The Best Gifts for Guitar Players, Picked by a Pro

Please note: I do not participate in any affiliate program or receive a commission for recommending any of the products I’ve listed below. I shopped around for the best prices, but that’s no guarantee that you won’t find better. Prices fluctuate!

Under $10

String Winder

This small tool proves that the best gift ideas aren’t always the most expensive. A string winder is a simple, inexpensive tool that makes changing strings a breeze. This one is only $3.49, but it’s worth its weight in gold! Pair it with one or more of the items below to make a guitarist happy!

Guitar Pick Pack

Beginner guitarists will benefit from experimenting with a variety of weights and shapes of picks to find the ones that suit them best. Even if a guitar player has a personal preference, it doesn’t mean he or she isn’t open to new styles. You can’t go wrong with this variety pack of guitar picks for $5.99. It even includes a storage case!

Capo

Most guitarists already own a capo, and most would agree that two (or three!) is better than one. After all, a particular design may work better on one guitar than another. Also, having more than one can help ensure you always have one close at hand.

This Wingo capo is inexpensive ($7.50), but well designed and does the job. The Kyser capo costs more ($25), but it’s worth every penny. It’s high quality, easy to use, and lasts long enough that I can’t remember how long I’ve had mine. It comes in a lot of colors, looks good, works well, and is pretty much a perfect capo in every way.

Strings

Not all guitar strings are created equal. It’s important that the strings you purchase are appropriate for the type of instrument (classical, acoustic, or electric). Not only that, but guitarists usually have a personal choice regarding composition and weight. If you’re buying strings for a beginner guitarist, stick with light-gauged strings from a popular company. (Try D’Addario, Ernie Ball, or Elixir.) If, however, you want to get strings for a more experienced guitarist, you’d be smart to discover their preference and stick with that.

Take a look at Strings by Mail. You can not only find an impressive collection of strings, you can also learn a lot about the different kinds.

Under $30

Pick Case

Picks have a way of disappearing and the best way to corral them is with a case. You can find plenty of basic cases like this one in the $4 – $6 range. For a classier pick case, or even a personalized one, head over to Etsy. Although a few of the ones offered are a little pricier, most of them are in the $7 – $20 range. Very nice!

Slide

If your guitar friend or family member plays slide guitar, they may appreciate a new slide to experiment with. If they don’t already play slide, they might enjoy the opportunity to try their hand. This set includes 3 slides—one each of glass, steel, and brass—with some flat picks and fingerpicks thrown in, all for $14.99. Sounds like a great gift to me!

Footstool

A lot of people think only classical guitarists benefit from using a footstool, but that’s not the case. Anyone who wants to ingrain proper technique will appreciate a footstool, as will the guitarist who is dedicated to maintaining a healthy back and neck.

I like this bamboo footstool that sells for around $24. If you prefer, you can get a metal one for the same price here.

Professional Support

New gear is great, but sometimes a guitar player needs some professional support. At only $25, Single Song Support may be the best deal on the Internet for guitar players and it’s an ideal gift for any musician. All you do is send in a video or audio file of yourself playing any song—cover or original—and get back professional feedback and assistance on that song. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it can really be a game changer if you’re looking to solve problems or just feel reassured about your performance. It’s a pretty safe bet that the guitar player in your life will love it.

Miscellaneous Personal Stuff (mostly under $20)

A list of the best gifts for guitar players isn’t complete without some guitar-themed personal items.

A T-shirt made for music lovers is always a great gift idea. When choosing a design, consider whether your guitarist friend is an electric guitar player or someone who has a lifelong commitment to the acoustic guitar. If you like shopping Amazon, you’ll find plenty there, but don’t forget to check out Etsy.

A personalized or guitar-themed coffee mug is usually a hit with any guitar lover. Once again, you’ll find some good ones on Etsy.

This guitar shaped key chain is also a bottle opener, slotted screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, bicycle spoke key, imperial and metric rulers, open wrench, and lanyard hole. That’s a practical gift for anyone!

Finally, if your guitar friend is into posters, here’s a place to shop.

Gifts from $30 – $75

Guitar Stand

For a really useful gift, consider a guitar stand. You can get a reliable guitar stand like this Proline for as little as $15 or spend up to $200 on a more elaborate rack that holds multiple guitars. For those who like to display their guitar, this sturdy and attractive wall mount is available for $18.

Guitar Strap

Not all guitar players use a strap and those who do probably already own one. But do they have one for every guitar, or one that’s really special? There are plenty of flashy and well-made straps on the market to choose from, so it’s worth shopping a bit.

Start by looking at Couch guitar straps. If you buy one, consider buying a dependable strap lock (below) to go with it. I can say from personal experience that it’s an important item!

If you want to forgo buying a separate strap lock, Ernie Ball and D’Adarrio both make good straps that are attractive and have built-in locking mechanisms.

Finally, be sure to check out the Souldier handmade straps. They’re not only high quality, but they’re also fully customizable and reasonably priced, which makes them a fantastic gift.

Strap Lock

If your guitar friend already has enough straps or if you’re gifting a strap that doesn’t have a lock, you’ll want to look at the assortment of styles on this page. It may not seem like a glamorous gift, but a small investment can save a guitar and turn you into a hero!

Looper

This is an item that pays to find out if the recipient already owns one before you make a purchase. If they don’t, they might not even know they want one until they have it! Besides being a great practice tool, a looper pedal can enhance your creativity and spice up a performance. That makes it an ideal gift for any guitar player!

When you start shopping for loop stations, you may feel overwhelmed by not only the price, but also the options. But there’s no need to spend a lot of money on a looper pedal—there’s a lot you can do with this this Lekato for only $50. It’s a lot of fun and a great addition to anyone’s collection of guitar gear.

Guitar Cable

A new, sturdy cable is a useful gift for anyone who plays electric or acoustic-electric guitar. If you’re feeling flush and want to gift someone a top quality cable, consider the  Mogami Gold. The price ranges from $55 – $100, depending on the length you buy. If you want to spend less money and still get a high quality cable, look at either this Boss cable or this tried and true Ernie Ball cable that comes in lots of colors and designs.

Tool and Care Kits

The musician’s tool kit ($45) from Ernie Ball is an affordable gift that’s a favorite of mine. For another practical gift that’s related, check out this guitar care kit that includes cleaning and polishing products for the fretboard, body, and strings.

Tuner

Every guitarist needs a tuner. Unless your guitar friend is a beginner, he or she probably already has one, but do they have the one they want?

The Snark clip on guitar tuner is a popular tuner that’s easy to use and at only $20, affordable. For more precise tuning, this Peterson clip-on tuner is an impressive choice. It’s a chromatic, strobe tuner with remarkable accuracy. It’s a great value at just over $50.

If you’re more interested in a pedal tuner, you’ll love this Boss pedal tuner, which also boasts high accuracy and sells for around $100.

Guitar Wisdom 

Anyone serious about growing as a guitarist will appreciate this unique 2-book set. The first book (You & Your Guitar) is packed with essential wisdom about learning and playing guitar. The accompanying hard cover, wire bound journal/practice log encourages not only consistency and clarity in the process, but also creativity and inspiration. They arrive beautifully wrapped and include a 3-month subscription to a comprehensive digital library of audio, video, and text lessons and courses – all for only $45!

Guitar Gifts from $75 – $200+

Headphone Amp

I usually advise that unless someone has told you about something specific they’re wishing for, it’s probably best to steer clear of giving a guitar or amp. It’s a personal choice and one that’s pretty much impossible to make for someone else.

But a headphone amp is a different story. It’s less of a performance enhancer and more of a practice tool. Although you can find cheaper headphone amps, I have this Fender Mustang Micro Headphone Amp  ($120), and it’s a huge boon to my practice. Anyone who lives with other people close enough to hear their electric guitar will probably consider a headphone amp a perfect gift!

Pocket-Size Amp

The Positive Grid Spark GO is an amazing practice amp and Bluetooth speaker with four built-in preset slots and 50,000 more patches available through the Spark app. It’s only 4 inches tall, but you won’t believe the volume and tone. You can also plug headphones into it to use without disturbing your neighbors. There are a lot more features that you can find out about in the video on this page. It’s hard to believe that you could get so much for $116.

Audio Interface

What guitar player doesn’t want to be able to record or stream studio quality sound from home? There are several good audio interface options to choose from, but the  Scarlett series leads the pack, and for a reason. They’re easy to use and the sound quality is unbeatable. You can get the compact 3rd generation for $110 and the 4th generation, which offers a lot more, for $220. You can learn about the options and buy them on this page.

New Guitar – Because buying a guitar is such a personal choice, I don’t usually recommend choosing one for someone else. If you want to buy someone a new guitar, though, just know that there’s a lot more to consider than the appearance and quality of the instrument. I’ve written this page to help you with the process.

Travel Guitar

Any devoted guitar player hates leaving their guitar at home when they travel, but the alternatives can be worse. Airline regulations for bringing a guitar on board are restrictive and it’s risky to check a guitar. Not only that, but your precious musical companion is at risk of warping in a hot car or getting stolen while you’re having a relaxing meal. A travel guitar presents a perfect solution, although not one everyone will indulge in for themselves. That’s what makes it a perfect gift!

When you shop for a travel guitar, make sure that the one you’re considering will actually be allowed as carry-on on a plane. A lot of the nicer travel guitars are small and great for road trips, but not small enough to put under a seat or in an overhead compartment.

The Martin Backpacker is a true travel size. It’s a reliable and well-made guitar that has stood the test of time. Unfortunately, the price has soared in recent years, but you can find used ones in the $200 range. Try ebay or local classifieds or music stores.

This is another item where personal preference plays a big part, though, so make sure if you purchase one that it can be returned or exchanged. There are several different designs to choose from when it comes to travel guitars and most of them are pricey.

Can’t Decide?

Sometimes the best gifts for guitar players are the ones they pick out for themselves. A gift certificate that is guitar-specific conveys your thoughtfulness while honoring the recipient’s choices in lessons, coaching, videos, books, or merch. It’s also a perfect solution to last-minute shopping, as it can be delivered immediately. Choose the denomination that works for you—and don’t forget to include a note!