Metronomes another handy tool. Here are some I like.
My favorite being the Classic Piano Pyarmid

Hi Mr Bill

The moment you realise your years are passing is when you discover there are electronic tuners and stringwinders in the world; they've been there for ages; and nobody told you... D'oh!

I got my first electronic tuner long after the '70s. (It was the little pipes before then.) In my own experience it's not lazy - in fact, I believe my ear for tuning got much better with its use. Like a spell checker on a computer; having your error pointed out immediately teaches you to improve quickly.

Use those tuners without shame, people.

To add to the useful tools list: howzabout a guitar cleaning cloth? No polish: hot breath and a willing elbow are all you need for the job.

Cheers - C

Ah, one of the great guitar debates.

I think capos are necessary and, incidentally, I don't disagree with your statement above. On the other hand, many songs benefit from open strings; chords often sound better open, and the 'drone' effect can be very useful. In this regard, capos are essential. I'm a good guitar player and have no problem with barre chords -- I play barre chords in virtually every song my band does. Nevertheless, I feel that capos are requisite equipment because they make many things easier. And really, who cares if it's easy or not? What matters is what it sounds like.

If I write a song in C, for example, it may turn out that our band's singer can't sing it in that key; if simply changing keys makes a big sonic difference, then a capo can be just the tool for the job. Frankly I'm surprised you don't own one. I thought everybody did.

no batteries needed.

Cheers.

Hi Zontar and Vulkan: I have a strange prejudice against capos and don't use them much. But I can't play George Harrison's "If I Needed Someone" without a capo way up on the seventh fret. That great song justifies owning one all by itself!

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Another seriously useful tool nobody's mentioned yet is Dan Erlewine's Guitar Player Repair Guide. Finest thing of its kind and best few bucks anyone can spend on looking after their instrument.

Highly recommended.

Cheers - C

I agree the string winder and the tuner are pretty necessary. I use both when needed and don't know how you'd get along without either one.

The capo, when you play stuff like John Prine it's kind of a necessity for the Travis picking, for me anyway.

But in all the discussion of tuners, does anyone use one of these Intellitouch tuners? Like em? Hate em? I LOVE this thing, to be able to tune my elec bass with the volume completely muted is useful and I find it to be pretty accurate. What's amazing is how you need to find the "sweet spot" on the headstock of each guitar, it's really different on each one which seems strange.

But in all the discussion of tuners, does anyone use one of these Intellitouch tuners? Like em? Hate em? I LOVE this thing, to be able to tune my elec bass with the volume completely muted is useful and I find it to be pretty accurate. What's amazing is how you need to find the "sweet spot" on the headstock of each guitar, it's really different on each one which seems strange.