Calling all guitarists! Ever get to a gig and think, if only you had a tool that would make setting up easier, or an app that would better create the sound you're trying to achieve? Or perhaps you are looking to deliver a more polished performance and need a little extra (and cheaper) help.
Well, look no further than this handy little list of tech and gadgets that every guitarist, whether budding or fully established, should consider having in their arsenal.
Guitar Rig
Primarily for studio use with either an electric guitar, bass or electro-acoustic guitar, this particular type of software imitates the tone from an amp, eliminating the need for a physical one.
For studio use, simply load up your recording software, such as 'Pro Tools' and you can then choose to run the guitar rig software through this for an authentic sound of your favorite amplifier or effects pedal to record your riff!
With so many differing features, such as 'The Control Room' to play around with, this is a key piece of software for studio based work, as opposed to live gigs but can still be used depending on what style of gig you're looking to play.
Check out Guitar Rig here.
Online Guitar Tuners & Apps
No guitarist would choose to be without a tuner, but if the unlikely did occur and this tricky situation presented itself, all is not lost!
When faced with such a predicament as a dying battery or a lack of physical tuning device, the Internet plays host to a whole array of other options that can take you that step closer toward providing a harmonious relationship with your guitar. The beauty of this is that the majority of these tuning apps can be used on your phone, whether you're in need of something browser or android based. Result.
A great browser based app to check out is from Fender, whereby tutorials for electric and acoustic guitar and bass are available at the click of a button, but if time is really of the essence and you need something to work a little more like your regular tuner (but for free), try 'Guitar Tuner Free', from Google Play.
Check out this handy list for some other very helpful online guitar tuners to get you sorted in no time.
Let's face it. Your audience did not turn up for an unmelodious jangle, right?
App Controllable Effects
How often do you find yourself in an environment where the tone of what you're playing could be elevated that little bit extra, but you don't want to appear unpolished in doing so?
Enter the TC Electronic TonePrint. Eliminating the hassle of altering your reverb sound mid song, this app enables you as a player to upload a custom tuned version of an effect directly into your pedal. Voila! Integrate your unique sound with ease.
Solderless Cable Kits
As a gigging guitarist, you will have become accustomed to being surrounded by many different leads, of all types in various environments, so a great tool to have at your disposal would be one of these beauties.
No more premade cables, leaving you with either a huge excess of wire or putting you in the frustrating position of coming up slightly too short. This can be so inconvenient if you have spent your time arranging your pedalboard layout already.
A solderless cable kit provides you with the option of creating cables to any length you desire and the smaller sized plug ends provide you with more freedom when it comes to utilising your pedal board connections.
In Ear Monitor Apps
When playing a high production show with every instrument running through the PA system, wouldn't it be nice to have full control over your in ear level? This is where apps such as the 'Behringer X32-Q' come in handy.
Allowing each individual musician the opportunity to monitor their separate instrument levels, this app eliminates the bother of badgering the sound engineer they need something altered. And let's be honest, who doesn't want control?
Backing track apps
Backing tracks can be a key element for any guitar player.
From practice sessions, which enable you to enhance your soloing ideas to the gigs themselves, the backing track offers all the other parts of the tune you might not have at your disposal.
In this modern age of technology, CD's are no longer the only option available and there are various apps of this kind ready to help you along. From 'AmpKit', which has the ability to play background tracks from iTunes and is also a package of effects, recording and metronome to 'Chordbot', which allows the user to create unique backing tracks from selecting a self chosen chord progression, there are a whole host of backing track apps to choose from.