If you are thinking of purchasing a guitar there are some additional items you may also consider which will make the beginning a lot smoother. 

Guitar tuner  

Being in tune is essential for playing any instrument and using a guitar tuner will help a beginner learn to tune by getting their ear trained to hear what is in tune and what is not.

The most common variety of tuners recommended for beginners is a clip-on style which attaches to the headstock of the guitar and works off vibrations rather than sound which is handy in noisy environments. These are generally chromatic which means they will be able to tune to any note, however, they have handy guitar, bass, violin and ukulele settings. 

Guitar Stand

This one is critical on a number of counts. Guitars are pretty tough in general and can take some punishment. However, they can be susceptible to breaking at the neck joint, particularly if they fall forward.

The style of guitar stand pictured has a rubber stopper at the top of the stand to prevent precisely that. It is also constructed in three sections for portability and has rubber foam and the contact to protect the guitar's finish.

Another reason to purchase a stand is to keep your guitar within reach and visible at all times and ready for action.

Capo

A capo is not as essential as other items on this list, however, it will allow beginners to change the key when using the “open” chords that most guitarists will learn at the start of their musical journey.

This is perfect for working with singers as you can slide the capo up the neck to accommodate for a comfortable key without using barre chords. A capo is definitely recommended for guitarists who would like to sing along while they play or accompany a singer.

Gig Bag

A gig bag is recommended if you are travelling around with your guitar to and from lessons, friends places to jam, to school, etc. They are lightweight with back-straps for handsfree transportation and many have a handy pocket with space for music books, straps and other accessories.

Of course, a hard case will offer better protection, however, as a general rule hard cases are only really essential when you give your guitar to someone else to take care of like travelling on a plane or train.

Gig bags are very affordable in comparison to hard cases and are a recommended investment to transport your instrument and when you are not moving it will be sitting in the stand waiting for action. Both electric gig bags and acoustic gig bags are available for your guitar.

Spare Single Strings

Guitar strings can be very volatile and are subject to breakage even on a brand new guitar. Reasons for broken strings include hitting too hard, burrs on the nut or saddle, over winding the string (see guitar tuner) or for absolutely no reason whatsoever.

It is advisable to always have some spares on hand particularly for the thinner strings because there is nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of playing and snapping a string with no spares.

Strings do wear out and go dull over time, if you remember to wash your hands before you play and have a cloth handy to wipe them down afterwards it will preserve some string life for longer.

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