One instrument cable if you play something electric, one XLR cable if you use an XLR microphone, and a headphone adapter. That is usually the whole list, and none of the three is included with the instrument.
The three-item list
Instrument cable: TS, one ring, three meters. Microphone cable: XLR, balanced. Adapter: between 6.35 mm (0.25 in) and 3.5 mm (0.14 in), whichever direction your gear needs.
What you do not need yet
Patch cables, until there is more than one pedal. Balanced TRS pairs, until there are monitors.
The habit that saves evenings
Keep the spares with the gear. A spare in a drawer in another room is not a spare.
The questions players ask
Should I buy spares?
One spare of each type you depend on. Cables are the most common failure in a home setup and the fastest thing to rule out.
Do expensive cables sound better?
Beyond decent construction and low capacitance, the differences are very small. Reliability at the plug is what you are paying for.
Last reviewed 2026-08-19