Checklist · 11 picks · 5 categories
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Guitar players can always use another tuner, capo or set of strings, so this list sticks to the stuff that lives in the case.
The Snark ST-2 is MusicRadar's best clip-on tuner on a budget, the D'Addario NS Micro is small enough to leave on for good, and the TC Electronic PolyTune Clip shows which strings are out of tune from one strum. The Ernie Ball Axis is MusicRadar's best capo for one-handed changes, and the Shubb C1, its best value capo, has been an industry standard for over 30 years. For acoustic players, D'Addario EJ16 strings are its best beginner set and Elixir Nanoweb its best overall, coated so they last. A Mahalo or Kala ukulele makes a fun second instrument. The splurges are the G7th Performance 3, the best capo money can buy by MusicRadar's call, and the Cordoba 15CM concert uke.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they make music on a laptop; the gifts for music producers page has MIDI keyboards, audio interfaces and studio headphones.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snark ST-2 Super Tight | budget | $15-25 | a cheap, reliable tuner for the case | 1 outlet |
| D'Addario NS Micro Tuner | budget | $15-25 | leaving a tuner clipped on full time | 1 outlet |
| TC Electronic PolyTune Clip | mid | $25-50 | checking every string with one strum | 1 outlet |
Best clip-on tunerbudget pick · Clip-on
Best for a cheap, reliable tuner for the case
MusicRadar's best clip-on tuner on a budget: a no-frills, reliable tuner that handles the basics with swift tracking.
Heads up. Not exactly discreet on your headstock
1 outlet. MusicRadar best clip-on tuner on a budget.
$15-25
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budget pick · Clip-on
Best for leaving a tuner clipped on full time
MusicRadar's best discreet clip-on tuner: small, with a bright, easily readable display, and easy to leave on for good.
Heads up. Some players may prefer a larger screen
1 outlet. MusicRadar best discreet clip-on tuner.
$15-25
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mid pick · Clip-on
Best for checking every string with one strum
MusicRadar's best display clip-on tuner: strum all six strings and its polyphonic mode shows which ones are out of tune.
Heads up. Polyphonic response can be a bit hit or miss
1 outlet. MusicRadar best display clip-on tuner.
$25-50
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Best capobudget pick · Spring-loaded
Best for quick key changes mid-song
MusicRadar's best capo for one-handed changes: a spring-loaded clamp that goes straight on, with a dual radius for flat or curved fretboards.
Heads up. No player-adjustable tension
1 outlet. MusicRadar best guitar capo for one-handed changes.
$15-25
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mid pick · Screw tension
Best for steel-string acoustics and electrics
MusicRadar's best value capo: an industry standard for over 30 years, stable and low profile.
Heads up. The tension needs to be set correctly
1 outlet. MusicRadar best value guitar capo.
$15-25
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Best guitar stringsmid pick · 1 set
Best for changing strings as rarely as possible
MusicRadar's best overall acoustic strings: coated, so they last, and as close to a traditional string feel as coated sets get.
Heads up. Not cheap, and slightly muted next to uncoated strings
1 outlet. MusicRadar best overall acoustic guitar strings.
$15-25
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budget pick · 1 set
Best for a fresh set for an acoustic player
MusicRadar's best beginner acoustic strings: great value, a nice open voice and a huge range of gauges to try.
Heads up. Not long-lasting, since they're uncoated
1 outlet. MusicRadar best beginner acoustic guitar strings.
under $15
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Best ukulelebudget pick · Soprano
Best for finding out if uke is their thing
MusicRadar's best beginner's ukulele overall: cheap enough for most people, yet it plays like instruments costing far more.
Heads up. Committed players will quickly outgrow it
1 outlet. MusicRadar best beginner's ukulele overall.
$25-50
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mid pick · Soprano
Best for guitarists ready to commit to a uke
MusicRadar's pick for beauty and build quality: a satin-smooth mahogany body with a rounded, mellow voice that's ideal for strumming.
Heads up. Not the cheapest way in
1 outlet. MusicRadar best beginner ukulele for beauty and build quality.
$50-100
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Top pickmid pick · Concert
Best for a grown-up uke they'll keep for years
MusicRadar's best beginner uke for concert voicing: a slightly bigger body and scale give a larger, richer tone without losing the easy playability.
Heads up. Extra finish options would be welcome
1 outlet. MusicRadar best beginner uke for concert voicing.
$100-150
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splurge pick · Squeeze-on
Best for a fit-and-forget capo for life
MusicRadar calls it the best guitar capo money can buy: an Adaptive Radius pad for tuning stability and a squeeze-on, fit-and-forget design.
Heads up. Not the lightest out there
1 outlet. MusicRadar best guitar capo money can buy.
$50-100
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Something small for the case. The Snark ST-2 is MusicRadar's best clip-on tuner on a budget, and the Shubb C1 is its best value capo, stable and low profile.
No, the D'Addario EJ16 and Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 are acoustic sets. If they play electric, skip the strings: the Shubb C1 capo suits steel-string acoustics and electrics, and the clip-on tuners don't depend on strings at all.
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