Digital Tuners

We’re often asked for advice on which digital tuner we would recommend for our students. In 2022 most modern digital tuners should have a chromatic mode – which we think is pretty essential. All of the tuners we’ve chosen below are compatible with guitar, ukulele and bass. These tuners can be simply attached by clipping onto the headstock of your instrument and are usually powered by a C3202 battery. We’ve listed these 6 models for you below in order of price…

1. NFYYU digital tuner from £5.99 at Amazon
Recommended by guitar tutor Sam

2. Snark digital tuner starting from the lowest price at £15.99 at Amazon
Recommended as a great budget option by all of our guitar tutors

3. KORG PC2 tuner starting from £18.00 at Amazon
Recommended by electric guitar tutor Neville

4. BOSS TU-05 rechargeable tuner starting from £21.70 at Amazon
Recommended by acoustic guitar tutor Joe

5. PRS clip-on headstock tuner from £29 at GAK
Recommended by our guitar tutor Emily (who is currently endorsed by PRS and uses their acoustic range

6. TC Electronic POLYTUNE tuner from £42 at Andertons Music
Recommended by our bass guitar tutor Joe and our guitar tuner Ian

You can also find a free online tuner via our Beatbox App. Online and app tuners have become really popular in recent years and there are many online tuners or tuning apps that offer a free version. We would still recommend choosing a tuner that either uses the string vibrations for accuracy or a power signal (plug-in) for live performances, however we understand that having access to a tuner app on your phone is also super convenient!

A capo is a device that guitarists use and attach to the guitar which enables you to raise the pitch of the open strings and easily change the key.

“It’s like the nut of the guitar moving up the fingerboard or a mate comes and helps you out, by putting their finger across all the strings!”

Capos for Guitar

1 - Make sure you’re definitely buying a capo suited to your guitar, as a steel string guitar (acoustic or electric) will require a different type of capo compared to a classic (nylon string guitar).

The main differences:
- a capo designed for steel strings has a curved arm as a steel string guitar has a slightly curved fingerboard.
- a capo designed for nylon strings has a flat or straight arm as a classical guitar has a flat fingerboard.

2 - Capos can now be found and purchased really easily and inexpensively online and most of the capos available will be sufficient for a beginner or intermediate players.

3 - There are many different styles and designs of capo. We generally prefer a design that enables you to set the tension on the strings, as this reduces pressure on guitar neck and helps to prevent any minor dents from apearing on the neck of your nice guitar after use!

Our recommendations:

We’re all agreed on this one…

G7th Performance 3 ART Capo (from £30 RRP)

We asked all of our guitar tutors… and for us it simply has to be the G7th Performance Capo.

We love how the G7th capo allows full control over the tension that the capo puts on the strings and guitar neck - which in turn also helps your guitar stay in tune. G7th capos also provide a Free Lifetime Warranty and will offer to send you a replacement capo due to a ‘manufacturing fault or failure’.

It is a pricey choice but we think it’s well worth the investment if you’re starting to get serious about playing the guitar, performing regularly and generally don’t lose your gear!

Strings for Guitar

There are so many different kinds of strings that suit all sorts including different gauges of thickness and windings.

Acoustic

Emily uses the PRS signature strings

Joe goes for D’addario XS (12-53)

Neville is also a fan of Gauge 10 - 46s; however, he goes for the brand Ernie Ball (Regular Slinky)

Joe goes for D’addario XS (12-53)

Ian: for acoustic I tend to go for Elixir strings 10 - 47s (a light gauge for acoustic!) Elixir strings have a special coating which supposedly makes them last longer.

For the same price as a single pack of Elixir strings, you could buy three packs of Martins in the same gauge; but the single pack of Elixir will more likely last the same length of time as the 3 packs of Martins, with less string changing!

Electric

for acoustic I tend to go for Elixir strings 10 - 47s (a light gauge for acoustic!) Elixir strings have a special coating which supposedly makes them last longer.

Joe is a fan of D’addario EXL (10-46)

Neville is also a fan of Gauge 10 - 46s; however, he goes for the brand Ernie Ball (Regular Slinky)

Emily uses PRS signature strings for electric. Gauge 10 (high E) - 46 (Low E).

Ian prefers Rotosound 10 - 46s for electric as they have a thicker core than the Ernie Balls)

Plectrums for guitar

They come in an array of different thicknesses, shapes and colours and there’s no right or wrong, only preference. Be careful not to drop them though, or they might disappear inside your guitar!

Sam is a Jazz 3 Dunlop (1mm) fan.

Jazz 3 XLs are a go-to for Emily. She says she can do everything she needs to do with one of those.

Neville is a 1.5mm Dunlop USA man.

Ian prefers Dava Picks, I've been using them exclusively since 2003. They have a thin bit in the middle and a thick bit at the end, depending how you hold them, the thickness of the pick changes. The different coloured ends means they are different types of plastic. I adore the yellow ones.

Joe says no pick at all. Like many great players!

We hope you’ve found this blog helpful!

If you’re interested in learning to play guitar, bass or ukulele or looking to take your playing to the next level

you can contact us book your discounted taster session and you can find out more about our guitar, ukulele or bass guitar lessons by
following the page links below:

Guitar Lessons Near Me - Rugby, Warwickshire
Ukulele Lessons Near Me - Rugby, Warwickshire
Bass Guitar Lessons Near Me - Rugby, Warwickshire