The Gig Bag: 11 Things Every New Guitarist Needs
Have you or your child just started playing? Great! Need help finding out which strings to buy, picks and other materials needed? You came to the right place. Below is my guide for materials for the new guitarist. Links and pictures help illustrate what and where to look. If you still have any questions or need a further opinion, feel free to email me.
Happy playing!
Where To Buy
In-Store: George's Music and Best Buy's Musical Instruments Department are my two favorite stores to shop. The staff is very friendly and helpful, the selection is great and the prices are fair.
Online: Sweetwater and Amazon offer great prices and a huge inventory if you choose to have it delivered to your door. You can also find great bundle deals if you buy multiple items and save on shipping as well.
Other Major Stores: I have not listed Guitar Center nor Sam Ash, as I am not a big fan of either store. While yes, they may be the two biggest giants in the market, I have received repeatedly bad service at both stores, including lack of interest of employees to actually make an effort to help me. Mind you, this is my experience and the store near you may be better, so great if it is! However, if you're a Central Florida resident, I recommend George's and Best Buy as the service has been stellar.
Online: Sweetwater and Amazon offer great prices and a huge inventory if you choose to have it delivered to your door. You can also find great bundle deals if you buy multiple items and save on shipping as well.
Other Major Stores: I have not listed Guitar Center nor Sam Ash, as I am not a big fan of either store. While yes, they may be the two biggest giants in the market, I have received repeatedly bad service at both stores, including lack of interest of employees to actually make an effort to help me. Mind you, this is my experience and the store near you may be better, so great if it is! However, if you're a Central Florida resident, I recommend George's and Best Buy as the service has been stellar.
1. Strings
Your guitar will most likely come with a set of strings already on it (hopefully!) However, you will need to change them eventually to keep the sound fresh and/or when you break one and lucky for us, they aren't too expensive. I try to change my strings once per month, but I play a lot. For starting out, you should be fine changing them every few months. I teach all of my students how to change them, since it saves a lot of money doing it yourself, plus every guitarist should know how!
Cost: About $5-$15
Which kind?: As you may have guessed, there many different brands of strings, sizes and materials. The most common for electric guitars are 9 or 10 gauge Nickel Plated Strings, as shown in the picture. Ernie Ball & D'Addario are the brands I like the most. They are great strings and cost about $5-$7 in-store, even cheaper if you order online. 9 Gauge strings, or "9's" are relatively lighter strings, meaning much easier on your hands. They work great for beginner's and are usually what come standard on electric guitars. However, if you want a bit of a bigger sound and strings that are a little meatier, 10's are probably the most common gauge for guitarists on average. They are a little bit thicker than 9's and can produce a slightly fatter tone. Finally, if you're like me and prefer a thicker string, after playing for awhile on 9's ad 10's, try out a set of 11's. I prefer Ernie Ball Power Slinkys ad D'Addario XL115s.
Cost: About $5-$15
Which kind?: As you may have guessed, there many different brands of strings, sizes and materials. The most common for electric guitars are 9 or 10 gauge Nickel Plated Strings, as shown in the picture. Ernie Ball & D'Addario are the brands I like the most. They are great strings and cost about $5-$7 in-store, even cheaper if you order online. 9 Gauge strings, or "9's" are relatively lighter strings, meaning much easier on your hands. They work great for beginner's and are usually what come standard on electric guitars. However, if you want a bit of a bigger sound and strings that are a little meatier, 10's are probably the most common gauge for guitarists on average. They are a little bit thicker than 9's and can produce a slightly fatter tone. Finally, if you're like me and prefer a thicker string, after playing for awhile on 9's ad 10's, try out a set of 11's. I prefer Ernie Ball Power Slinkys ad D'Addario XL115s.
2. Picks
Lots and lots of picks out there as well. They come in all sorts of colors, shapes, sizes and gauges. Even the grips can be different. The best way to find the picks for you are by trying out all different types and seeing which works best for the style of music you want to play.
Cost: Depending on the store, you can usually buy 4 picks for a dollar or on average a 12-pack for $3.99. Sometimes the Fender ones run a little more, but overall very cheap.
Which Ones?: The gauge, or thickness of a pick can have a big effect on what your guitar playing sounds like. Picks range from extra thin to extra heavy. For Acoustic Strumming, I would recommend something on the thinner side of the spectrum, at the absolute thickest, a medium. If you go any heavier than that, the dynamics of the acoustic tend to sound too harsh and brittle in my opinion, whereas a thin pick really brings out the beauty of a strummed chord.
For Electric Rhythm playing, I'd recommend anywhere from a Medium to an Extra Heavy. I prefer mediums and heavies myself and switch off depending on the song. Angus Young uses a Extra Heavy and if you're into the tones of AC/DC, it might be worth giving it a try!
Cost: Depending on the store, you can usually buy 4 picks for a dollar or on average a 12-pack for $3.99. Sometimes the Fender ones run a little more, but overall very cheap.
Which Ones?: The gauge, or thickness of a pick can have a big effect on what your guitar playing sounds like. Picks range from extra thin to extra heavy. For Acoustic Strumming, I would recommend something on the thinner side of the spectrum, at the absolute thickest, a medium. If you go any heavier than that, the dynamics of the acoustic tend to sound too harsh and brittle in my opinion, whereas a thin pick really brings out the beauty of a strummed chord.
For Electric Rhythm playing, I'd recommend anywhere from a Medium to an Extra Heavy. I prefer mediums and heavies myself and switch off depending on the song. Angus Young uses a Extra Heavy and if you're into the tones of AC/DC, it might be worth giving it a try!
3. Tuner
I can't stress enough the importance of keeping your guitar in tune. It's possible to tune your guitar by ear, but it takes some time to develop the training, so you'll want to pick up a small portable tuner for your case. I really like the ones that clip on now, for easy viewing, and Planet Waves makes a great one shown on the left. You simply clip it on the headstock, pick a string and the bright display shows your how close you are to the note. You can also find non-clipping ones, as well as foot pedal tuners if you want to spend a little bit more.
Cost: $20-$100
Cost: $20-$100
4. Capo............a what?
This handy little device is used for transposing songs into different keys, while maintaining the shapes and eliminating the hassle of playing difficult chord shapes. It also aids with finding better chord voicings or ways to play them. Simply put, you'll want one of these in your case. At first glance it looks like just a big clamp, and that's kinda how it works. Clamp it just behind the fret you want and you're good to go. Many popular songs today feature the use of capos and they are definitely a staple in any serious guitarist's gig bag.
Cost: The average KYSER capo, which is the one you see in the picture runs about $20. Seems expensive for a piece of plastic and spring, but worth every penny. You can also find cheaper options made by Dunlop for about $12-$14. In store you'll usually find black or silver, but if you search a bit online, you can even get them in pretty colors!
Cost: The average KYSER capo, which is the one you see in the picture runs about $20. Seems expensive for a piece of plastic and spring, but worth every penny. You can also find cheaper options made by Dunlop for about $12-$14. In store you'll usually find black or silver, but if you search a bit online, you can even get them in pretty colors!
5. Binder
You're going to be learning a lot of songs, new chords and music, so it's good to have some place to stick them all! I have all of my students use a 1 inch 3 hole binder and I punch all papers for them to store for easy viewing. This works great for when you're practicing and need to lay the book out in front of you. I also recommend storing some blank loose leave in the back as well for notes or jotting down ideas. You can even decorate the cover and be really creative.
Cost: $2-$5 Your best bet is a dollar store for the real bargain!
Cost: $2-$5 Your best bet is a dollar store for the real bargain!
6. Notebook
Why would you need a notebook when you already have that sweet binder, you may ask? To write all of those hit songs of course! In addition to writing notes, I write a lot of practice tips as well as work with students on original songwriting compositions in notebooks. In fact, I constantly am buying new notebooks. Keep them handy for a songwriting idea or a lyric. You never know what it will turn into.
Cost: $1-$3 Again, the dollar store!
Cost: $1-$3 Again, the dollar store!
7. Practice Amp (Electric Guitars)
Unless you have the luxury of getting a big amp right up front, you usually won't need more than a 10 or 15 watt practice amp to plug your electric guitar into. This is perfect for home practice or to jam with a friend. You can get these at Guitar Center, Sam Ash, Select Best Buy Musical Instrument Departments and of course, ONLINE. Be sure to grab one with a headphone outlet for late-night practicing. I've used a lot of these, but one my favorites has been the Honey Tone 5 Watt Mini Amp made by Danelectro. They are modeled to look like vintage 50's style and even have a belt clip to walk around. It can eve run on a 9-volt battery. Sweet, ay?
Cost: $20-$200. Your small portables will start around $20 while the higher the wattage (louder) you get, the higher the price. I'd keep it at 5 to 15 watts. But getting a bigger amp now can also save you money later when it's time to upgrade. Try them out and find the best one in your budget. Oh, and don't forget to actually practice!
Cost: $20-$200. Your small portables will start around $20 while the higher the wattage (louder) you get, the higher the price. I'd keep it at 5 to 15 watts. But getting a bigger amp now can also save you money later when it's time to upgrade. Try them out and find the best one in your budget. Oh, and don't forget to actually practice!
8. Guitar Cable (again, Electrics)
If you get an electric guitar and amp, don't forget you're going to have to plug it in! Any basic 5 or 10 ft cable to start is great. Be weary of super cheap ones however, they tend to break easily.
Cost: $15 and up. You don't have to get too crazy with the price and like most musical equipment, the prices get high pretty quickly.
Added Tip: Look for package deals if you're buying an electric guitar. Most of the time you can find a good bundle that includes the guitar, amp, cable and usually some extras like picks. Again though, be weary of a too cheap of a cost. I would stay away from Squier Starter packs, but the Squier Affinity Series has decent instruments.
Cost: $15 and up. You don't have to get too crazy with the price and like most musical equipment, the prices get high pretty quickly.
Added Tip: Look for package deals if you're buying an electric guitar. Most of the time you can find a good bundle that includes the guitar, amp, cable and usually some extras like picks. Again though, be weary of a too cheap of a cost. I would stay away from Squier Starter packs, but the Squier Affinity Series has decent instruments.
A Few Extras...
9. Guitar Stand or Case: I would recommend buying either a case or a guitar stand, if not both, to store your instrument. Things get knocked over, drinks spill and damage is done. Protect your instrument and new investment in either a soft gig bag or hardshell case. The hard case will run you a bit more but it will be there forever. Also most hard cases are one-size-fits-all, so when it comes time to upgrade to that vintage Gibson, it will most likely fit. I started with a $40 padded gig bag and a $10 stand to keep in my room. Safety now, no broken guitars later.
10. Cleaning Kit: There are official guitar cleaning kits with polish and a cloth. At the very least, use a damp cloth and wipe the finger prints off regularly. I also wipe down my strings when I'm finished playing to preserve their life. Official cleaning kits are super cool though. They can run $5-$20 bucks depending on how detailed they are.
11. Strap: While standing up has a whole different playing feel than sitting, once you get the seat basics down, having a strap to play gigs or practice is great. (Or to pose in front of the mirror). They make them in nylon, leather, suede, you name it. There are some super creative designs out there from a Caution Tape Theme to band name themes. Find the one that's right for you. Cost: $15-$100 (suede and leather)
10. Cleaning Kit: There are official guitar cleaning kits with polish and a cloth. At the very least, use a damp cloth and wipe the finger prints off regularly. I also wipe down my strings when I'm finished playing to preserve their life. Official cleaning kits are super cool though. They can run $5-$20 bucks depending on how detailed they are.
11. Strap: While standing up has a whole different playing feel than sitting, once you get the seat basics down, having a strap to play gigs or practice is great. (Or to pose in front of the mirror). They make them in nylon, leather, suede, you name it. There are some super creative designs out there from a Caution Tape Theme to band name themes. Find the one that's right for you. Cost: $15-$100 (suede and leather)