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For this article I’ll offer some tips on some basic guitar-related items that you should know when learning to play the acoustic guitar: capos, picks, bridge pins, and pickups.
 Capos
A capo is a device that clamps onto the fret board and raises the key of a song. It can be a very helpful tool, especially for those (like myself) who play mainly basic chords, and who are not adept at “barring” the chords.
As an example, if you’re used to playing a song in the “open” position that’s in the key of G, and you want to raise it to the key of A, you can place the capo on the second fret. This allows you to use the G chording that you’re accustomed to.
Also, if there are two acoustic guitars playing a song, one can remain in the open position and the other can capo up and play in the same key but use different chording. For instance, an open C chord is the same as a G chord played with the capo on the 5th fret.
One minor problem with using a capo is that it may cause the guitar to go slightly sharp when the capo is on, and you may have to tweak the tuning.
There are lots of different types of capos out there. Shop a bit and find the one that works best for you.
Guitar picks
Some guitarists prefer not using picks, but many depend on them. There are two kinds of picks:
- Flat picks are used for strumming and for playing leads. A flat pick is gripped between the thumb and index finger; sounds simple, but it takes practice to master the skill. There are many kinds of flat picks regarding thickness, size, and shape. I personally prefer thin picks for the type of strumming I do; thicker picks may work well for leads. It’s a matter of personal preference.
- Finger picks fit onto the fingers. They’re made of plastic or steel and are used when one is doing finger style picking. There are varying sizes and types of finger picks. When you buy them, make sure they fit snugly on your fingers before you leave the store. I like the steel picks because they can be bent to fit your fingers later on if the issue arises.
Bridge pins
Bridge pins are the plastic pegs that hold the strings in the guitar at the bridge. When changing strings they can be a problem because they often get stuck in the guitar. This can be frustrating when a string breaks during a performance and you have to change it onstage!
There are lots of suggested methods of removing the pins, including pliers and other various tools.
My own method is using a fork (that’s right, an everyday fork utensil). I always keep a fork in my guitar case. Simply slide two tines of the fork around the pin and gently pull it out. Whatever method you use, be careful not to damage the bridge.
Pickups
A pickup is an electronic device that allows you to amplify your guitar by plugging into an amplifier. Many acoustic guitars have built-in pickups; if not, one can be added.
I found that, for live performance, a good pickup is a great help. It frees one from a guitar microphone and allows more movement on stage. And many pickups have a volume control that can be adjusted as needed.
There are many kinds of pickups on the market. I suggest that you test different pickups on your guitar to see which you like best. Music stores usually have a varied array of these devices.
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