Guitar Start Guide
The gear industry would love you to believe you need a pile of accessories before you can play a note. You don’t. The real equipment needed to learn guitar is short, and most of it is cheap. This guide separates the genuine essentials from the nice-to-haves — and the stuff you can happily ignore for now — so your money goes where it actually matters: getting you playing.
The short answer
To start playing today you need three things: a decent guitar, a way to tune it, and something to learn from. Everything else on this page is optional and can be added over time. If you’re on a tight budget, spend it on the guitar and get a free tuning app — that combination alone will carry you through your first few months.
Essentials vs nice-to-haves (with rough costs)
Prices vary by country and change over time, so treat these as rough, at-the-time-of-writing ballparks rather than exact figures.
| Item | Need it? | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner guitar (acoustic or electric) | Essential | By far the biggest line on this list |
| Tuner (clip-on or free app) | Essential | Free as an app, or a few pounds clipped on |
| Picks (a few, medium gauge) | Essential | Pocket change |
| Something to learn from (course/app/lessons) | Essential | Free, or a modest monthly subscription |
| Amp + cable (electric only) | Essential for electric | The second biggest line, if you go electric |
| Spare strings | Nice to have | A little more than a pack of picks |
| Guitar strap | Nice to have | Cheap |
| Gig bag or hard case | Nice to have | Varies a lot: soft bags are cheap, hard cases are not |
| Guitar stand | Nice to have | About the same as a clip-on tuner |
| Capo | Nice to have | About the same as a clip-on tuner |
| Metronome (or free app) | Nice to have | Free as an app |
| Effects pedals | Skip for now | Varies widely |
The essentials, explained
The guitar is the one place worth spending properly. A cheap, badly set-up instrument with high, buzzy strings can make learning genuinely painful and put you off entirely. You don’t need anything expensive, but you do need something playable. A tuner is non-negotiable — an out-of-tune guitar sounds wrong no matter how well you play, and clip-on tuners or free phone apps do the job perfectly. A few picks in a medium gauge (around 0.6–0.7mm) round out the kit. Finally, you need something to learn from, whether that’s a structured course, an app, or free lessons online.
If you’ve gone electric, add an amp and cable to the essentials list. A small practice amp is all you need at home — there’s no reason to buy anything loud or fancy yet.
The nice-to-haves
- Spare strings — strings break and wear out; having a set on hand saves a trip to the shop mid-practice.
- Strap — essential if you want to play standing, optional if you only ever sit.
- Case or gig bag — worth it once you start taking the guitar anywhere, or just to keep dust off.
- Stand — a guitar left on a stand in the room gets played far more than one zipped away in a case.
- Capo — handy for playing along with songs in different keys, but not needed on day one.
- Metronome — invaluable for timing, but a free app does the job just as well as a physical one.
Check current prices on Amazon: Snark SN5X tuner · Dunlop pick variety pack · Elixir acoustic strings · Ernie Ball strap · Gator gig bag · On-Stage stand · Kyser capo · Fender Frontman 10G amp · Fender instrument cable →
What you can safely skip (for now)
Effects pedals, premium cables, fancy tuning gadgets, and multiple guitars are all things beginners buy in a burst of enthusiasm and rarely need early on. There’s nothing wrong with them, but none of them will make you a better player in your first year. Learn the instrument first; the toys can wait until you actually have a reason for them.
Where to spend and where to save
Put your budget into the guitar and, if you can, one solid way to learn — those two decide whether you stick with it. For choosing the instrument itself, see our roundup of the best beginner guitars. On the learning side, a structured course removes the guesswork; we compare options like Jamorama and app-based tools such as Simply Guitar in depth. You’ll find more kit guidance in our Guitar Gear section, and if you’re brand new, our Start Here page ties it all together.
Once your gear is sorted: A guitar, a tuner and a little patience will do to begin, and from there following an ordered course like Jamorama saves you from wondering what to practice next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum equipment to start learning guitar?
A playable guitar, a tuner (a free app is fine), a couple of picks, and something to learn from. If you’re on electric, add a small practice amp and a cable. That’s genuinely all you need to begin.
Do I need an amp to learn electric guitar?
For electric, yes — you’ll want at least a small practice amp so you can actually hear yourself clearly. An inexpensive amp is fine to start; you don’t need anything powerful for home practice. Some people use headphone amps or audio interfaces instead for quiet practice.
How much should a beginner spend on their first guitar?
Around $120–250 hits the sweet spot at the time of writing. Below that, quality often drops to the point where the guitar is hard to play; above it, you’re paying for features a beginner won’t use yet. Prices vary by region and change, so shop around.
Is a clip-on tuner better than a phone app?
Both work well. Clip-on tuners read the guitar’s vibration, so they’re reliable even in noisy rooms, which is why many players prefer them. Free phone apps use the microphone and are perfectly accurate in a quiet space — and they cost nothing, which is hard to beat when you’re starting out.
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