Started playing acoustic guitar? Wondering what accessories to get? Look no further than this article to find the best acoustic guitar accessories for beginners.

Bags and cases

You might be happy playing at home. But what if you want to strum and pluck to the world? This is where a bag or case comes in.

These serve a dual purpose. One, they protect your instrument. And two, they allow you to transport your instrument.

I’d say a bag is a good starting point. Their light weight makes them easy to transport, and they often have back straps as well as a handle.

Why not try our Padded Acoustic Guitar Gig Bag? Its padded interior provides the protection your guitar needs, and the large front pocket has plenty of space for all the other accessories I’ll mention in this article.

If you want more protection – you might be taking your guitar on the road – a hard case could be for you. They’re heavier, but the hard, solid exterior will protect your guitar from any knocks, bumps, and scrapes. You could put it in the back of a van, then, without worrying about other equipment falling on it and damaging it.

Our Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Hard Case is a good starting point here. It has a robust and durable construction, lockable latches, and even an interior storage pocket for any extra accessories.

Remember: before getting your guitar case, make sure to check it’s the right size. There would be nothing worse than buying an expensive case and your guitar not fitting!

Shop now | Acoustic guitar bags & cases

Capos

When you start playing guitar, you’ll probably only know a few chords. But what if you want to sing at different pitches?

Capos are ideal for this. A capo clips or straps onto your strings, making each string higher. This means you can play the same chord shapes at higher pitches.

I’d recommend any acoustic guitarist to get one, it will allow you to sing along to many of your favourite songs with ease. All you need is three chords and capo and you have a world of possibility.

Personally, I use a quick-release capo, much like our Deluxe Acoustic/Electric Guitar Capo. This is easy and – as the name implies – quick to use; great if you’re trying out lots of different pitches/keys.

Shop now | Guitar capos

Strings

Your acoustic guitar most likely came with strings. But before long, you’ll need more.

While strings can last a long time, they start to dull over time. New strings will sound brighter and also be easier to play.

You’re also constantly at risk of breaking strings when you play. Someone I know breaks strings multiple times a week!

So it’s ideal to always have a few backup sets of strings. You never know when a string will break and you need to quickly replace it.

But what type of string should you get?

The best solution, in my humble opinion, is to try a few different types yourself, and then see what works best for you. However, if you want a specific sound straight away, heavy gauge strings tend to have a warmer tone while light gauge strings will be brighter.

You could also try out different materials, for example, 80/20 Bronze and Phosphor Bronze, but I wouldn’t worry too much about this when you’re starting out. Like I said, try out a few different types and see what suits you the best.

Why not try a few sets of our own strings? Then you can discover what works best for you for an affordable price!

Shop now | Acoustic strings

String changing

But whoa! Hold up a second! What do you need to change strings?

While you don’t need any tools to change strings, having a couple will make your life a whole lot easier.

For one, I’d get a string winder, such as our Guitar String Winder. This makes turning the tuning pegs on your guitar much quicker – saving you time and wrist strain.

A string clipper is another useful tool, quickly allowing you to trim your strings down once you’ve installed them.

A lot of tools are multifunctional, with functionality for removing guitar pegs too. Our Multifunctional Guitar Tool is a good example of this.

Shop now | Guitar tools

Tuner

Want to sound good while playing guitar? The easiest way to start is by being in tune.

Tuners are an essential acoustic accessory – for beginners and professionals alike. These will make sure your strings are at the right pitch and sound good together.

While you might get good at tuning by ear eventually, that takes time.  There are also tuner apps you can download, but a dedicated tuner is both more accurate and easier to access.

Battery-powered clip-on tuners, such as our Chromatic Clip-On Tuner, are a good starting point.

Simply clip one of these onto your guitar’s headstock, and play each string. It will then show you how much you need to tune your strings up or down.

Whatever tuner you get, I’d recommend it being a chromatic one. This will let you tune your guitar in alternate tunings – something many acoustic songs require.

If you’re playing live a lot, consider getting a tuning pedal, such as the SubZero Tundra Tuner. This has a dual purpose: it facilitates tuning and, if you’re playing an electro-acoustic, it will mute your guitar when you aren’t playing or want to unplug it.

Shop now | Guitar tuners

Picks

You can play acoustic guitar with your fingers, but a pick is good for more rhythmic guitar styles.

A pick is a small plastic implement that you hold between your fingers and thumb to pluck and strum strings.

There are lots of different sizes and types, so this is another accessory where you might want to try a few out and find one that’s right for you.

I recommend the Fender All Shapes Celluloid Medley pack, which includes eight different pick types.

This includes a big triangle pick – perfect for beginners because of its large size that won’t slip out of your hand, and it gives you plenty of space to strum and pluck without your fingers getting in the way.

Shop now | Guitar picks

Straps

A lot of acoustic guitarists sit down while playing. But what if you want to rock out?

A guitar strap is an essential acoustic accessory if you want to stand up while playing, and can even make sitting down more comfortable.

Before buying, check whether your guitar has strap pins. Some guitars don’t have any, and some only have one, meaning you have to get a strap you can tie to your guitar’s neck.

You can get a plain black guitar strap, like the Guitar Strap by Gear4music. But why not get something to suit your style?

Red, green, orange, blue, yellow, pink? Leather, patterned, whatever? There’ll be a strap for you.

Shop now | Guitar straps

Stands

A stand will give you somewhere to put your guitar down safely and allow you to grab it quickly when inspiration strikes.

The easiest option is a floor stand, such as our Traditional Guitar Stand, which requires no installation. Just fold it out and place your guitar on it.

If you want to make your guitar a more permanent part of your room, a guitar wall hanger, such as our Guitar Wall Hanger, is a good shout.

This will take some installation but will put your guitar in pride of place and give it a permanent space in your home.

Shop now | Guitar stands

Other accessories

There are lots of other accessories you might want to get for your acoustic guitar, here are some of them:

Guitar slides

For fans of country music, you can’t go wrong with a guitar slide. This allows you to sustain notes in a similar way to the human voice. It also lets you smoothly slide between notes. These come in both metal and glass variations, such as the Guitar Glass Slide by Gear4music and the Guitar Steel Slide by Gear4music.

Cables

If you use an electro-acoustic guitar and want to play live, it’s always useful having a jack lead. There are many options to choose from, but a great starting point is the Gear4music TRS 3.5mm Jack to TRS 3.5mm Jack Pro Cable.

Guitar hand exercisers

Adjusting your hand muscles to play the guitar is not always an easy task.

Luckily, you can now get tools made specifically to strengthen your fingers, such as the Ortega Adjustable Finger Exerciser. This will increase your stamina with just a few simple exercises, improving your playing in the long run.

Cleaning materials

Some people don’t mind scratching their guitar up. But if you want to keep it in pristine shape then you should consider investing in some cleaning materials.

Cleaning cloths, such as the Instrument Polishing Cloth, and cleaning fluids, such as the Dunlop Formula 65 Guitar Polish & Cleaner, are good places to start.

Find out more

All guitarists need a few accessories to get them through a set, rehearsal, or just a general jam – the most important ones being a tuner, pick, strap, and bag.

Prefer the electric guitar? Check out our guide to the top electric guitar accessories for beginners.