# Perfect gift for a novice acoustic guitar player? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799 "2012-12-21T23:48:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/1 "2012-12-21T23:48:47Z")
The question is in the title. I suggested a guitar stand or electronic tuner. Any other ideas? Maybe a hardshell case? I don’t know if he has any of those things. The price range is probably $25-100. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/2 "2012-12-22T00:32:01Z")
The stand and the tuner are excellent suggestions. Others to consider are a strap and a capo. A hardshell case is desirable for travel when the instrument will be packed among other stuff. A soft case with shoulder strap(s) can be very handy for more casual use. ETA: The real challenge, it seems to me, is finding out what he already has. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/3 "2012-12-22T00:38:45Z")
An old English Sixpence. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/4 "2012-12-22T00:44:23Z")
A less common but important accessory is a humidifier. Along the same lines, a hygrometer (to show the relative humidity) can be helpful to know when to use the humidifier. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/5 "2012-12-22T00:55:48Z")
Beatles Compleat? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/6 "2012-12-22T01:01:56Z")
Be sure to pick up/include “Splashdown” or “Splashdown2” by Hot Tuna. Jorma has instructional videos. Water Song: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oJzF19-b1-0/hqdefault.jpg "Jorma Kaukonen teaches "Water Song"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJzF19-b1-0) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/7 "2012-12-22T01:23:11Z")
His gifter says he has a stand and a footrest. He might have a capo, I’ll have to ask. Maybe some slides, both metal and glass. He grew up on Allman, Betts, and Clapton. I like the idea of a hardshell case, but maybe a junkbox full of odds and ends. I got a kitchen one of those years ago and it was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/8 "2012-12-22T03:10:33Z")
Are they taking lessons? If so, buy some lessons for them. Lessons aren’t cheap, and most people appreciate that. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/9 "2012-12-22T03:34:00Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Maybe some slides, both metal and glass. He grew up on Allman, Betts, and Clapton. Very nice. Does your novice have someone to jam with regularly? If not, do you think he might like some of those groove CDs? A lot of companies sell play-along rhythm tracks so you can practice playing blues or jazz or rock grooves. ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/10 "2012-12-22T04:08:21Z")
I bought a hard case this week and took my guitar in to make sure it fit first. I ended up getting a different one than I had planned on because it fit the guitar much better. So unless you know the exact size/type of guitar it is, another type of gift might be better. I bought my niece a copy of \*Guitar for Dummies \*and a capo for Christmas. I considered a good pair of wire snips for string changing, but her dad has those already. I gave her an old [tuning peg wrench](http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Waves-Pro-Winder-String-Winder/dp/B0002GJ3BO), though - those are nice time savers, and some have built in wire snips. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/11 "2012-12-22T17:33:01Z")
How about a [fake book.](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fake+book) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/12 "2012-12-22T20:41:16Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > How about a [fake book.](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=fake+book) That’s an idea. I can’t believe that the Real Book is still being offered. In my day those things were so illegal. ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/13 "2012-12-23T22:26:39Z")
Snark clip on tuner: > **[Amazon.com: Snark SN1 Guitar Tuner (Blue) : Musical Instruments](https://www.amazon.com/Snark-SN1-Guitar-Tuner-Blue/dp/B003VWJ2K8)** > > Snark has brought out an easy to use, clip on tuner! Accurate and Fast, this tuner combines retro "Buck Rogers" looks with the wonders of modern technology. Features -Full Color Display -Works anywhere on the head stock (no dead spots!) -"Stay Put"... ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/14 "2012-12-24T15:06:58Z")
> [@by-tor](#): > > Snark clip on tuner: > > [http://www.amazon.com/Snark-13-JQCT-G3R2-SN-1-Tuner/dp/B003VWJ2K8](http://www.amazon.com/Snark-13-JQCT-G3R2-SN-1-Tuner/dp/B003VWJ2K8) I second this… the best tuner and accessory a novice guitar player can have ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/15 "2012-12-24T22:54:50Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > I second this… the best tuner and accessory a novice guitar player can have Really true. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-gift-for-a-novice-acoustic-guitar-player/644799/16 "2012-12-25T01:27:02Z")
I’m thinking if he has a footrest he must be into classical. I’ve never known a guitar player that used a footrest. Clip on tuners are awesome. Power string winders are nice, mine is an attachment for a power screwdriver but I think they make dedicated power winders. Electronic metronome?