4 Guitar Gadgets That Can Help You Progress Faster
Theoretically, getting good at guitar is very easy. All you have to do is pick up the instrument and practice it the right way, and voila… you’ll be a pro in no time.
In reality, though, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Getting through the initial struggles with the guitar can be really cumbersome. There’s a reason why many people pick up the guitar, but only a few people manage to play it decently.
Lucky for you, we have a few tips and tricks that’ll make your progress with the instrument fun and easy. While there isn’t any substitute for dedicated practice, there are a few gadgets that can assist you in learning guitar.
Here are 4 gadgets that can help you progress faster:
Capo
The importance of a capo can never be emphasised enough. It is basically a clip that you put on the guitar to adjust the pitch of the instrument so you can play in different keys. It is used by various advanced level players, and you’ll often see it being used in different tutorial videos on YouTube.
What will it do for beginners? When you place a capo on frets above 1 and 2, it lowers the guitar action (distance of the strings from the fretboard). Playing becomes easier, and it hurts less in the initial stages.
Also, it bridges the gap between open chords and barre chords - something that’s a nightmare for almost all beginners.
Clip-On Tuner
Ear training is an important thing when it comes to playing guitar. Most beginners aren’t aware of tuning the instrument and end up playing out of tune. Playing the right notes is so important if you wish to progress… (and sound good!)
And it makes sense, right? Who would want to make efforts if their guitar produces funny sounds all the time?
That’s where a clip-on tuner comes in. You can clip the tuner onto your headstock and ensure that your guitar is in tune every time you play. A tuned guitar will help you sound good right from your first day, and you’ll enjoy playing the instrument.
Pick Holder
You can never be careful enough when it comes to guitar picks. They seem to disappear into thin air. A pick is one thing that will make your playing easier. But it is easy to lose picks.
To ensure that you always have access to your picks, consider getting a pick holder. It’s a small gadget that’ll fit on your headstock where you can keep your picks once you’re done playing. Instead of going through the frustration of finding your picks every time you sit to play, you can focus better on your practice.
Looper
This isn’t something for absolute beginners, but once you start learning scales, a looper will be a blessing in disguise.
Basically, a looper is a gadget that’ll record what you play and then repeat it in fixed intervals. There are SO MANY tricks you may do with a looper, but in the initial stages, it’ll be helpful for you to practice your lead guitar.
Recording a simple 3-chord progression will do the trick, and then you can practice the scales on top.
Final Thoughts
Getting through the initial struggles is crucial when you decide to take up the guitar. In fact, this is the time that can determine whether you’ll continue the journey or drop it altogether.
If you want to get good at the guitar, there are lots of things that can help make your learning journey much easier. Just like the 4 things mentioned above, which can accelerate your initial learning phase.