Essential guitar accessories

Guitar accessories are an important part of a guitarist’s kit. For regular upkeep of the guitar, skill building and for the protection of guitar, you will have to make sure you have all the necessary guitar accessories.Having the right guitar accessories will help you play better, sound more interesting, and endure a live performance meltdown.

Here is the list of the most essential guitar accessories, which I recommend to all my students, excluding the obvious things like pick, string, etc.

Cooper Guitar Stand: A guitar stand is very handy;Cooperstand addresses the typical stringed instrument support device. Cooper guitar standare extremely stable, opens and closes with one hand and fits in the headstock area of most guitar cases.

Humidifier:Your acoustic guitar will sound the best when the body has just the correct amount of humidity. A humidifierreleases moisture inside the guitar maintaining an optimal humidity for the guitar. Proper humidity levelwill not only make the guitar sound best, but it will also extend the life of the guitar. So, protect your valued acoustic guitar with a proper humidifier.

Hardshell guitar case: A hard case will protect your guitar not only form the dust but alsofrom the bumps and grinds of the road. You surely would not want to take chances with your valuable guitar. Make sure your guitar is a good fit by checking the dimension of both the guitar and the case. These heavy-duty cases are designed to help your guitar survive the rigors of the road. Inside the case, they also have accessory compartment for pick, strings, etc.

Sting winder/cutter: This multi-tool will save space in your guitar case. Nothing can truly beat having separate tools for cutting, winding and pulling, but this multi-tool gets the job done and I find it very handy especially when I am travelling.

Metronome: We all like to think that we arein good rhythm. But we should not fool ourselves until we are able to stay with a metronome. Metronome is an important tool for guitarists. It should be considered as a personal trainer for any guitarist.

Capo: It is used on the neck of a guitar to shorten the playable length of the strings, hence raising the pitch. The word derives from the Italian “capotasto” which means the “nut” of a stringed instrument. The capo allows you to play open chords/notes from wherever you have barred the neck. It gives you access to certain voicing not easily achievable in a particular key otherwise.

Tuner:NS Micro Headstock Tuner is a good one if you are looking for tuning accuracy. It offers improved accuracy, faster response, expanded calibration range, visual metronome mode and an improved ratchet design.

Pedal: Guitar pedals are electronic units that alter the sound of a guitar in a certain specific way. Learning how to use a guitar pedal means choosing the pedal which you are looking for,properly connecting it, and learning to use its controls.

Ebow: It is a battery-powered electronic device for playing electric guitar. This unit replaces the pick in the right hand letting the guitarist mimic strings, horns, and woodwinds with great sensitivity.

Make sure you have these essential guitar accessories with you all the time. I am Rex Lee Bell, a guitarist and a guitar instructor with over 40 years of experience as a musician. I have been a studio guitarist in San Francisco Bay Area and New York City recording and performing with artists such as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Sammy Davis Jr., Paul Simon, Michael Jackson and many others.

If you are a beginner or if you have some knowledge about playing guitar and want to continue learning then contact me, I can help you learn guitar at your home. I have been doing mobile guitar lessons for many years. Guitarconfidence.com travels to over 30 cities in the East Bay and South Bay areas, including Danville, San Ramon, Dublin & Pleasanton.