The Most Important Accessory
As musicians we are all excited to some extent by add-ons. As guitarists and bassists we look to pedals, amps, special strings, magic cables where the electrons travel more efficiently in one direction than another and other hoopla.
BC (before COVID) I used to love going to guitar shops and in the brief period between lockdowns continued to do so. I would always see people trying out instruments, and other accessories and this is what is great about brick and mortar stores, you can actually check something out before spending money. Try that on Amazon, but I digress...
I do not have perfect pitch by a long shot. I could not make the sound of A 440 out of my mouth and while I might get close by turning a peg to the frequency of a high E string, I have no delusions that it would be on the money.
I'm not trying to sound like a dick, but if you think so, oh well. I hear lots of folks pick up a guitar and start going at it. There is an inverse relationship I find to the volume level employed and the level of skill. There's also an inverse relationship to the volume level and the tuning accuracy. For the love of Pete, or whomever you prefer, tune the darn guitar. No one wants to hear anyone bashing away on a guitar that is not at minimum in tune with itself and certainly not out of tune into that Mesa Rectifier at anything over 1/10th chat.
Decent guitar stores will make clip on tuners available to you on request. All that they want is that you give it back when you are done. I have seen people put loaner tuners in pockets and I will often ask if they are done with the tuner, could I use it please. Some look embarrassed and others look annoyed. It's happened to me that I have left with a loaner tuner which I promptly return, not because I am some kind of hero, but if I don't, stores will stop loaning tuners and I will have to endure more out of tune Nirvana at full blast.
The common ST-8 Snark. Impossible to beat for the price
If you got a guitar over the holidays and did not get a tuner, treat yourself. Yes there are free tuner apps available for your smartphone and they are almost as useful as mouthful of bees when you are in a busy guitar store. A clip on tuner such as the incredible for the price Snark series is something everyone should have at least one of. Get a few because they are under $30 and you will leave them lying around. Not only will you be able to stay in tune better, you also are getting free ear training so you learn what in tune sounds like. Heck you might keep one in your jacket pocket or bag along with a few of your favourite picks so when you find yourself in a guitar shop you are ready to go. I mark my Snarks up with a gold Sharpie so I know that they are mine.
You can certainly spend more on a clip on tuner if you want to. Petersen and tc Electronics both make nice ones at a higher price if you insist.
While some folks say that a looper should be the first item on your pedalboard, in my opinion, the first pedal should be a tuner. Digital tuners are everywhere, and because they are digital, unless the unit is made of crap parts, you do not need to spend a fortune. The case durability is probably your biggest concern and while it is easy to spend nearly $200 on a stomp box type tuner, you do not need to. If a Snark at $30 works, why spend $180 on a stomp box tuner? Personal choice of course. I have gotten the Petersen Strobostomp HD on sale a few times for about $150. I like it because the display is really big, I prefer strobe tuners, and it stays running whether you mute the instrument or not. Buy what you like, but no need to go overboard.
Petersen StroboStomp HD. A great tuner with selectable display colours of green or amber that don't mess with your dark vision
A tuner or collection of tuners are incredibly useful. They last until you lose them and are simple devices. Not super expensive and the difference between being annoying and behaving like a responsible musician.