8 Plus Guitar Tools Every Player Should Have

by Corey Koehler

To make life easier for you as a guitar player, there are a few handy guitar tools you should have around.

  1. Electric Tuner – It is ideal knowing how to tune your guitar by ear but if your pitch is a little off, your guitar – and therefore your songs – may sound a little off. Tuners are very inexpensive (as low as $10-$15) and they will ensure that your instrument and your songs are sounding their best.
  2. Metronome – If you ever want to play in a band or are looking to record anything, it is a good idea to practice with a metronome. These handy little devices will help you stay in time. Again, these are a pretty inexpensive devise to have around ($10-$15). Also, there are some great beat generators that are free to download too. The cool thing about them is that they sound a little more like a drum beat. HammerHead Rhythm Station is one I can think of off the top of my head.
  3. Digital Recorder – This little device can really help you improve by keeping you honest. You may think you are sounding good but when you listen to a recording of yourself, you might find out otherwise.  Digital recorders always tell the truth and will help you hone your skills. Also, if you are thinking about doing some songwriting, this thing will become your closest friend. You always want to record your ideas because they can escape your mind almost as fast as they came in to it.
  4. Small Tool Kit – Get yourself a small tool box or small plastic container and fill it with the following items: string winder, wire cutter, peg puller, cotton cloth, extra picks, extra strings, toothbrush and toothbrush.
  5. Notebook - It is a good idea to keep one of these around. You can jot down a few notes after each practice session to keep tabs on your progress. And, like the digital recorder, if you plan on doing any songwriting, you will need one to keep track of all those timeless nuggets flowing from your inner genius.
  6. Music Stand - To keep your music organized and positioned right where you can see it.
  7. Capo – A capo isn’t absolutely necessary but you will come across tunes that require one.
  8. Guitar Lessons DVD’s/Books/Online – If you want to make progress and get better, you are going to need some help. Since personal instruction can be very spendy ($20 an hour and up) and results can vary greatly depending on your instructor, having a reliable set of lessons can be invaluable. The most thorough course, in my opinion, would be Learn and Master Guitar. It is a home study course so you’d have all the material in front of you but there are some great online resources like Jamorama and GuitarTricks.

There ya go. Once you cross everything off this list, you’ll have everything you need to be the best guitarist you can be.

To learn more about guitar tools and how to use them to set-up your guitar like a pro, check out the Learn and Master Spotlight Series: Guitar Set-Up

Posted in Guitar Articles
Watch This Video
Learn And Master Guitar
buy-now-green
Testimonials

“This is really the first time I have ever been excited about learning guitar! What I really like are the practice lessons. They are tricky enough to force you to work with them, but simple enough that you can figure them out and feel like you’re succeeding in it. Before when I was learning, I didn’t have a way to judge how I was doing. With Learn & Master Guitar, I can see myself taking little steps and have the satisfaction that I am truly learning something.”

— Chris Helsel, Beginning Guitar Player
Austin, Texas

---

“As a guitar teacher, I have a lot of resources for musicians, and this one is probably the best one I have seen so far. It really does have everything I can imagine needing. The only down-side is that it could make us three dimensional teachers obsolete!

If you are looking for comprehensive program for learning guitar, this is it. You can learn everything you need to know from the comfort of your own home. And if you are an instructor looking for resources as I am, I would bet this will be one of your favorites. Lastly, if you want a great gift for a budding guitar player in your life, stop here… they will thank you publicly on their first CD! I believe this product will be around for a long time to come, and I for one am happy to have it in my calloused, hot little hands!”

— Carol Manglos, Professional Guitar Instructor
E. Syracuse, New York

---

“I have been playing on and off for a good ten years now and until Learn & Master Guitar, I hadn’t felt like I had progressed that much. The lessons are easy to follow and not intimidating at all. Steve’s way of teaching is great! He doesn’t go too fast and he keeps you engaged each step of the way.

Oh, and I had always thought reading music was for people who understood Beethoven but now it seems like that’s not the case! This is great news! I’ll keep you posted on my progress.”

— Stephen Stuart, Intermediate Guitar Player
Belfast, Northern Ireland