There’s nothing worse than getting to a gig, session, or rehearsal and finding out that you forgot something, or that something you needed wasn’t included in your gig bag. One way to avoid this nightmare situation is to ensure that you have everything you need for your gig permanently packed into your guitar or bass’s gig bag. (Hard cases are great. I have one for every one of my instruments, and always use them when traveling or for “rugged” situations, but I find that for gigs around town, heading to a recording session, or grabbing a guitar for a rehearsal, a gig bag is often easier and lighter, and provides an ideal combination of storage and protection.)
Here’s a list of 10 items that I always have packed in my guitar’s gig bag — in fact, I have multiples of these items so that I can keep them packed into the three or four gig bags I use all the time. I can get through just about any situation barring a major problem with these items:
1 – Spare strings
This one is obvious. I keep at least one spare set of strings in every gig bag I own.
2 – Picks
Another obvious one; if you use picks you’ve got to have them with you! I usually have a pick or two in my pocket, but every gig bag has a small container with a few picks in it.
3 – Strap
I’ve been caught several times without a strap at a gig; I simply forgot to put one in the guitar case or bag. Now, I keep a strap in every gig bag and have the same type of strap locks on all my guitars so I’m always compatible. If you have room, a spare strap is a good idea.
4 – Clip-on Tuner
I have pedal-style tuners on all my pedalboards, but I’ve had situations where I ended up not taking a pedalboard with me to a gig and found myself without a tuner. So I’ve always got one of the many handy and inexpensive clip-on tuners in each of my gig bags.
5 – Cable
I have a Sweetwater bag that I carry to all my gigs that holds the various cables, mics, power supplies, iPad mic stand mount, and so on that I need. But I always keep an appropriate instrument cable in each gig bag, both for backup and for those situations where I’m traveling light without my gear bag.
6 – Polish Cloth
The finishes on modern guitars are durable, but I like to wipe off my instruments with a soft polish cloth before I put them away after a gig or rehearsal. That way they’re fresh and clean when I pull them out of the gig bag the next time. And, a polish cloth is handy for wiping down a neck during a gig or cleaning up an inadvertent mess.
7 – Hearing Protection
I try to respect my ears and protect my hearing by keeping volume levels reasonable, but standing next to the drums can take its toll on your hearing, and sometimes the stage volume ramps up louder than is safe. For this reason, hearing protection is standard issue for each of my gig bags. I have high-end ear plugs that I often carry, but I also keep inexpensive hearing protection in each gig bag just in case.
8 – Tools
It’s handy to have at least a few tools along at a gig or rehearsal; best to be prepared! Candidates include an appropriate truss rod wrench (or other wrenches if your guitar requires them) for the guitar stored in a particular gig bag, a peg winder, something to cut strings, and a couple of small screwdrivers. Or, consider a guitar multi-tool or a compact guitar toolkit. And, yes, you can use the “flashlight” function in your cell phone, but a real flashlight works better…and is easier to use if you also need to talk on your phone.
9 – Capo/Slide
I’ve been saved by a capo many times on sessions and gigs, so I always throw one into each gig bag. I’m not a heavy slide player, but once again, having one with me has saved the day! And there are those times where it’s cool to slip on a slide for a lead or particular part — you can’t do it if you don’t have one with you.
10 – “Office” Supplies
You’ll never regret having a pencil/pen or Sharpie with you, as well as a small notebook, and don’t forget some business cards!
This list covers me for just about any situation. It seems like a lot of items, but they’re all fairly small and the lot of it fits easily into the storage pockets on my guitar gig bags. Your list might vary slightly; I’ve been known to keep spare batteries for pedals and other gear in my gig bag, for example. Or, if you use an iPad on your gig, you might want to keep a spare charger in your gig bag. The key is to acquire what you need and leave it in your gig bag. If it’s not with you it does you no good!
Pack it up, and head for the gig confident that you have everything you could need with you. You’re ready for anything.
