Essential for electric
Guitar amp
At home, a small 10–20W combo or a headphone amp. A headphone jack and Bluetooth (for playing backing tracks) make it much more satisfying. $50–370.
Gear guide — what else you need besides the guitar
Electric and bass need an amp to make sound; acoustic and classical need care tools instead of an amp. Budget for the instrument alone and this is where you get stuck. Here are the essentials by instrument, sets by budget, and amps by purpose.
Essential gear by instrument
The top row is what you can't practice without; the bottom row can wait.
| Instrument | Needed from the start | Later | No need to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Amp (or headphone amp) · cable · tuner · picks · strap | Spare strings (3 months) · one effect (4 months) · interface (for recording) | Lots of pedals, premium cables, a hard case (for guitars under $1,000) |
| Acoustic | Tuner · capo · picks · hygrometer (solid top) · case | Spare strings · strap · pickup (for the stage) | Amp, effects |
| Classical | Footstool (or support) · tuner · case | Spare nylon strings · nail file | Picks, strap, amp |
| Bass | Bass amp (or headphone amp) · cable · tuner that reads low notes · wide strap | Spare strings (pricey, 4–6 months) · compressor (6 months) · DI (recording, gigs) | Guitar amp (can damage the speaker), lots of effects |
Essential for bass
Bass amp
Bass amps have speakers built for low end. Plugging a bass into a guitar amp can damage the speaker. 15–40W for home, 100W or more for a band. $100–650.
Essential for electric and bass
Cable · picks
A 3m (10 ft) TS cable for $17–23 is plenty. For picks, start with a 0.73mm medium and try several thicknesses. They're easy to lose, so buy about five.
Essential for all
Tuner
A clip-on for $16–22. If you're out of tune, everything sounds wrong and you give up. For bass, check that the model can read low notes.
Essential for acoustic
Capo
A clamp that goes on the neck to raise the key. Almost essential for matching a song's key. $13–25. Used on electric and classical too.
Essential for classical
Footstool · guitar support
A footstool for your left foot ($16–23), or a support that lifts the guitar off your thigh. On classical, posture is half the sound.
Essential for electric and bass
Strap
Even if you only play sitting down, a strap steadies your posture. A basic one is $6–11. A bass weighs 4–5kg, so we recommend a wide strap and strap locks.
After 3 months
Strings · string winder
Change them when they sound dull. Electric 009–010 ($8–11), acoustic 011–012 ($8–10), classical nylon ($8–13), bass 045–105 ($22–25).
After 4 months
Effects
For the first 3 months, the amp's built-in effects are enough. Then one pedal: an overdrive or a delay for electric, a compressor for bass. $69–209.
For recording
Audio interface
A device that plugs your instrument into a computer. If cover videos or recording are your goal, get this before an amp. For acoustic and classical, use it with a mic. $160–225.
Optional
Multi-effects · amp modeler
Amp and effects in one unit. Great for headphone practice, and if you bring it to a rehearsal, you get your own sound whatever the amp. $99–384.
Sets by budget — see the total
Not the instrument price but the total it takes to get started. Tap an instrument tab to switch. Each set notes where you can save and where you shouldn't.
Prices are rough US street-price ranges in US dollars as of 2026 and can change. We list several models together so we don't favor any brand. For where to buy, see Retailers and brands.
Your instrument and purpose decide the amp and connections
Choose by where you play, not by watts. At home, you can't turn a 50W amp past 2. For acoustic and classical, this only applies when you play on stage.
Choose in detail by type
From headphone amps to tube amps · which effect to buy first
From headphone amps to tube amps · which effect to buy first
Starting without an amp (electric and bass). If you can't make noise where you are, this is the answer.
- Plug a headphone amp (Vox amPlug 3 / amPlug 3 Bass, $51–60) into the jack and listen on headphones.
- Or use a smartphone + an interface (IK iRig, etc.) + a free app.
What you don't need at first · what to do instead
No need to buy
- A bunch of effects pedals. Use the amp's built-in effects for 3 months. Buy after you know what you're missing.
- Premium cables. In your first year, you won't hear the difference between a basic $17–23 cable and one that costs several times more.
- Hard case. For a guitar under $1,000, a gig bag is fine. All-solid acoustics are the exception.
- An acoustic amp. You don't need one if you play at home.
- A second guitar. Around month 4, you'll start browsing. Give your current guitar a year.
Do this instead
- Setup. New or used, get one shop setup ($50–110). With the right string height, chords get half as hard to press. Especially on an acoustic. Half of what beginners blame on their own hands is really a setup problem.
- A metronome app. Free. Start at 60 bpm.
- Guitar stand. If it lives in its case, you won't play it. Stand it where you can see it and you will. (In winter, keep a solid-top acoustic in its case.)
- A hygrometer. Keep solid-wood acoustics and classicals at 40–55%. A cheap one is fine.
Gear ready?
Your first week: tuning, posture, then hooking everything up.
Go to roadmap step 1Your first week: tuning, posture, then hooking everything up.