Beginner's Gear Guides: Guitar Accessories

Every guitarist should have a trusty strap and a healthy selection of picks. Picks vary in thickness from thin (preferred by many acoustic players) to super-heavy (generally favored by hard-rock and metal guitarists). While most beginners find it easier to start with thinner picks, it never hurts to experiment with different sizes.

Guitar tuners save plenty of time and frustration by indicating when the strings of your guitar are to the right notes. For experienced guitarists, nothing sounds worst than an out-of-tune guitar, and an electric tuner is an easy way to keep your axe sounding its best. Choose from clip-on tuners which attach to the guitar's headstock, or pedal tuners that plug into your electric or acoustic-electric guitar with a 1/4" instrument cable.

Round out your rig with more useful guitar accessories. A capo is an essential tool for any budding songwriter as it allows you to play in different keys to accommodate different vocal ranges. Propping your guitar within arm's reach on a stand will encourage you to play, and guitar care products will help keep your guitar playing its best.

Nothing spoils a jam session like a broken string, so it's always good to have extra packs. Also, depending on how much you play, guitars should get a new set of strings at least every several months. Keep in mind, different types of guitars need different types of strings. For example, regular acoustic guitars use standard metal strings, while classical guitars use strings made of nylon.