Do you want to record the sounds of your electric guitar on your computer but don’t know how to connect them? Fortunately, there are a few workarounds for this process.
To connect an electric guitar to your PC, you need to get the correct cable and adapter; a 1/8″ stereo plug for the laptop audio port and a 1/4″ phone jack for your electric guitar. Connect the cable to their respective ports to connect both devices and check the signal by playing the electronic guitar.
To help you with the task, we have created an extensive guide with easy instructions on connecting an electric guitar to a PC and what to do if it won’t connect.
Connecting an Electric Guitar to a PC
If you don’t know how to connect your electric guitar to a PC, use our 5 easy step-by-step methods to go through this process quickly.
Method #1: Using Direct Connection With Cables
You can easily connect your electric guitar directly to your PC with the help of an audio cable with the following steps.
- Get an audio cable with a 1/4″ phone jack on one end and a 1/8″ stereo plug on the other.
- Plug the end of your audio cable with a 1/4″ phone jack into your electric guitar.
- Plug the end of your audio cable with a 1/8″ stereo plug into your PC.
You can get a 1/8″ stereo plug adapter to connect your standard 1/4″ guitar cable to your PC.
Your electric guitar is now connected to your PC. You can connect headphones to your laptop or just listen through the speakers.
Method #2: Using an Amplifier
With these easy steps, you can also make a powered connection between your electric guitar and PC using an amplifier.
- Purchase an amplifier.
- Plug one end of the standard guitar cable into the electric guitar and the other into the amplifier.
- Plug one end of the 1/8″ stereo cable into your PC’s audio-in port and the other into the amplifier’s line-out port. If your PC doesn’t have an audio-in port, you need to buy an interface or cable that transforms your audio-out port to audio-in.
- Your electric guitar is now connected to your PC, and you can utilize the amplifier tones to produce greater sound quality.
Method #3: Using an Audio Interface
If you want to connect and play your electric guitar on your PC safely, you can use an audio interface by following these steps.
- Install the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software that comes with the audio interface on your computer.
- Connect your electric guitar to the audio interface via the standard cable.
- Connect your PC to the audio interface via the supplied USB cable.
- Your PC is now connected to the guitar, and you can use any device, such as a microphone.
Once you are used to the basic DAW software, you can install more advanced ones with better features.
Method #4: Using a Multi-Effects Pedal
You can also utilize a multi-effects pedal to connect your electric guitar to your PC while you enjoy its special effects and tones in the following way.
- Connect one end of the standard guitar cable to your electric guitar and the other to the multi-effects pedal.
- Use the USB cable supplied with the multi-effects pedal to attach it to your PC.
- Your electric guitar is now connected to the PC, and you can add any desired effects to the sound with the multi-effects pedal.
Method #5: Using a PC as an Amplifier
If you wish to add tones and strength to your electric guitar’s sound without spending extra money, you can connect your PC to an electric guitar as an amplifier with the following steps.
- Connect your standard guitar cable to your PC with an adapter.
- Download an Amplifier simulator software.
- Install the software and run it to connect your PC as an amplifier to your electric guitar.
Now, your electric guitar is connected to your PC, and you can use different tones and effects from the software to get the best results.
Why Can’t I Connect an Electric Guitar to My PC?
If you’ve connected your electric guitar to the PC but still can’t hear a sound, follow our 2 quick step-by-step methods to resolve the issue.
Fix #1: Check Your Cables
You first need to ensure that all the cables you use to connect the electric guitar to the PC are in good condition. This includes the cables for the direct connection or those you use with other devices to connect your PC and the guitar.
To rule out this possibility, plug in another guitar to your PC using the same cables; if the issue persists, replace them immediately.
You should also check your cables often for any wear and tear.
Fix #2: Check Your Electric Guitar’s Batteries
If you can’t hear any sound after you’ve tried connecting your electric guitar to your PC, it might be possible that the batteries in your electric guitar are dead or installed backward. In the case of the former, you will need to replace your battery to connect your electric guitar to your PC.
Summary
This guide has discussed how to connect an electric guitar to a PC in multiple ways. We have also discussed troubleshooting your electric guitar not connecting to your PC.
Hopefully, your question is answered, and you can enjoy playing your guitar and experimenting with various tones and effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Similar to a head and cabinet setup, a combo amp features an amplifier and speaker. But instead of two pieces of equipment, it only has one. Hence, they are convenient and easier to carry around.
