If you’re a beginner guitar player or a parent of an aspiring guitar god, hear this: there’s much more to guitar accessories than tuners and spare strings.
Yes, you need a tuner and you need additional picks and spare strings. But, the market also offers affordable, easy-to-use tools that will significantly cut your learning curve as a beginner.
If you want to start playing your favorite songs in minutes even though you’re a newbie, check this stuff out!
Card Chords
Card Chords are specially designed cards that you can insert below your strings and play over. Card Chords come with three slots specifically crafted to fit the first three frets of your instrument.
Once in position, Card Chords still leave enough room for you to play over them. Your strings will not get muted, nor distorted, and you will have a piece of tablature at your fingertips, showing you where to place your fingers to strum the correct chord.
As a beginner, you’ll agree that having to press and hold the strings so they actually produce full notes is hard enough. Having to remember where to place your fingers on top of that struggle can be too much.
Card Chords are available in two versions: the Stratocaster Edition for Fender Stratocasters and Strat copies, plus Ibanez Guitars, Guild Guitars, and Yamaha Guitars, as well as in the Les Paul Edition for Les Paul, Epiphone, and Gretsch instruments.
Chord Buddy
Chord Buddy is another tool to help new guitarists learn their chords. Chord Buddy is more robust and more intricate to place on the instrument but covers all chords once in position.
The Buddy features a set of four buttons – green, blue, red, and yellow – and comes with a guide included in the package. All chords require players to press specific buttons or leave some strings ringing empty, or not strum them at all.
The good thing about Chord Buddy is that once placed, you don’t have to remove it to play other chords. The downside is that you don’t actually press your strings but the buttons, making you less connected with the instrument.
Before using the device, you must check that the neck width is between 1.5 and 1.875 inches. This means the Buddy will fit most full-sized, 3/4, standard Dreadnaught, full-size, and 5/8-sized electric and acoustic guitars with low to standard string height.
Chord Buddy won’t work on half-size guitars. It is available for right- and left-handed guitars. A guitar tuner is also included in the package.
Qudodo Guitar Trainer
Another cool option is the Qudodo Guitar Trainer. A slightly more complex device, Qudodo is similar to Chord Buddy in terms that you need to install and position it on your guitar’s neck.
The installation is simple, though, all you have to do is clamp the device onto the neck as instructed. The device comes with a training feature and could greatly help you switch between your chords efficiently and with ease. Qudodo can also be used with a capo.
The device sports a rainbow sequence that corresponds to six basic chords, each with its own level. The color patterns are aimed at visual learners, helping new guitarists remember the chords more easily, without forcing them to remember numbers.
It also strengthens your fingertips and prepares you to one day venture into the six-string domain on your own. Qudodo is crafted for 36-to-41-inch folk guitars.
Pocket Guitar Chord Practice Tool
Here’s a little something for the traveling folks! The Pocket Guitar Chord Practice Tool is basically a portable guitar neck with a screen on top showing you chord chards of your choice. Even if you’re a seasoned player looking to keep up with your chord chops while traveling, this is a good purchase.
The device features six strings and six frets. It’s 10 inches long when closed and weighs 10 ounces. It sports a set of steel strings to prevent rust, and also comes with an onboard metronome.
The Pocket Tool makes no sound when strumming, allowing you to perfect your chords in all environments. You can use the device in public transport, in school, and much more.
The database is loaded with over 400 chords, and the screen can be rotated. This pocket guitar also comes with a built-in metronome. It works on battery power, with a single battery included in the package. Great for keeping your fingertips hard and ready to roll!
