The ultimate gigging guitarist gear checklist

• 1. Earplugs
• 2. Extension lead
• 3. Pen and paper
• 4. Backup amp
• 5. Spare guitar
• 6. Extra guitar strings
• 7. Additional guitar cable (or two… or three)
• 8. Guitar stand
• 9. Plenty of guitar picks
• 10. Guitar setup tools
• 11. String lubricant/cleaner
• 12. Clip-on tuner
• 13. Cleaning cloth and spray
• 14. Pitch shifter pedal
• 15. Pedal switching system
• Additional gear for your gigging toolkit

Whether you’re gigging for the first time or you’re a seasoned player getting back in the game, we’ve whittled things down to the 15 must-haves every electric guitarist should bring to their next show. From key guitar accessories like spare strings and cables to clever bits of gear that’ll keep your setup slick (and save you from a bit of onstage tap-dancing), we’ve covered everything — from the obvious to the often overlooked.

Before we dive into our stage survival guide, we’re going to assume you’ve already got the basics sorted:

• Your main guitar
• A guitar amp (or amp pedal)
• A pedalboard
• Cables to connect it all together

Got those? Sweet. Now let’s get into the nitty gritty!

1. Earplugs

Yup, they’re boring and not very rock ’n’ roll. But as someone already dealing with tinnitus in their thirties, I can safely say earplugs are one of the most important things you can bring to a gig. You’ll want them in from soundcheck right through to pack down.

Not only will they save your hearing, but if you’re pulling double duty on vocals, they can actually help you hear yourself more clearly if the foldbacks aren’t quite cutting it. The only real exception is if you’re running in-ear monitors, which both protect your ears and give you a personalised mix. They’re a brilliant option if you’re willing to spend the dosh.

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2. Extension lead

You won’t be melting any faces in the front row without something to power your amplifier and pedalboard. And unfortunately, the standard power cables that come with most electric guitar amps and pedal power supplies aren’t exactly generous in length. In other words, reaching the nearest mains socket isn’t always guaranteed!

That’s where a trusty extension lead comes in. Bringing one (or two) with enough outlets for your rig is always a smart move. Just make sure you go for something a few metres long, so you’re not caught short on stage.

Pro tip: Multi-sockets with individual on/off switches for can be really handy and a little safer when plugging gear in and out.

3. Pen and paper

You might’ve printed out lovely, easy-to-read setlists in bold, all-caps for everyone in the band — but if your singer suddenly doesn’t feel like belting out “Sweet Child O’ Mine” or your drummer chickens out of “Tom Sawyer” for the umpteenth time, you’ll need to make a few quick tweaks.

That’s why a pen and a few sheets of paper are a bit of a no-brainer. Even if you’re not swapping songs last minute, they’re useful for jotting down things like “Drop D tuning” reminders next to those grungier songs in your set, or the patch number on your fancy digital delay pedal.

It’s also not a bad shout to scribble down a few ideas for what to say between songs. And if you’re at a jam sesh using charts, you’ll almost certainly end up making notes as you go.

4. Backup amp

Whether you’re playing a 30-minute support slot at your local venue or a two-hour function gig, it’s always worth bringing a backup amp. With valve amps, you never really know when a tube might go kaput. And when it does, it can be a proper show-wrecker (it happened to me a few years ago at a very big gig, and I still get PTSD).

Even if you’re not using valves, solid-state and digital amps aren’t totally immune to the odd issue — just like any bit of electronics. So, if your main tone machine suddenly conks out, always have a spare on standby to save the day.

It doesn’t have to be a like-for-like replacement either. Compact preamp pedals or pedalboard amps are perfect for this sort of thing, especially as most can be plugged straight into front of house.

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5. Spare guitar

Don’t forget a backup guitar too. Just like your amp, your axe could suffer from the occasional technical gremlin. But the main reason why you’ll want a spare is if you break a string. When that happens, then you can just quickly unplug, grab your backup, plug in again and carry on without missing a beat.

If you don’t already have a stage-ready spare, there are plenty of great options out there that won’t break the bank. Brands like Sire are a solid shout, offering pro-grade, budget-friendly instruments suitable for a range of styles.

Pro tip: Before heading on stage, make sure both your main and backup guitars are tuned and ready to go. That way, if you do need to switch, you’re not left tuning up while the rest of the band fills the silence. There’s nothing worse than an unexpected jazz fusion jam to kill the vibe!

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6. Extra guitar strings

On the subject of snapped guitar strings, make sure you’ve got a couple of spare packs tucked away in your case or gig bag. If one goes during soundcheck, you’ll have plenty of time to swap it out before your performance. And if disaster strikes mid-set, you might even have enough time to get your number one restrung and back in action.

Pro tip: Restring your guitar at least a day before the show. Fresh strings are less likely to break, sound brighter (helping you cut through the mix) and feel nicer to play. Just avoid doing it on the day — you’ll want to give them time to stretch in properly, otherwise you could find yourself battling tuning issues all night.

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7. Additional guitar cable (or two… or three)

Now, your guitar cable won’t snap like a string (unless a heavy-footed sound guy parks their size 14 on it). But it’s not going to last forever, especially if you’re out gigging on the reg. Clumsy bandmates have stepped all over my guitar cables, and I know it’s only a matter of time before my trusty D’Addario lead of a few years gives up the ghost.

So, make sure you pack at least one spare cable — or even two, in case you need to bail out your bassist who’s forgotten theirs. Running a wireless system? It’s still worth having a lead handy in case your batteries die or you run into signal issues.

Pro tip: If you’re also doing vocals, chuck a couple of XLR cables in your bag. And stuff a few patch cables in there too, just in case one starts playing up on your pedalboard.

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8. Guitar stand

Leaning your pride and joy against your amp is an absolute no-no. It’s a bad habit at home — but on stage, it’s basically asking for trouble. One knock and you could be dealing with a nasty accident, so definitely invest in a proper guitar stand to keep your instrument safe and secure.

I personally use a Hercules GS402B Mini Guitar Stand as it’s sturdy, compact and folds down small enough to put in my rucksack. But to be honest, even budget guitar stands are miles better than balancing your guitar precariously against anything.

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9. Plenty of guitar picks

I’ve sent more guitar picks to the shadow realm than I’d care to admit (respect if you got that reference). They’re tiny and by far the most likely piece of gear to disappear during a gig. Add in hot stage lights and a bit of sweaty-palm syndrome, and you’re almost certain to drop a few during your set.

That’s why having a decent stash is a must. A tin full of picks will do the job nicely, or grab something more convenient like a Dunlop Pick Holder. It’ll store a few of your fave plectrums, and thanks to an adhesive strip on the back, you can stick it somewhere within easy reach. The back of your headstock is a great spot, or even your pedalboard (that’s where mine lives).

Pro tip: On vocal duty as well? A mic stand pick holder is a game-changer — perfect for grabbing a spare plectrum when your last one inevitably goes flying into the crowd!

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10. Guitar setup tools

You never know when you might need to perform some emergency surgery on a guitar. Just last year, I ended up fixing an issue on my bandmate’s Stratocaster on the morning of his wedding that we were playing. Safe to say, we were very glad we’d done an early soundcheck and had loads of time to spare.

You don’t need to bring the kitchen sink, but a few gigging essentials can go a long way. A couple of screwdrivers, a set of Allen keys (especially if you’re rocking a Floyd Rose), a string winder, plus a small pair of pliers can help you out of a sticky situation or two. Or grab a nifty compact guitar tool kit — they’ve usually got everything you need.

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11. String lubricant/cleaner

Another thing to tick off before you hit the stage is applying a little Fast Fret (or a similar product) to your strings. I’ve banged on about it before in our “Guitar Revelations” article — it genuinely helped me find an extra gear in my playing. That’s because it makes your strings feel slicker and smoother, letting you play faster while cutting down on that super annoying string squeak. Just what you need on a hot stage.

But perhaps more importantly, string cleaners also help keep your strings sounding fresher for longer, which can save you both time and money in the long run. Just don’t forget to apply it after your set too.

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12. Clip-on tuner

Here’s another one to sort before you step out and face the crowd. Remember earlier when we mentioned tuning up both your main and backup guitars? Well, if you rely on a tuner pedal, you don’t really want to keep everyone waiting as you get set up on stage.

That’s where headstock clip-on tuners come in handy. With one of these, you can tune up while you’re waiting in the wings, so you’re ready to walk on, plug in and launch straight into your opening track.

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13. Cleaning cloth and spray

We’re not expecting you to get your guitar looking showroom-ready straight after a sweaty set. But if you’ve got a little time after packing down, it’s well worth giving it a quick wipe down.

Pay particular attention to the hardware and frets. That’s because sweat contains salts that can cause metal parts to oxidise over time, leading to dulling and even rust if left unchecked. If you’ve got to head straight home after the show, make it one of the first things you do when you get back.

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14. Pitch shifter pedal

If you’re playing in a covers band, lugging multiple electric guitars to handle different tunings can be a right pain. But with a pedal like the Digitech Drop or Boss XS-1 Poly Shifter, you can keep things really straightforward.

These stompboxes transpose your signal down in semitone steps (down to a full octave) without needing to retune your guitar. And the XS-1 can even shift your pitch up, meaning you can ditch the capo for “Wonderwall” if you want.

In my band, we play a few Queens of the Stone Age and Royal Blood tunes in C standard, so having a Digitech Drop on my board saves a lot of hassle. It’s by far one of the most useful gigging hacks I’ve come across.

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15. Pedal switching system

Calling this a gigging must-have might be a bit of a stretch. But if you’ve got a busy pedalboard and find yourself tap-dancing to keep things under control, a switching system can make life a whole lot easier. These clever devices let you organise, control and switch between your effects with minimal effort.

With a standard loop switcher, you simply route your guitar pedals into separate loops and toggle them on and off using footswitches positioned neatly at the front of your board. That means no more awkward stretching over stompboxes or mis-steps mid-song.

Programmable switching systems are even posher. They allow you to engage and disengage multiple effects with a single press by creating custom presets. That means you can jump from a clean tone with chorus and reverb to a high-gain sound with distortion and delay instantly. Most of these support MIDI too, so you can control parameters and switch presets on MIDI-enabled pedals.

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Additional gear for your gigging toolkit

We’ve covered the essentials, but here are a few nifty extras worth bringing along to your next show too:

• Water bottle: Things can get seriously hot under stage lights, so it’s very important to stay hydrated (especially if you’re also doing vocals).
• Towel: Play an energetic set and you’ll be sweating in no time. A quick wipe of your hands and face between songs can be a lifesaver — just keep one draped over your amp for easy access.
• Power bank: Whether you’re using a tablet for lyrics or just want to keep your phone topped up for the journey home, a power bank is always good to have in your bag.
• Apple AirTag: Tuck one away in your guitar case and you’ve got a reliable way to track it down if it ever goes missing.
• Electrical contact cleaner: Crackly pots sound particularly nasty at gig volume. Products like DeoxIT are ideal for smoothing out bad connections fast.
• 9V pedal power supply: If your main pedalboard PSU stops providing juice to your effects, having a backup can save your set.

Get set for your next gig!

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Want to learn more?

If you’re thinking about putting a gigging board together, our essential effects for a live pedalboard article is a great place to start. Or head over to our learn section for even more deep dives and how-to guides.