Whether they're a beginner on guitar or give Jimi Hendrix a run for his money, you'll find the ideal gift to keep any guitarist happy here.
My Top Gift Choice For Guitar Players
Being able to tune their guitar quickly, easy, and accurately is important for guitar players, and this clip on tuner allows them to do that and make sure their guitar is always in tune.
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Playing the guitar is a hobby and a passion for many people the world over, as being able to play your favourite songs, or write your own, is so creative, satisfying, and enjoyable.
While the constant challenge of learning new chords, melodies, and more difficult songs keeps you on your toes.
And it's not only fun and rewarding, it can also be great for your health and well-being too.
As it can relieve stress and anxiety, distract you from any physical aches and pains, stimulate your creative side, and make you feel happy and good about yourself.
Not to mention being a great skill to bring out at parties, especially if you're trying to impress the hot girl in the corner.
So if you have a loved one that's always strumming away on their guitar, or one that wants to learn, why not get them a gift to encourage them.
And to help you choose, I've put together the following list of gift ideas for guitar players that range from gifts for complete novices, right through to gifts for expert guitarists.
1. A Capo To Make The Guitar Easier To Play
Our first gift idea here is a capo as these are great gifts to get for any guitarist.
They work by clamping down across all the strings of the guitar at the fret where they are placed, which changes the pitch and sound, allowing the guitarist to play further up the fret board.
This can be great for a beginner, as it changes the key of a song, making the chords easier to play where the frets are closer together.
And they can be good for gigging guitarists too, if they want to simplify their playing and make life easier for themselves on stage.
So getting them a top quality capo, such as the G7th performance 3, will be appreciated for sure.
As this one fits most guitars intuitively with an even pressure, meaning there won't be any buzzing, and the guitar will stay in tune as they play.
2. A Stand For Their Guitar To Sit On Safely
Once you get into playing guitar, you will soon become very attached to your instrument.
And as such you'll want to make sure it's always well looked after and protected.
As there's nothing more heart breaking that seeing your beloved guitar taking a tumble, and being damaged or consigned to the scrapheap.
So a gift idea that can help a guitarist to avoid this fate is by them a sturdy guitar stand.
As this will give their pride and joy a secure place to sit, where it won't topple over, be trod on, or tripped over.
And having their guitar sitting in a stand rather than tucked away in a guitar bag or case has a couple of other benefits too.
As it'll be on hand to pick up and play whenever they want, and it'll look cool sitting in the corner of their room when friends come over.
So check out the Amazon Basics A-frame guitar stand, if you want to get them want a simple yet effective one.
Or you could go more expensive with a tripod-style stand, one made of wood, or one with a flashier design, if you're looking for more wow factor.
3. An Acoustic Guitar Transit Case
It's one thing to keep your guitar safe and protected at home, but it's a far greater challenge to do this when on the move.
And as you're likely to be carrying your guitar around with you a lot, whether gigging, busking, or simply travelling from place to place, you need to make sure it can survive without suffering any damage.
So a gift idea that can help them to do this is getting them a good guitar case.
Now you could choose a hard case for maximum protection, however, these are bulkier, heavier, and more difficult for them to carry around.
So it might be a better idea to go for a soft case instead, with my recommendation being the Gator Transit Series guitar bag.
As these bags are padded and fleece lined to cushion and protect their guitar, while the rubber tread at the bottom of the bag protects it against any bumps.
And the material protects against the weather too, so their guitar won't get wet if they get caught in a storm.
They are also easy to carry, with shoulder straps that distribute the weight evenly, and there are plenty of zipped pockets where they can keep their capo, tuner, picks, and spare strings.
4. A Comfortable Guitar Seat To Sit On While Playing
Being comfortable as they play is paramount for a guitarist so they can put their heart and soul into the music.
So getting them a comfortable guitar seat to sit on as they play and practice is a top gift idea.
And one that comes highly rated is the Gator Frameworks guitar seat.
As this one has a padded seat and back cushion, collapses down for easy storage, and has a stand at the base to sit their guitar when not using it.
5. A Clip On Guitar Tuner To Keep Them In Key
Keeping your guitar in tune and sounding good is obviously going to be a big help when you're playing.
Which makes owning a good tuner one of the most important things for any guitarist, with many opting for a clip on tuner.
As these tuners have a built in sensor that picks up on the the vibrations of the guitar to tell you which note you are playing and if you are in tune or not, which is a great way of getting an accurate reading.
And this also has the added benefit of being able to tune your guitar in a noisy environment, as the noise won't affect it.
So a good clip on tuner makes for a useful gift for a guitarist, and one that does the job really well is the KLIQ Ubertuner.
As this is super accurate, has a clear and bright display, which makes it a breeze to use, and is really compact, so they can carry it around easily.
6. A Book To Make Them A Better Guitarist
Learning guitar is a never ending process, as you will never run out of styles to try or things to master.
And no matter how good you get there, will always be tons of people better than you, and things you just can't get your head (or fingers) around.
Which can be frustrating, yet challenging and rewarding at the same time.
So if you're looking for a small gift for a guitarist, why not buy them a book suitable for their level, that helps them to improve their guitar skills and knowledge.
As this will give them the guidance, encouragement and motivation they need to keep pushing on.
So for relative beginners a good choice is The First 100 Chords For Guitar, as this one gives a great overview of the most common guitar chords, how to change between them, and how to build up your rhythm and sound.
Then for players that want to play in a classical style you can't go wrong with Pumping Nylon, which is full of exercises to help them master their classical guitar technique.
And finally, for the real pros out there you could get them The Advanced Guitarist, as this goes deep into ninja level guitar theory and concepts.
7. A Metronome To Keep Them In Time
Getting your timing, rhythm, and tempo right is crucial for any guitarist, and a good way to do that is to practice with a metronome.
As they play the beat in the background for you to keep up with, making your play more consistent and helping you to control your speed naturally.
So if you know someone who is learning the guitar but doesn't have a metronome yet, consider getting them the Boss DB-90 as a gift.
As this will greatly help them, with it's built in rhythm coach, and 4 training modes to get them playing at the right pace.
And they can choose either a tocking rhythm sound or a human voice calling out the beats, depending on which they find easier to follow.
Plus there are plenty of drum patterns to choose from that provide a background beat for them to play along to.
You can also click here to check out our gift ideas for drummers.
8. A Looper Pedal To Enhance The Sound
There are many different types of pedals you can get to enhance your sound once you start getting to grips with the guitar, and one of the best ones to get is a looper pedal.
As these pedals will record your guitar as you play a riff or chord sequence, then play it back to you on repeat every time you tap on the pedal.
So you can use this looping riff as a background guitar while playing a different rhythm over the top of it, or build your sound up in layers until everything is sounding great.
And they make for a great git, as they add depth to a guitar players sound, with the ideal starter option being the TC Electronic Ditto looper effects pedal.
As this one is really simple to use, yet still gives them great sound quality and looping options.
And if you want something for the more advanced guitarist, check out the Jamman Solo XT looper pedal instead.
9. A Guitar Amp For More Volume
Getting yourself a decent amplifier can really bring your electric guitar playing to life.
As not only does it increase the volume enough to be able to fill a venue with your wonderful riffs, it also modifies the tone and sound of your guitar, giving it a real crisp quality that is a joy to hear.
So having an amp is a must for any guitarist who is going to be playing gigs, but they're also great for amateur players too
As you can change up the effects to get the exact sound you're looking for at home,
So getting a guitarist a really good amp is a great gift idea, with an ideal choice being the Boss Katana 50W Combo Amp.
As this one is popular among amateurs, gigging musicians, and established artists alike, because it has great power, quality, and a plethora of options for them to choose from.
For example, they can customise the sound with gain, adjust the equaliser, or add any one of 50 effects such as wah, octave, delay or reverb, to get the sound exactly as they want.
And once they've found the sound settings they like, they can be saved as a preset to use in the future.
So if you want a gift that get a guitar player sounding really good, this amp will do the trick.
10. A Condenser Microphone Set For Quality Vocals
Once you've got your guitar playing up to standard and sounding great, you don't want to spoil all your hard work with crappy vocals.
Which means using a high quality microphone that gives you the best chance of nailing it is really important.
Now there are two types of microphone you could go for, dynamic or condenser, with dynamic microphones being more rugged and better for gigs and live shows.
However I think that condenser microphones make a better gift, as they are perfect to be used at home or in the studio to make crystal clear recordings.
And a perfect one to go for is the Rode NT1 Cardoid Condenser Microphone Kit, as this one gives out high quality, vibrant, and clean sounds, with a full tone.
Making it perfect for the amateur guitarist who wants to lay down some quality vocals to go along with their guitar tracks.
Click here for more gift ideas for singers.
11. A Pair Of Studio Monitors
If you're serious about mixing your own tracks and want them to be as good as they can be, then a pair of studio monitors are essential.
As these will play the sound you are making back at you in it's flattest and most accurate form.
Unlike the compromised sound you get using headphones or stereo speakers, which make it sound better than it really is. hiding all the bad stuff that you'd want to change.
Studio speakers on the other hand will highlight every minor imperfection, allowing you to fix and perfect your sound to the minutest detail in your mixes.
Which will make it sound great when playing it back in the car or on your home stereo.
So a pair of studio speakers make a really top gift for a a guitarist who makes their own recordings, and the ones in the Presonus Eris range are ideal.
As these give are high definition speakers that bring every sound on the track to life, and will allow them to make super clean and balanced mixes that will sound just as they want them to.
12. An 8-Track Digital Audio Recorder
Another useful piece of kit for any guitarist that records their own tracks at home is an 8-track audio recorder.
As this allows them to lay down up to 8 different tracks that all layer on top of each other to create a deeply layered sound.
Which will give them songs with real depth and body, and lets them get really creative when writing and recording their own songs.
And a great 8-track to give to a guitarist as a gift is the Tascam DP-03SD.
As this allows them to record in CD quality, and edit all 8 tracks separately with EQ, reverb, and faders.
They can then transfer this to their computer via USB to convert into an mp3 file that they can playback on their devices.
So if you want to help someone really master their mixes, and end up with finished tracks that sound like they've been made in a professional studio, an 8-track recorder like this one is perfect.
13. A Top Quality Acoustic Guitar
Now buying someone a guitar as a gift is a bit risky to say the least, as guitar preferences are extremely personal, depending on their playing style and preferences.
However, having said that, there is nothing more special or exciting for a guitarist than being giving a new guitar.
And I guess they can always return it or exchange it for another one if they don't like it, right?
So the next two recommendations here are for great guitars that are universally popular, and as such stand the best chance of being well received as gifts.
And first off the rank is for the Epiphone EJ 200SCE Acoustic Guitar.
This is an iconic guitar that has been used throughout the years by many musical legends, from Elvis right through to Noel Gallagher.
And it looks fantastic with it's cut off design, mustache bridge, and maple wood finish.
But it's the sound which makes it really comes into it's own, as it gives out rich and complex tones that can really fill a room.
While the slim tapered fretboard is easy to navigate up and down, there's a built in tuner, and a preamp where they can customise the EQ settings.
So if you want to get someone a really special acoustic guitar, this one from Epiphone ticks all of the boxes.
14. A First Class Electric Guitar
If your guitar hero prefers playing the electric guitar, then you have so many options if you want to them a new guitar.
But a real tried and tested company to go for is Fender, and their player series is great for people that just love rocking out in their spare time.
So for the ideal gift option, take a look at the Fender Player Series Telecaster Electric Guitar.
As these are truly stunning guitars to look at, and they feel great to hold and play too, being comfortable for beginners or professionals alike.
While giving off the warm and crisp sound that you always get with a Fender guitar.
So if you want to get a guitar lover a truly cool gift, get them a Fender Telecaster, and they'll be smiling from ear to ear.
15. Sign Them Up For Online Guitar Lessons
Teaching yourself how to play guitar is great, and there are plenty of resources to help you do it these days, such as YouTube tutorials and play alongs.
But as much as you can improve your playing by doing this, you can also slip into bad habits too.
So my final gift idea for guitarists is to sign them up for a structured online guitar course.
As this way they will learn how to play in the right way, and increase their guitar knowledge at the same time.
And this could be an especially popular gift in 2020, as many people are using the extra time at home to learn new skills, such as playing guitar.
So check some of the most popular guitar teachers and courses below.
16. A Decorative Key Holder That Looks Like A Marshall Amp
This next gift idea is a really cool one for a guitarists home and that is the Marshall jack rack.
As this is a wall mounted key holder in the design of an iconic Marshall amp that looks great and will be a real talking point whenever their friends come over.
And it'll give them a buzz to plug their keys into it just as they do their guitars in their real amp!
17. A Funny Guitar Themed T-Shirt
T-shirts are easy gifts to give to a loved one and there are plenty of guitar themed t-shirts to choose from for a guitarist.
For instance you could get a t-shirt with a funny slogan on it, a t-shirt from their favourite band or guitarist, or a t-shirt with images of guitars on.
With one I personally like being The Guitar Father t-shirt, which will work well if they're into their gangster movies too.
18. A Coffee Mug For Guitar Players
Coffee mugs are also easy gifts to give and you can find ones with funny slogans that a guitarist might appreciate.
With one example being the Eat. Sleep. Guitar. mug above, which is subtle enough to pass the cringe test.
And you can also get coffee mugs from their top bands too which they might prefer.
Rounding Up
Buying a gift for someone who loves playing guitar can be a bit of a minefield.
As there are so many different items on the market that all cater to different sounds, styles, and preferences.
However, I've tried to give you some great gift ideas for guitarists here that will be universally popular among both beginners and seasoned musicians.
So show someone you care, by getting them a gift that they will use over and over again during their guitar sessions.