By Marylou Villegas
So you bought your first guitar. Congratulations! We know the excitement of being a first-time guitar owner and want to help ease the process of this new transition. Here are a few suggestions on reliable, yet affordable, gear worth investing in.  Please keep in mind that although these are recommendations for beginners, many of the products mentioned are still currently being used by prolific guitar players. 

1. Pick the right pick

Guitar picks play a significant role in one’s playing style and helps to showcase a guitar’s beautiful tone. When deciding on a pick there are various aspects to consider like its shape/size, thickness, and even the design you might prefer. Below are a few options for your consideration. When starting out, don’t be easily discouraged as it takes some time to get used to. Using a pick is a good habit to sustain as a beginner and will benefit your playing comfort and tone in the long run! Discover your preference! (Be sure to click the item for more details)

2. Strap Up

A guitar strap allows for convenience and mobility when playing. Investing in a quality strap will save you from the misery of watching your guitar fall to the floor. Check out a few of our favourites linked below!

3. Capo 

A capo (short for capodastro) is used by guitarists to help ease transpositions that shortens the playable length of the strings. By doing so, the pitch is raised allowing one to reach new keys without having to retune their guitar for every song. Capos are often very affordable and come in varying styles and colours like the ones linked below.

4. Amp it Up!

Depending on where you are planning to play your guitar, your choice in amplifiers will vary. Amplifiers can be used for acoustics but are often used for electrics that need that extra amplification to really capture its desired tone. Whether an avid bedroom player or you’re wanting to take it straight to the stage, check out our recommendations for you below!

5. Don't Forget Cables

Without the proper cables, that new electric guitar or amplifier you just ordered will be useless. Investing in quality is crucial with these cables as you want the cleanest signal from your guitar to the amplifier. Opting for a more durable cable could save you from unwanted noise and future replacements in the long run. 

6. Stay In Tune With a Tuner

As time goes on, it is inevitable for a guitar to lose due to external factors like changes in temperature. To help keep you on track throughout your guitar journey we highly recommend purchasing a tuner that you can keep either in your case or on the head of your guitar. Through wear and tear, our suggestions below can help you out!

7. Hard/Soft Case Alternatives

Given that this is a new guitar, you’ll want to invest in a hard or soft case alternative to what may have already been included with your purchase. There are benefits in having both hard and soft cases that affect various aspects like sounds, transportation and overall convenience. With temperature’s changing habits and external factors to consider, it’s important to choose an appropriate storage method for situations like travelling or in scenarios you know you won’t be playing for a while. We hope that these tips are helpful in getting you through the early stages of your guitar journey and wish you the best of luck moving forward! For more information on guitar accessories, be sure to visit our website linked below: https://www.tomleemusic.ca/guitars/guitar-accessories/