Gear guide
Parents ask me this every week, so I've written it all down. These are the things I actually recommend to my own students, at the budgets most families are working with.
Links go to Amazon and are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what I recommend — buy wherever you like, including your local music shop.
The exact products I use and recommend to my own students. These are the links I share in lessons.
Around £140
My go-to full-size classical for older beginners and anyone working towards Trinity or ABRSM grades. Yamaha's C40II is reliable, comfortable to play and holds its tuning well — the things that matter most when you're starting out.
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£259
My pick for a first electric. A proper Squier Affinity Strat plus Fender's Mustang Micro headphone amp, closed-back headphones, padded gig bag, strap and picks — so they can practise silently at any hour without a big amp in the bedroom.
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Around £75
My pick for a first practice amp. 10 watts is more than enough for a bedroom, the headphone socket lets students practise quietly, and the clean/distortion channels plus 2-band EQ cover everything from clean chords to Rockschool riffs.
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Around £250
The next step up when a student wants more sounds to explore. 50W, a huge library of HD amp models and effects, built-in looper, and Bluetooth for jamming along to tracks through the Spark app. Excellent for keeping teenagers inspired and for practising Rockschool pieces with backing tracks.
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Around £75
Small but mighty — I use this in lessons all the time. It's a 5W guitar amp, Bluetooth speaker and practice tool in one pocket-sized box, with thousands of tones and backing tracks through the Spark app. The battery lasts up to 8 hours, so students can practise anywhere without trailing cables.
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Around £9
My favourite classical guitar strings. The Pro-Arte range gives a warm, consistent tone and the extra hard tension holds tuning really well once settled in. I keep a spare set in every case.
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Around £15
The NANOWEB coating keeps the tone bright for ages and they're gentle on fingers — great for younger players who don't want to change strings every few weeks.
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Around £7
Start with 9s — they bend easily, which matters a lot for Rockschool lead playing. Move to 10s (Regular Slinky) later if the tone feels thin.
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Around £6
My go-to plectrum. The Tortex material gives a confident grip and a bright, consistent attack. This player pack covers the most useful gauges so students can find what suits their hand. Buy more than you think — they vanish.
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Around £16
My pick for a first strap. The 3-inch padded width takes the pressure off the shoulder during long practice sessions, and the adjustable length works for kids and adults alike. Great for electric, acoustic or bass.
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Around £20
My pick for a sturdy, adjustable footstool. The non-slip top and wide base keep it stable through long practice sessions, and the height settings suit students of any age. Essential for proper classical posture and Trinity exams.
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Around £22
A precision, adjustable capo that stays in tune and won't clamp too tight. The screw tension lets you set exactly the right pressure for your guitar.
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Around £15
A light, spring-loaded capo that clamps on with one hand. The built-in pin puller is handy for quick string changes too.
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Around £20
My pick for a reliable first cable. The tweed braided jacket lasts far longer than cheap plastic cables, the right-angle plug is great for keeping an amp or pedalboard tidy, and 3 metres gives enough length for lessons and practice without tripping over excess.
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Around £9
A gentle, well-paced classical guitar tutor that I often use with younger beginners. It builds reading and technique from the very first page.
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Around £9
The natural next step from Book 1, with slightly more challenging pieces and a continued focus on good classical technique.
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Around £9
Ideal once a student has the basics and is ready for more interesting repertoire and position work.
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Around £9
A lovely collection of graded classical pieces that bridges the gap between beginner tutors and formal exam repertoire.
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Around £11
A friendly, modern tutor for group or individual lessons. Great for primary-age children and anyone who wants a clear, structured start.
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Around £11
A companion book of fun, accessible pieces with online audio. Perfect for boosting confidence and sight-reading alongside the main tutor.
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Around £15
A classic classical guitar method that takes students from reading simple notes to playing full solo pieces. Excellent preparation for Trinity and ABRSM grades.
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Around £15
The go-to book for students who want to play rock and metal lead. Covers scales, bends, vibrato, phrasing and classic licks with online audio access.
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Around £15
A tried-and-tested acoustic songbook series. Great for students who want to strum chords and play well-known songs from early on.
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Around £7
The official ABRSM workbook for Grade 1 theory. Clear explanations and exercises that match the current syllabus exactly.
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Around £6
Extra practice questions for ABRSM Grade 1 theory. Useful for students who want to feel fully prepared before the exam.
View on AmazonIf you'd rather not think about it, pick the bundle that matches your situation and buy the list.
Around £120 – £180
Everything a brand new student needs on day one, with nothing they don't. This is the list I give most parents.
Around £250 – £400
For the student who wants to play rock and pop. Quiet enough for a house, exciting enough to keep them practising.
Around £60 – £110
The extras that make grade preparation smoother, whether you're sitting Rockschool, Trinity or ABRSM.
£60 – £110
For younger children this is where I'd start every time. Nylon strings are gentle on soft fingertips and the smaller body means they can actually get their arm around it.
View on AmazonAround £140
My go-to full-size classical for older beginners and anyone working towards Trinity or ABRSM grades. Yamaha's C40II is reliable, comfortable to play and holds its tuning well — the things that matter most when you're starting out.
View on Amazon£110 – £250
Perfect for strumming songs and playing anywhere. Steel strings are harder on the fingers for the first few weeks, then the fingertips toughen up and it stops being an issue.
View on Amazon£259
My pick for a first electric. A proper Squier Affinity Strat plus Fender's Mustang Micro headphone amp, closed-back headphones, padded gig bag, strap and picks — so they can practise silently at any hour without a big amp in the bedroom.
View on Amazon£300 – £600
When a student is committed and working through Rockschool grades, a proper instrument transforms how it feels to play. Better tuners, better frets, better everything.
View on AmazonAround £75
My pick for a first practice amp. 10 watts is more than enough for a bedroom, the headphone socket lets students practise quietly, and the clean/distortion channels plus 2-band EQ cover everything from clean chords to Rockschool riffs.
View on AmazonAround £250
The next step up when a student wants more sounds to explore. 50W, a huge library of HD amp models and effects, built-in looper, and Bluetooth for jamming along to tracks through the Spark app. Excellent for keeping teenagers inspired and for practising Rockschool pieces with backing tracks.
View on AmazonAround £75
Small but mighty — I use this in lessons all the time. It's a 5W guitar amp, Bluetooth speaker and practice tool in one pocket-sized box, with thousands of tones and backing tracks through the Spark app. The battery lasts up to 8 hours, so students can practise anywhere without trailing cables.
View on Amazon£8 – £20
Non-negotiable. Every student needs one, it clips to the headstock and lives there. Tuning before every practice is the cheapest improvement you can make.
View on Amazon£12 – £30
A phone app works, but a physical metronome doesn't come with notifications attached. Anything with a clear click and a tempo dial is fine.
View on AmazonAround £9
My favourite classical guitar strings. The Pro-Arte range gives a warm, consistent tone and the extra hard tension holds tuning really well once settled in. I keep a spare set in every case.
View on AmazonAround £15
The NANOWEB coating keeps the tone bright for ages and they're gentle on fingers — great for younger players who don't want to change strings every few weeks.
View on AmazonAround £7
Start with 9s — they bend easily, which matters a lot for Rockschool lead playing. Move to 10s (Regular Slinky) later if the tone feels thin.
View on AmazonAround £6
My go-to plectrum. The Tortex material gives a confident grip and a bright, consistent attack. This player pack covers the most useful gauges so students can find what suits their hand. Buy more than you think — they vanish.
View on Amazon£10 – £25
The single best value purchase in guitar teaching. A guitar on a stand gets played daily; a guitar in a case under the bed gets played weekly.
View on AmazonAround £16
My pick for a first strap. The 3-inch padded width takes the pressure off the shoulder during long practice sessions, and the adjustable length works for kids and adults alike. Great for electric, acoustic or bass.
View on Amazon£20 – £45
If the guitar travels to school every week, spend a bit here. 10mm of padding and a decent zip will outlast three cheap bags.
View on AmazonAround £20
My pick for a sturdy, adjustable footstool. The non-slip top and wide base keep it stable through long practice sessions, and the height settings suit students of any age. Essential for proper classical posture and Trinity exams.
View on AmazonAround £22
A precision, adjustable capo that stays in tune and won't clamp too tight. The screw tension lets you set exactly the right pressure for your guitar.
View on AmazonAround £15
A light, spring-loaded capo that clamps on with one hand. The built-in pin puller is handy for quick string changes too.
View on Amazon£12 – £30
Reading music off the floor wrecks posture and makes practice harder than it needs to be. A cheap folding stand fixes it.
View on AmazonAround £20
My pick for a reliable first cable. The tweed braided jacket lasts far longer than cheap plastic cables, the right-angle plug is great for keeping an amp or pedalboard tidy, and 3 metres gives enough length for lessons and practice without tripping over excess.
View on Amazon£25 – £80
For practising through an amp or along to backing tracks without filling the house with sound. Closed-back keeps it in.
View on Amazon£12 – £20
Buy the book for the grade you're working towards. It includes the pieces, technical exercises and downloadable backing tracks.
View on Amazon£12 – £22
The current syllabus repertoire for your grade, with the technical work included. Check you're buying the edition for the current syllabus period.
View on Amazon£12 – £22
The current ABRSM syllabus repertoire for your grade. Available as a printed book or a downloadable PDF.
View on AmazonAround £9
A gentle, well-paced classical guitar tutor that I often use with younger beginners. It builds reading and technique from the very first page.
View on AmazonAround £9
The natural next step from Book 1, with slightly more challenging pieces and a continued focus on good classical technique.
View on AmazonAround £9
Ideal once a student has the basics and is ready for more interesting repertoire and position work.
View on AmazonAround £9
A lovely collection of graded classical pieces that bridges the gap between beginner tutors and formal exam repertoire.
View on AmazonAround £11
A friendly, modern tutor for group or individual lessons. Great for primary-age children and anyone who wants a clear, structured start.
View on AmazonAround £11
A companion book of fun, accessible pieces with online audio. Perfect for boosting confidence and sight-reading alongside the main tutor.
View on AmazonAround £15
A classic classical guitar method that takes students from reading simple notes to playing full solo pieces. Excellent preparation for Trinity and ABRSM grades.
View on AmazonAround £15
The go-to book for students who want to play rock and metal lead. Covers scales, bends, vibrato, phrasing and classic licks with online audio access.
View on AmazonAround £15
A tried-and-tested acoustic songbook series. Great for students who want to strum chords and play well-known songs from early on.
View on AmazonAround £7
The official ABRSM workbook for Grade 1 theory. Clear explanations and exercises that match the current syllabus exactly.
View on AmazonAround £6
Extra practice questions for ABRSM Grade 1 theory. Useful for students who want to feel fully prepared before the exam.
View on Amazon£5 – £12
For writing down chord shapes, riffs and ideas from lessons. Students who write things down remember them.
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