One of the most beautiful aspects about the acoustic guitar is how minimalistic it is; after all, there’s no need for amps, cables, or other electronics to make it truly shine.
However, even though acoustic guitars can sound wonderful without needing virtually any equipment, there are still some accessories every acoustic guitarist should own to be as proficient as they can be at the instrument. Luckily, these tools and gadgets tend to be very affordable, and this guide will show you precisely what you need!
Table of Contents
1. Tuner
First on this list of guitar accessories is the most vital one you should have – a guitar tuner.
Having your guitar accurately tuned to the correct pitch is crucial because being out of tune is the easiest way to sound bad, regardless of your skill. Even just one string out of pitch can make your chords sound off, and more than likely, you’ll notice something is wrong just by hearing it.
Luckily, getting your guitar strings perfectly to pitch with a tuner is incredibly easy. For acoustic guitars, I recommend clip-on guitar tuners, but if you have an acoustic-electric guitar, your ordinary guitar tuners that have an input jack you can plug into will do just fine too.
2. Metronome
While the melody is undoubtedly important, acoustic guitar playing is largely a rhythmic-based instrument. In many cases, you can play both the rhythm and melody simultaneously!
However, people just starting on the acoustic guitar will likely learn basic chords and strumming patterns to help build up that foundation for later on.
To improve your coordination, timing, and rhythmic accuracy on the guitar, having a metronome is easily one of the best guitar accessories you can own. It will give you a steady tempo you can play to and develop your inner feel over time. If you have a smartphone, you can download a metronome app for free and save money here.
3. Guitar Picks
Even if you enjoy playing fingerstyle the most, playing with a pick is the most popular way to play a steel-string acoustic guitar because it is the easiest method to pick up and is efficient for strumming chords and other techniques.
Therefore, learning how to play with a pick or plectrum is a crucial skill you should have at your disposal, and to do that, you’ll need to have some to play with!
Guitar picks are preferential as there are so many different kinds of them, but when playing acoustic guitar, I suggest starting with a thin to medium thickness with a standard shape as these give you more flexibility in your pick strokes when strumming. You can find more info about this and recommendations for the best acoustic guitar picks here.
4. Extra Strings
Because of their thickness, acoustic guitar strings are some of the most durable compared to electric guitar ones; however, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to break.
Even if you don’t snap a string unexpectedly while playing, guitar strings age and corrode, can start smelling funky, lose their brightness and clarity, and will eventually need to be replaced at some point.
Having some spare strings nearby whenever you need them is always a good idea – you might not need to change them at this very moment, but it’s nice to be prepared for when you have to replace any of them.
5. String Winder & Cutter
Related to replacing guitar strings, you’ll need an easy way to unwind the strings when you remove them and something to trim the extra string that will be hanging off once you replace the old strings with new ones.
A guitar string winder/cutter is an all-in-one solution for this and a super convenient tool to help you speed up the process of replacing your strings and start playing as soon as possible. If you have some wire cutters laying around home, though, you can just go for the string winder itself, as the cutters will get one part of the job done already.
Before you use your cutter, though, be sure to read my guide to the best practices to use when cutting guitar strings. These tips will help you ensure your strings will be secured and stay in tune better.
6. Capo
A guitar capo is another tool commonly used by acoustic guitarists that lets you change the key on the fly depending on where you place it on your fretboard and still be able to use your same chord shapes. You can find more info on how capos are used here.
A lot of acoustic guitar music requires a capo, so having one handy will help you learn a lot of new songs, and it will be helpful to have one if you accompany a singer one day so you can shift the key to accommodate their voice, including your own.
While a handful of different capos are available, the clamp-on capos are easily the most widely used and tend to be the cheapest. I highly suggest giving one of those a try for your first capo!
7. Music Stand
Sure, it doesn’t affect the functionality of your instrument, but a music stand is an excellent accessory to have when practicing your skills.
A stand will support all of your learning materials, whether it’s books, sheet music, tablature, or scale and chord fingerings and charts, so you can have them right in front of you as you play and maintain a comfortable position.
Nowadays, people also like to practice guitar using their tablets, such as iPads, and you can find music stands designed to mount them so you can read off your screen. Those are super convenient if you prefer to use your tech devices rather than traditional learning methods like books and sheets of paper.
8. Guitar Strap
Although you’ll most likely be spending most of your time sitting down, it’s also good to get some practice time in while standing, and having a comfortable guitar strap will make it possible for you. However, a strap isn’t just meant for playing standing up – it still provides some tangible benefits while sitting too.
For example, it will help support the instrument’s weight and evenly distribute it so your whole body doesn’t have to balance it. This can help relieve pressure off your back and shoulders, have better posture, and have a pain-free playing experience.
When looking for a guitar strap, you’ll want something that’s durable and able to provide the support and comfort you need. You can find straps made from various fabrics and leather with varying quality, but my favorite is the KLIQ Aircell neoprene strap because of its padding. It’s also awesome for electric guitar and bass, so this strap will be perfect if you have other instruments you like to play.
9. Guitar Stand
After you’re done playing for the day or simply want to take a break, a guitar stand will let you safely set your instrument down securely and keep it in one place.
Having a guitar stand will also make it easy for you to pick up and play again – if your guitar is conveniently nearby you, chances are, you’ll probably want to play it more often, and this leads to you getting more practice time in and improving faster.
With guitar stands, you don’t need anything fancy or specifically made for acoustic guitars. Any sturdy generic frame that keeps your guitar upright is all you really need!
10. Soft or Hard Case
Lastly, you’ll want some sort of case to keep your guitar in for those moments you might need to be on the go with your instrument and need to protect it; for example, when going to guitar lessons, taking your guitar in for maintenance, or on the way to a performance. Also, not only do cases let you safely travel with your guitar, they make it easy to bring many of your accessories along with you too.
In addition to guitar stands, many people also enjoy storing their guitars in cases when they’re done using them because it can protect the instrument from environmental factors like dust, temperature, and moisture.
Like other guitars, you can choose between soft cases, like gig bags, hard-shell ones, and some hybrid ones. Naturally, the hard cases offer the most protection and are more expensive, but the soft cases are lightweight, easier to carry around, and more affordable. If you go with a gig bag, find something with sufficient padding and plenty of pockets to store your smaller accessories without breaking the bank.
Conclusion
All of these accessories serve very different yet practical purposes for any guitarist, and hopefully, by going through each of them, you have a better understanding of why these are essential.
Whether for performance, maintenance, or storage, these are the best accessories for acoustic guitarists for a good reason. Thankfully, they are mostly modestly priced and made accessible to anyone, including beginners.
Of course, many products are available for each type of accessory, and there is high-end stuff too, but if you’re on a budget, focus on finding the gadgets that fit within it. Ultimately, they all should serve the same function and be reliable!
If you’ve stumbled upon this article and you happen to be looking for an affordable acoustic guitar, too, I’ve compiled another list of the best acoustic guitars you can pick up for under $300. These, alongside the accessories I mentioned, can make fantastic gifts for someone wanting to start their journey to learning how to play the guitar.