Unexpected Guitar Accessories for More Productive Guitar Practice

We’re all familiar with the adage “practice makes perfect,” but you’d be surprised at how you can skyrocket yourself to the next skill level just by tightening up a few loose bolts. After all, practicing posits its own challenges to each of us. For instance, if you’ve hit a wall with your practice sessions and have lost the sparkle or don’t know how to reach the next skill level, then Sweetwater has gear and gadgets that’ll inject the passion back into your practice sessions. Whether you’re battening down the hatches for a big gig, learning your first instrument, or experimenting with new gear, or you just want to feel comfortable while you jam, this article is for you. Grow your skills, nail your performances, and have fun — that’s what making music is all about!

Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!

Banish Distractions

Improve Ergonomics

Grow Efficiencies

Foster Elements of Fun

Banish Distractions

Step number one: banish distractions to foster an environment of concentration. A great way to start on this objective is to clean up your practice space. Whether that’s your studio, living room, or garage, a sparkling-clean practice space will boost your attention span and enthusiasm for the work at hand.

To do this, products such as Sweetwater hook-and-loop cable ties and the Hercules Stands GS525B 5-space guitar rack for electric, acoustic, and bass guitars come in handy. No one can concentrate with cables tangled on the ground, but these hook-and-loop cable ties make quick organization a cinch. What’s more, they also make setup and tear-down for gigs much easier and more organized. Meanwhile, the Hercules Stands guitar rack will safely and securely cradle your axes, consolidating space from multiple guitar stands to a single space-saving rack. That leaves you more room to really get into the groove and rock out during your practices.

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Another gadget for more intentional practices is the Hercules Stands DG207B smartphone holder. Attach it to a music or mic stand and secure your Android or iOS smartphone, and you’re ready to view tabs, watch YouTube chord breakdowns, or video yourself to critique your technique.

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Gadgets that clamp to stands have been a boon to musicians for distraction-free practice, and the drink holder from Vater is another one of these helpful devices. Just clamp this to a mic, music, or cymbal stand, and you’ll never spill a can of soda on the carpet and need to stop practice again.

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Moving on to the high-tech distraction-fighting gadgets, we have two excellent picks with the Rolls MM11-Pro MicMute microphone mute/talk switch and the Beyerdynamic DT 150 closed-back isolating studio headphones. For those practicing their guitar/bass chops while singing, the MM11-Pro MicMute can come in handy for quick muting and engaging of your microphone signal — when you need silence to concentrate, you’ve got it at the push of a button! Meanwhile, for those practicing through headphone amps, the Beyerdynamic DT 150s provide clear signal and trustworthy frequency response for detailed monitoring of your tone, technique, and playing style. You’re sure to hone your skills with these at your back!

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Improve Ergonomics

Next on our list is improving ergonomics and player comfort. By doing so, you’ll be better situated for longer practice sessions and have more of your attention to give to your lessons — no more nagging back pain or awkward positioning.

Whether you read sheet music, tablature, or chords or need a place to jot down notes, the K&M 115/2 clamp-on sheet music holder and Manhasset Model 51 Fourscore music stand make sturdy surfaces for doing so. The former can attach to mic stands for a versatile and adjustable hold. The latter, with its extra-wide shelf, can accommodate four full pages of music, so you can keep the song flowing without interruption.

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Ever sat on your drummer’s drum throne? That’s serious comfort. You might be surprised that we’d recommend the Roc-N-Soc Nitro gas drum throne to guitarists and bassists, but if you enjoy practicing while sitting, then a drum throne can really provide you the comfort, adjustability, and active seating position that make for enhanced practice sessions. No matter how vociferous your shredding or slapping gets, you know the Roc-N-Soc drum throne will keep you glued to the ground with its sturdy build. Then, if you require back support, throw in the Roc-N-Soc throne backrest, and you’re off to the races!

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For guitarists and bassists who want to dive even further into the benefits of postural alignment, the K&M 14670 footrest is situated to accommodate six height-adjustable positions that will set you up for speedy work with your instrument of choice. Both acoustic and electric players will find this footrest a welcome addition to their practice ergonomics!

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Grow Efficiencies

Now that you’ve set yourself up for distraction-free practice and nailed down the ergonomics, it’s time to dig into your actual technique and skill set through the gear that will take you to the next level.

A distinct item we love to recommend at Sweetwater is the Soundbrenner Core 2 musician’s smartwatch. Inside this digital frontier, you will find a practice tracker, vibrating metronome, chromatic tuner, decibel meter, and smartwatch core that links to your smartphone. These are excellent tools that musicians at any level require to hone their chops. And what’s more, it’s a fun, stylish musical accessory that any musician will find a use for.

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Next, record and review your practice sessions with the Insta360 Link AI-powered 4K UHD webcam. The best way to level up your or your band’s skills is by recording your practice sessions and then watching and listening to see where improvements can be made — you’ll notice things you didn’t before. What’s more, this webcam’s AI-powered algorithm, 3-axis motorized gimbal, and crystal-clear picture quality make it a joy to work with. Once you’ve nailed that new song, you can then take to the web, record your performance, and post it on any video or social-media platform you choose!

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Every musician needs a reliable tuner, and the Peterson StroboPlus HDC chromatic handheld strobe tuner packs in a wealth of features that include a 1/4-inch instrument input jack, 200 sweetened tunings, a high-definition multicolor display, and a built-in metronome.

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People might not notice when you’re on beat, but they certainly notice when you’re not! Luckily, you can play to the beat with the Singular Sound BeatBuddy Mini 2 drum machine pedal. You’re sure to have a blast exploring nine drum sets, 24 genres, over 200 styles, and any time signature you could ask for. You can play to beats that you’ve never experienced before and try out new time signatures to really give yourself a challenge. Once you’ve grown your skills with the BeatBuddy, you’re well set to record music or play gigs with confidence in your rhythm.

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Foster Elements of Fun

There’s nothing like a new piece of gear to reignite that spark of interest. One of the most pivotal parts of conducting a productive practice is remembering why you’re there in the first place — to have fun! Even if you’re a full-time gigging musician and operate very intentionally in your practice, there’s always room to put the fun back in the equation.

How does one do this? For guitarists and bassists, try a Positive Grid Spark LIVE 150-watt 4-channel combo amp and PA system. This 150-watt 4-channel smart combo amp packs punch and projection along with substantial features that make it more than just an amplifier. On the surface, there are built-in presets, a 3-band EQ, and a built-in 2×2 audio interface. But it’s the free Spark companion app that really takes this combo amp to the next level. Within the app’s architecture, you can access dozens of amplifier emulations, endless effects, and a substantial array of expertly curated presets.

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Rounding out our list of cool guitar accessories, we have the AirTurn DUO 500 Bluetooth pedal controller. This piece of gear makes it easy to turn pages, scroll lyrics and tabs, control presentation software, cue backing tracks, layer effects, and much more. The possibilities are so open-ended that you’re sure to put it to use in ways that really up your engagement with your practice sessions. The DUO 500 is compatible with Bluetooth 4 and 5, MIDI, and AirDirect to diversify device choices.

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Remember the Three Ps: Practice, Practice, Practice!

Any piece of gear from this list can take your practice sessions to a new level. Remember to have fun and keep trying new gear to renew your inspiration. Don’t be afraid to try something new in practice. Chances are, any challenge you take on will seriously heighten your instrumental chops! Interested in exploring even more gear that can assist in practice endeavors? Give your Sweetwater Sales Engineers a call at (800) 222-4700 and find your next practice must-have today!
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