Photo: Julia Mahncke

You really don’t need a lot to record yourself. In this article, we’ll cover all the different options available so you can make an informed decision.

• We’ll go over gear for every budget – from dirt-cheap to high-end items.
• You’ll be ready to make your first recording right after reading this article.
• Plus, you’ll have a wish list for when you’re ready to upgrade.
• We’ll go over different methods of recording from old school stuff to the latest trends.

Before we list any recording gear, let’s talk about why recording yourself is a great idea.

Why recording yourself will make you a better guitarist

Even if you don’t want to release music, there are some serious benefits to recording yourself playing – this goes for guitarists of all levels.

Here are a few of reasons to start recording your practice sessions:

Self-assessment

• Getting feedback from a professional is great but you can learn a lot from analyzing your own playing.
• Record yourself playing along to a metronome and when you listen back, you’ll immediately know whether your time feel is behind or your rushing or dragging.
• Hear what others hear – sometimes we can be too involved with what we’re playing to really hear how we sound in the moment.

Normalizing pressure

Many people have the goal of playing in front of other people or releasing music and videos of themselves playing guitar on social media.

• If you already get flustered when you see a recording button from a distance, take it slow and practice in a low stakes environment.
• It’ll become easier with time and you’ll prepare for more challenging situations such as playing a gig, recording when other people are present, and recording in a professional studio setting.

Tracking progress

We all feel like we’re behind sometimes, like we should already be much better at playing guitar than our current skill level – this type of thinking can really kill your motivation.

• When you put in the time and practice wisely, you will make progress.
• Sometimes it’s slow but if you record yourself, you’ll be able to listen back and hear the evidence for how far you’ve come.

What gear should I buy to record guitar?

Below are gear recommendations divided up into three categories:

• Beginner: This gear is dirt cheap and for folks who just want to give this whole thing a try at the lowest cost possible.
• Invested: This gear is still affordable but only recommended for people who are able to put some money aside to invest in one of their favorite hobbies.
• Pro: This gear is on the more expensive side and only worth buying if you’re in for the long haul.

Whatever you buy, try buying used gear.

• It’s cheaper and better for the environment.
• It’s also a very common practice in the music gear world which means there’s an online retailer that specializes in used music gear: Reverb.

If you have a local music store, they probably have a used section as well.

• They will charge more than if you buy from another musician but it can be helpful to use their expertise.
• If it’s a good store, they will make sure the gear is in good working order and sometimes they even provide a short warranty period.

If you buy from one of the big online retailers, look out for seasonal deals and open box items to save money.

Recording gear for beginner guitarists

When you’re starting out, try using what you already have. If you have a computer, tablet or smartphone, you should be good to go. No more tech needed.

If you don’t have any of those devices or don’t want to use them, we have a suggestion on what to buy as well.

How to record audio for Apple users

Your Apple device comes with an app called VoiceMemos. You just place your phone in front of you, aim the microphone at your guitar or amp, and hit the record button.

Photo: Screenshot of the Apple Voice Memo app

How to record audio for Android users

Most Android smartphones and tablets have a simple voice recorder. They look different depending on what device you have. Here are the instructions for a Samsung voice recorder.

How to record audio for if you’re not an Apple or Android user

Any other laptop should have a simple voice recorder as well, whether you have a Microsoft device or a Google Chromebook.

Recording guitar without a computer or phone

Some folks like the no frills, no distraction method of recording with a stand-alone device. There are a few options out there but Zoom and Tascam generally make solid devices.

Photo: ​​Zoom H1n-VP 2-channel Handy Recorder

Recording gear for invested hobby guitarists

Taking your recordings to the next level means acquiring a bit more gear. Our suggestions will provide several upgrades from the beginner gear:

• Recording into a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) will make it easier to edit your recordings.
• The most commonly used DAWs are full music production softwares.
• You can use software plug-ins to experiment with different tones when you record your guitar – no pedal or amp needed.
• DAWs make it easy to record to a backing track or a metronome.
• You have more control over the signal and can avoid capturing background noise when you record by plugging into an interface that is connected to your computer instead of using a microphone.

At this stage, we’re assuming you have a good computer or an iPad. Here are the items you need to add:

• Interface (a device that connects your guitar to a computer)
• DAW (music production software)
• Microphone (only if you have an acoustic guitar that can’t be plugged in)

Record your guitar with affordable interfaces

An interface is a piece of gear that helps your computer communicate with your guitar or a microphone.

• If you play electric guitar or your acoustic guitar has a pickup, you can take the same cable you would plug into an amplifier and plug it straight into an interface.
• Your computer will then be able to record the sound.
• Acoustic guitars sound a lot better when you record them through a microphone or a mix of microphone and pickup – more about that later.

Photo: Focusrite Scarlett Solo

There are a lot of interfaces out there. Usually, they’ll come with a some basic music production software so you can get started right out of the box.

Here are a few popular choices:

Focusrite Scarlett Solo

Audient Evo 4 or Audient iD4

IK Multimedia iRig 2 (works with Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch)

Fender Mustang Micro (sneaky option for non-Apple user who can use this as interface and amp/pedal simulator)

If you’re planning to record acoustic guitar and vocals, a USB-mic can double as an interface.

You can plug an instrument in with a cable and also record through the microphone.

Photo: Samson G-Track Pro USB Condenser Microphone

Creating great guitar recordings with affordable DAWs

Photo: Reaper

Apple users:

You’re in luck because Garageband is a great music production software that comes with your Apple device for free. It’s fairly easy to use and there are lots of tutorials online to help you if you get stuck.

Non-apple users:

Audacity is a free audio recording software. You can record and edit with Audacity but it’s not a full blown music production software.

If you want more than just recording and editing capabilities, we recommend Reaper. It’s a low cost software that is capable of handling most tasks any other DAW can.

If you have a bit of money to spend but want something simple, try out one of these:

• Ableton Live Intro
• FL Studio

Remember: If you buy an interface or microphone, it might come with a software. No need to waste money if you already have what you need.

Use an amp simulator when recording direct

Once you record your guitar directly through an interface and play it back in a DAW, it’ll sound… meh.

Don’t worry though, you can process the signal to make it sound like you actually played through an amp and maybe even used a few pedals.

Garageband comes with a lot of digital amp and pedal options so you don’t have to spend any extra cash. Here are instructions on how to use their amp and pedal models.

Photo: Amp Designer in Garageband

If you’re not using Garageband, your software might have amp and pedal models as well.

Affordable headphones for recording guitar over a backing track

At this point in your recording journey, you really just need any headphones as long as they’re wired. Headphones are good for monitoring your sound directly through the interface.

• Bluetooth headphones will introduce lag and you won’t be able to hear what you’re playing as you’re playing it.
• You can monitor sound through your computer speakers as well but you might also run into the problem of sound lagging behind.

• If you already have wired headphones with a small jack, you can buy an adapter so you can plug them right into your interface.

If you want to buy some comfortable over-ear, wired headphones, take a look at these models:

• Samson SR850 (semi-open back)
• Sony MDR-7506 (closed back)

Some people prefer closed-back headphones for recording vocals or acoustic guitar because they don’t “leak” sound back into the microphone you’re recording with. (Hello, click track 😑 What are you doing on my recording?)

Random tip: If you wear glasses, you might prefer bigger headphones. Small headphones, like the Sony MDR model, can put pressure on the ends of your frames behind your ear and cause pain when you wear them for long periods of time.