great condition for many years to come!
If you have any questions, just leave a commend down below, we are here for you.
Keep rocking!
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