Key takeaways

Choose your method

Are you recording an electric, acoustic, or bass? Do you want to capture an “in the room” feel using your amp and pedals, or a clean signal that can be edited easily in your digital audio workstation (DAW)?

Choosing the right recording method to get the result you want is essential, and making sure you’ve thought about it before you start will save a lot of time!

Equipment and setup

Get your equipment together, set it up, and check that what comes through to your DAW is appropriate for your needs. Once you’re happy that you’re getting a sound you’re happy with…

Get recording!

You’re ready to go.

Equipment checklist

We’re going to assume some basics here! Firstly, if you want to record guitar, you’ve probably already got a guitar, an amp (if recording electric guitar), and something to record on. You’ll also need:

How to record guitar

Electric guitar, straight to DAW

Recording your electric guitar straight into your DAW keeps things simple. You can capture high-quality tone, with the added bonus that you can edit the sound by adjusting the plugins you’ve used. On the other hand, you won’t necessarily get that “real” amp tone.

Start by connecting your audio interface to your computer, and then plug your guitar into the interface’s instrument input. You’ll also need to connect your headphones so you can hear what’s going on without any sound bleeding into your recording.

Open your DAW and create a new project or track. Set up the input and check your gain levels. Play some of the loudest parts you expect to record and keep an eye on your input meter. You want a strong signal, but not so high it clips – watch out for that little red light! Leaving some headroom helps if you get carried away and play louder than you expect.

Next, load up your amp sim plugin. Most interfaces don’t colour the sound much, so the plugin is where your tone comes from and what makes recording like this so versatile. Take your time to explore the presets and tweak the EQ, gain, and effects until you’re happy.

Once you’ve got your tone, it’s time to make a test recording. Play something, listen back carefully, and check for any clipping, hum, or other noise. If you have other parts recorded, it’s also worth making sure the guitar sits well in the mix.

When you’re confident everything sounds right, hit record and go for it. Try to keep a consistent playing level and, if possible, leave some silence at the start and end to help with editing later.

This method is clean, efficient, and perfect for home setups, especially when you’re short on space and trying not to disturb the neighbours!

Electric guitar through an amp

Miking up a guitar amp is the traditional way to capture the sound of your setup without digital modelling. It’s a great way to get the sound you know and love, but it’s less flexible than going direct to your DAW, since you’re not using plugins that can be changed later.

You’ll need to set up your DAW as you would for a DI recording, but you’ll be plugging in a microphone rather than your guitar – your guitar is going through the amplifier!

The key to a great recorded tone lies in four areas: the guitar sound, amp volume, microphone type, and placement. If one of these is off, it can cause problems.

Start with the tone itself, since that’s probably why you’re choosing to record in this way. It’s easy to dial in a sound that feels good in the room, but remember to think about how it’ll sit in a mix.

Boosting the mids can help lead parts cut through, especially with a touch more gain or compression for sustain. Rhythm tones need clarity, too, but be careful with the bass, as too much might cause problems once the bass guitar and drums enter the picture.

Volume matters more than you might think. Recording at very low levels can sound thin or noisy. Valve amps come alive when pushed; the hotter the valves run, the better the amp sounds. Cranking a valve amp in your home studio may cause issues with the neighbours, but an attenuator can help with that. Just make sure it’s matched to your amp’s output!

Different mics bring different results. Dynamic mics are solid and focused, while condensers give more detail, and ribbon mics offer a natural, vintage feel. Each responds differently to where and how it’s placed.

Mic placement also makes a huge difference. A mic aimed straight at the centre of the speaker gives a brighter, more aggressive sound. Move it towards the edge, and you’ll hear more warmth and depth. You can experiment with distance, too: closer means punchier, further back brings in room ambience.

It’s all about trial and error. A few small changes can completely transform your recording.

Acoustic guitar

Recording an acoustic guitar brings its own challenges, but even with a basic setup, you can get some wonderful results. Unlike electrics, it’s all about the natural sound of the instrument.

For a purely acoustic guitar, you’ll need to use a microphone, and mic placement is key. Aiming at the soundhole can produce too much low end, making it boomy and hard to mix. Pointing your microphone around the 12th fret is usually a better choice. This gives a balanced tone, with warmth from the body and clarity from the strings.

If your guitar is an electro-acoustic, you can choose to record via DI into your audio interface, or even through a miked-up amp. However, using a microphone pointed at the guitar will offer the most organic tone.

When you’re choosing between a microphone and a DI, it mostly comes down to your needs. A microphone gives you depth and realism, DI gives you consistency and control. Blending the two is often the sweet spot, since it gives you the detail of a mic with the focus and stability of a pickup.

You can also add a second mic near the bridge to bring out more bass, or raise your mic position slightly to fill out the low end, which is especially helpful with smaller-bodied guitars.

There’s no “right” setup; it’s entirely down to what you want to achieve. A few small adjustments in placement or mic type can really shape the sound, so take your time and trust your ears.

Bass guitar

Recording bass guitar is very similar to recording electric guitar, but there are some specific considerations to get a great sound. The last thing you want is muddy bass ruining your recording!

Like electric guitar, you can record bass using a mic in front of an amp or by plugging directly into an audio interface. But what makes bass different is the role of the DI signal from your amp’s DI output, or through a bass preamp pedal like the Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver.

A DI captures a clean, uncoloured version of your bass sound. It preserves detail, keeps the low end tight, and gives you a reliable foundation for mixing. Even if you’re also using an amp or plugin, recording a DI track gives you something to blend with. It gives you greater versatility when you want to mix your recording.

For many players, going direct is the preferred process. It cuts down on gear, avoids noise issues, and gives you more control later on. You can shape the tone with software, using tools such as EQ and compression, amp sims, and more, all without needing to commit to a sound during recording.

That said, bass amps still have their place when recording. They offer a natural sense of space and depth that’s hard to replicate digitally. If you’re using an amp, combining it with a DI track gives you more to work with and a safety net if something isn’t quite right with the recording from the amp.

The main goal is to keep things defined. Low-end build-up can muddy a mix quickly, so a well-recorded bass track can make a huge difference to the end result.

Whatever your setup, starting with a clean DI signal gives you a solid base (or bass!) to build on. From there, you can add as much character as you like.

Our top tips for recording guitar

1. Choose the right method

Decide what you’re recording and whether you want a natural, “in the room” sound or a clean signal you can shape later.

2. Set up carefully and check levels

Make sure everything is connected correctly and your input level is strong without clipping. Leaving some headroom helps avoid problems later.

3. Record with the mix in mind

A guitar tone that sounds great on its own may not work in a mix. Focus on midrange clarity and avoid excess low end.

4. Think about placement and signal choice

Mic placement has a big impact on recorded sound, and small adjustments can make a difference. Clean DI signals offer flexibility and control when mixing.

5. Test and listen before committing

Record short test takes and listen back for noise, distortion, or balance issues. Make adjustments before recording full takes.

Hardware vs. plugins

Recording guitar with amp sim plugins has come a long way. Plug in, choose a preset, tweak it to get the right sound, and you’re ready to go. It’s ideal if you’re trying to be quiet, have limited space for recording, or just want to keep your setup simple. You can change sounds after recording, layer parts easily, and save money on gear. Just be aware that the feel can differ slightly, and too many options might slow you down.

A miked amp, on the other hand, gives you the unmistakable feel of speakers moving air! It’s more involved to set up and harder to change sounds later, but the payoff is touch-sensitive dynamics and a tone that feels alive. Bear in mind that you’ll need space, volume, and time to get it right.

Plenty of players now combine both, recording a DI for safety as well as amp tone. That offers flexibility and character in the same take.

The best mics for recording guitar

The microphone you choose has a big impact on your recordings. Dynamic mics are tough, reject background noise well, and handle high volumes, perfect for recording loud amps. The Shure SM57 is the industry standard.

Condenser mics are more sensitive and detailed. They capture the full frequency range and work well for room sound and cleaner guitar tones. They often need phantom power and a carefully set-up room. The sE Electronics sE2300 offers clarity and versatility without breaking the bank.

Ribbon mics provide a smooth, vintage sound with natural warmth and softer highs. They’re great for taming harshness and adding depth, but they’re delicate and often need a clean, high-gain preamp. The SubZero R2 is a great choice for guitarists on a budget.

Each type brings something unique, so the best microphone depends on what you want to achieve when recording.

The best audio interfaces for recording guitar

When choosing an audio interface, look for clean instrument-level inputs, low latency, and good-quality preamps – even if you’re mostly using amp sims, they make a difference to clarity and dynamics. A high-impedance input (Hi-Z) is a bonus.

For home setups, the Focusrite Scarlett Solo is a solid, budget-friendly option with everything you need to get started. If you want extra inputs or improved conversion, the Universal Audio Volt 2 adds vintage tone shaping and low-noise performance.

More advanced setups might benefit from the SSL 2+, which delivers studio-grade preamps and solid build quality, or the Audient iD14, which has a JFET input designed to replicate the input stage of a real valve amp.

Whatever you choose, a good interface keeps you focused on playing, not troubleshooting.

FAQs

What’s the best free guitar recorder?

The best free guitar recorder depends on what you want to achieve, but GarageBand (for Mac users) and Cakewalk by BandLab (for Windows) are among the most popular. There are also plenty of affordable paid-for options available, and these are worth exploring.

Do you need a microphone to record guitar?

If you have an audio interface for your computer, you don’t need a microphone to record electric guitar – you can plug straight in! This allows you to record a direct signal very easily, which can then be edited using plugins and amp sims in your DAW.

Is an SM57 good for recording acoustic guitar?

You can use an SM57 for recording acoustic guitar, and if you’re used to recording electric then you may well have one already, but it’s not the best solution. To get the best recording of your acoustic guitar, a condenser microphone is a better option.

Final thoughts

There’s a lot more to recording guitar than just hitting the big red button, and it starts with knowing what you want to achieve. In this guide on how to record guitar, we’ve broken down the options to help you decide what suits your setup, playing style, and goals.

Whether you’re chasing amp tone, keeping things flexible, or working to a budget, the gear and techniques you choose should match your priorities. Take your time, experiment, and treat recording as another part of learning your instrument. It’s not something to get “right” straight away; it’s something to explore, learn about, and enjoy as a rewarding aspect of a hobby you love.