So you’ve got a guitar that you play regularly, but what do you do with it when you’re not playing? I read an interview with Keith Richards recently and he claims to have slept with his guitar (I don’t know how he had the room with all the groupies!) so even when he wasn’t playing he could "breathe it in". That’s great but perhaps not best practice; I don’t think every musician’s partner would be happy to share a bed with their instrument! It’s surprising the amount of times I’ve been round musicians houses and they just leave their instruments lying around, susceptible to damage.

So here’s a few tips to ensure your guitar survives the domestic environment:

Use a guitar stand: Musicians often lean their guitars against their amplifiers or even against the wall. This is a bad idea as they can easily fall over and get seriously damaged. Top of the accessory list should be a good quality guitar stand, such as those manufactured by Hercules or XCG. A good quality guitar stand will keep your guitar secure when not in use.

Remove the guitar cable: When you have finished your playing session, ensure you remove the guitar cable and store it out of the way. Therefore no one can trip over it, preventing any damage to the cable or your guitar. It will also prevent your guitar cable becoming tangled, which can damage it. If your guitar has active electronics, removing the guitar cable will prevent the battery running down.

Regularly change guitar strings: To maintain the tone and quality of your guitar, it is recommended that you change your guitar strings on a regular basis. Ernie Ball, DR Strings and Dunlop Strings are all good quality brands, used by many players worldwide. Many retailers, especially online will give discounted prices if you buy more than one set at a time.

Keep it clean: To ensure optimum performance, it is essential to keep your guitar clean. Residue and dust can build up, especially around the nut, frets and bridge of your guitar. Using a good quality guitar polish and fret cleaner, such as those by Dunlop, will ensure your guitar remains in top condition.

Organise your guitar picks: There’s nothing more irritating than hunting around for your guitar pick when a song idea pops in your head. Investing in a guitar pick holder (they don’t cost much!) will enable you to play immediately without any interruption.

By following these recommendations, you will not have to pay out for expensive repairs to your guitar and it will stay sounding the way it was when you bought it.