Music store

Retail business that sells musical instruments, related equipment and accessories

This article is about stores that sell musical instruments and related equipment. For stores that sell recorded music, see Record shop. For stores that sell digital downloads of recorded music via the internet, see Online music store.

"Guitar shop" redirects here. For the Jeff Beck album, see Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop.

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A music store or musical instrument store is a retail business that sells musical instruments and related equipment and accessories. Some music stores sell additional services, such as music lessons, music instrument or equipment rental, or repair services.[1]

## Products

[edit]

A selection of electric guitars at Sam Ash Music in Hollywood, California. A cymbal room in a music store. A selection of electric basses at a music store in Louisville, Kentucky. A selection of acoustic guitars at Cascio Interstate Music SuperStore.

Music stores range from full-line stores[2] that sell products across all musical instrument and even pro audio categories (sometimes including DJ equipment and visual stage components such as lights or fog machines), to music stores that focus on a subset of those categories (e.g. a store that sells acoustic and digital pianos, or a store that specializes only in drums and percussion), to highly-specialized stores focused on a single product type (e.g. a guitar boutique focused on vintage collectible guitars, or a sheet music store). In the United States and Canada, another common distinction exists between “Band and Orchestra” stores that cater to the needs of school music programs and their students, versus “Combo” stores that focus on instruments and equipment used by a rock band.

Music stores arose to service the needs of the local community. This included not only individual amateur musicians, but schools from elementary to college level, civic bands and orchestras, churches, and entertainment ensembles that performed at events of the community and its organizations. In service of this diverse clientele, store owners might focus on some specialty or niche market (pianos, sheet music, percussion). Instruments might be purchased outright, leased or rented. Specific or non-stock items could be ordered through the store.

More commonly, music stores offered some variety, depending upon the tastes and resources of the owners and the desires of their clientele (whether actual or sought-after). This might include some mixture of fretted instruments (electric guitars, acoustic guitars, mandolins, ukuleles); brass, woodwind, and violin-family instruments; drums and percussion; pianos and organs; consumable items (strings, reeds, drum sticks); accessories (metronomes, music stands); and sheet music.

In more recent decades, stores began to include instrument amplifiers, guitar effects units, electronic keyboards, microphones, sound recording equipment and digital audio software. Recorded musical instruction became a niche, beginning with LPs and evolving through formats of cassette tape, VHS video, compact disk, and DVD.

Some music stores provided instrument maintenance and repair, music lessons, or leasing of instruments and equipment.

## Specialized stores

[edit]

In the 2010s, general music stores have had to face competition from online music stores, which offer a huge selection of instruments and equipment.

### Electric guitars

[edit]

Electric guitars started appearing in the 1930s. Mainstream electric guitars stores sell well-known brands like Gibson, Fender and Ibanez. Most guitar stores sell six-string models, bass guitars, left handed guitars and electric guitar packages for beginners, which typically include a budget-priced electric guitar, a small practice amplifier, a strap and picks.

Guitar World magazine states that since guitar stores require patrons to try out guitars and amplifiers in the premises, some guitar players are nervous about playing in front of the store staff and other patrons.[3] A University Press of Kentucky book on women in music states that customers did not treat a woman who worked at a guitar store like she knew anything about guitars until she would use special guitar terms.[4]

### Acoustic guitars

[edit]

Acoustic guitar sections are one of the main areas in many music stores. Some stores create a separate area with a door, both to create a quieter area for customers to play the instruments and to enable humidifiers to be used. Famous acoustic guitars include C. F. Martin & Company, Taylor Guitars, Fender, Gibson, Guild, Washburn and Lowden Guitars.

### Piano

[edit]

The H.S. Schultz Piano Store in 1905.

One common specialty store is the piano store, which typically sells a range of upright pianos and grand pianos. In the 2010s, some piano stores sell high-end digital pianos, including grand pianos equipped with a digital player piano mechanism that can play back a recorded performance by activating the hammers. Piano sales are on the decline, in part because high-quality, properly-maintained pianos can remain playable for 60 to 80 years after their original purchase.[5] Some piano stores offer rental of new pianos; as well, some piano stores sell used pianos.[6][better source needed] In addition, digital alternatives have also become more affordable and accessible, prompting many consumers to opt for electronic keyboards with built-in recording or MIDI capabilities.

The high price of pianos is one factor that is causing the closing of piano stores: "A good grand piano from a respected name costs about as much as a luxury automobile", and as such, children (and their parents) are choosing less expensive instruments, such as electronic keyboards or stringed instruments.[7]

Though sales of acoustic pianos and quality keyboard instruments continually declines in the United States, in China "piano sales are booming", with most instruments being intended for home use. This rise in sales is in part because the costly instruments are viewed as a status symbol in China.[8]

### Violin family

[edit]

Violin shop in White Plains, New York

Another specialty shop is the "violin shop", which, despite its name, often sells various violin family instruments (violin, viola, cello and often double bass, and the bows, strings, rosin, chinrests, and other accessories used with these instruments). Violin shops are often operated by luthiers (violinmakers) who make violin family instruments and bows for sale. Luthiers also do maintenance and repairs on violin family instruments and bows.

### Sheet music

[edit]

Sheet music stores sell printed classical music for songs, instrumental solo pieces, chamber music, and scores for major symphonies and choral works, along with instrumental method books, "etudes" (studies) and graded musical exercises. Many sheet music stores also carry printed music songs for popular music genres such as rock, pop and musical theatre including individual songs and collections of songs grouped by artist, musical, or genre. Music for guitarists or electric bass players may be in tabulature notation, which depicts where on the instrument the performer should play a line. In the 2010s, sheet music stores often sell legal, copyright-compliant jazz fake books. Sheet music stores often carry some practice accessories, such as metronomes, music stands and tuning forks.

### Pro audio

[edit]

Main article: Professional audio store

Pro audio stores sell and in many cases, rent sound reinforcement system components, PA systems, microphones and other audio gear. Some stores also rent "backline" musical gear, such as stage pianos and bass amps.

### Organ stores

[edit]

Prior to the widespread availability of lightweight electronic clonewheel organs in the 1980s and 1990s that emulate the sound of a heavy, electromechanical Hammond organ, many cities had organ stores which sold large electric and electronic theatre organs and spinet organs made by Hammond, Lowrey and other manufacturers. These organs were sold for use in private homes and in churches; electric and electronic organs were popular for churches, because they cost significantly less than a pipe organ.

## Used stores

[edit]

A music store display showing an acoustic bass guitar and a variety of bass "combo" amplifiers and speaker cabinets.

Main article: Vintage musical equipment

Music stores may sell used, possibly vintage or collectible instruments and sound gear.

Used-gear stores may employ or offer a consignment model, in which the store (acting as the consignee) sells the piece on behalf of the actual owner (the consignor) and takes a portion of the purchase price. Some stores also operate trade-in functions, allowing customers to exchange older gear for store credit or discounts on new items.

Stores that primarily sell used equipment may carry new merchandise, minimally guitar strings, patch cords and microphone cables. In the United States, nationwide chains such as Music Go Round (about 30% new gear) and Sam Ash Music carry on a steady trade of used instruments and equipment.

Online marketplaces such as eBay and Vinted have expanded access to secondhand musical instruments, enabling peer-to-peer resale at scale. In response, several major music retailers have introduced resale programs that incorporate logistics, inspection, and fulfilment services. For example, Sweetwater operates a gear exchange program that allows customers to sell or trade used instruments for cash or store credit.[9] In the UK & Europe, retailers such as Gear4music also offer secondhand platforms that enable users to buy and sell used instruments online.[10]

## Online stores

[edit]

Since the 2000s, many music retailers have begun to adopt an online model. Retailers sell instruments and sound gear through websites that contain photos of the equipment, which are grouped into categories (e.g., electric guitars, amplifiers, PA gear). Each photo of a product is accompanied by the name and model number of each item, a description of each product's features, and the price. The sophistication of online music stores varies. Some online music stores have a single photo of the item, the product name and price, and a few bullets about the features. On the other hand, some online music stores have interactive Web 2.0 features, such as 360-degree virtual reality-style images of the products, in which the viewer can "turn" the product around to see the back and sides, online comments sections where customers can review their purchases and additional music-related content, such as articles on musical instruments or sound gear written by store staff. Patrons pay electronically at online music stores using a credit card, PayPal or other electronic payment systems. The goods are shipped through the mail or by express delivery companies such as FedEx. Some music stores sell their products solely online. In other cases, some stores operate both a "brick and mortar" store (or chain) and an online store.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "SIC 5736 Musical Instrument Stores - Description, Market Prospects, Industry History".
2. ^ "The Changing Face of Music Retail". The Music Trades. 163 (10): 107. November 2015.
3. ^ Larson, Tyler (September 5, 2017). "Don't Be Nervous to Play in a Guitar Store". guitarworld.com. Guitar World. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
4. ^ Carson, Mina; Lewis, Tina; Shaw, Susan M. Girls Rock! Fifty Years of Women Making Music. University Press of Kentucky. p. 19
5. ^ Millar, Lisa (March 15, 2015). "US piano stores forced to close as recession, new technology and cultural change take their toll". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
6. ^ Miller, Neil. The Piano Lessons Book. December 8, 2007. ISBN 978-1-4348-1853-9
7. ^ Kennedy, Mark (May 21, 2015). "Kennedy: Piano stores and American economics". timesfreepress.com. Times Free Press. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
8. ^ Millar, Lisa (March 15, 2015). "US piano stores forced to close as recession, new technology and cultural change take their toll". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
9. ^ published, Rod Brakes (August 4, 2022). "Reverb Faces Stiff Competition as Sweetwater Launches the Sweetwater Gear Exchange". GuitarPlayer. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
10. ^ "Secondhand website boost sales for York firm". York Press. September 25, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2025.

* v
* t
* e

Music industry

Major companies
and organizations|

| Representatives|

* AMPROFON
* ARIA
* BVMI
* BPI
* Music Canada
* FIMI
* IFPI (worldwide)
* PMB
* PROMUSICAE
* RIAA
* SNEP

|

Publishers|

* BMG Rights Management
* Sony Music Publishing
* Universal Music Publishing Group
* Warner Chappell Music
* Disney Music Publishing

Record labels|

* Major: Sony
* Universal
* Warner
* Independent: Concord
* Independent UK record labels
* AAMG

Retailers|

* Amazon
* Digital music stores (iTunes Store)
* Fnac
* HMV
* Kaspien
* Virgin Megastores

Live music|

* CTS Eventim
* Live Nation
* LiveStyle
* Ticketmaster

Major genres|

* Blues
* Country
* Easy listening
* Electronic
* Experimental
* Folk
* Gospel
* Hip hop
* Jazz
* Latin
* Metal
* New Age
* Pop
* Reggae
* Rhythm and blues
* Rock
* World

Sectors
and roles|

* Album cover design
* Artists and repertoire (A&R)
* Disc jockey
* Distribution
* Entertainment law
* Music education
* Music executive
* Music and fashion
* Music journalism
* Music publisher
* Music store
* Music venue
* Musical instruments
* Professional audio store
* Promotion
* Radio promotion
* Record label
* Record shop
* Road crew
* Talent manager
* Tour promoter

| Production|

* Arrangement
* Songwriter
* Composer
* Lyricist
* Conductor
* Disc jockey
* Hip hop producer
* Horn section
* Record producer
* Rhythm section
* Orchestrator
* Session musician
* Backup singer
* Ghost singer
* Vocal coach
* Ghostwriter
* Sound engineer

|

Release
formats|

* Single (Extended play (EP), 12" single, Cassette single, CD single, Maxi single)
* Album
* Double album, Mixtape
* Music video
* Promotional recording
* Phonograph record
* Eight-track
* Compact cassette
* CD
* DVD
* Airplay
* Music download
* Music streaming service

Live shows|

* Concert
* Concert tour
* Concert residency
* Music festival
* Music competition

Charts|

* ARIA Charts
* Billboard Hot 100
* Billboard Argentina Hot 100
* Billboard Brasil Hot 100
* Canadian Hot 100
* Circle Chart
* G-Music chart
* Irish Singles Chart
* Italian singles chart
* GfK Entertainment charts
* Entertainment Monitoring Africa
* Oricon charts
* New Zealand singles chart
* Rolling Stone Top 100
* Sino Chart
* TME Physical Album Sales Chart
* SNEP singles chart
* Sverigetopplistan
* UK singles chart

Publications|

* Billboard
* HitQuarters
* Hot Press
* Kerrang!
* Mojo
* Musica e dischi
* NME
* Q
* Rolling Stone
* Smash Hits
* Top of the Pops

Television|

| Channels|

* Channel V
* CMT
* Fuse
* Mnet
* MTV
* MTV2
* Tr3s
* MuchMusic
* The Music Factory
* Viva
* VH1
* The Country Network

|

Series|

* Idol franchise
* Popstars
* Star Academy
* The Four
* The Voice
* The X Factor
* Rising Star

Achievements|

* Music award
* Best-selling music artists
* In: Brazil
* Finland
* Germany
* Japan
* United Kingdom (Females)
* United States
* Genre:
* Gospel
* Latin
* Nationality:
* Belgian
* Brazilian
* British
* Italian
* Swedish
* Best-selling albums
* by country
* Latin
* Best-selling singles
* by country
* Highest-paid musicians
* Highest-grossing live music artists
* Highest-grossing concert tours
* by women
* Latin
* Most-attended concert tours
* Most-attended concerts
* Global Recording Artist of the Year
* Wealthiest musical artists

Other|

* Album era
* Album-equivalent unit
* A-side and B-side
* Backmasking
* Bootleg recording
* Christian music industry
* Environmental impact
* Hidden track
* Largest music deals
* Largest recorded music markets
* Most expensive albums
* Most valuable records
* Music certification
* Parental Advisory
* Record sales
* Surprise album
* White label

* Record production portal
* Category

* v
* t
* e

Retail

Key concepts|

* Counter display unit
* Display stand
* Endcap
* Facing
* Free standing display unit
* Gondola
* History of retail
* Merchandising
* Visual merchandising
* Point of sale display
* Retail design
* Retail merchandising unit
* Self-service
* Shelf-ready packaging

By product|

* Agricultural supplies
* Alcohol
* Antiques
* Automotive fuel
* Automotive parts
* Beauty products
* Books
* Cannabis
* Catering
* Mobile
* Chocolate
* Clothes
* Comics
* Confectionery
* Consumer electronics
* Cycles
* Doujin shop
* Dry goods
* Equestrian supplies
* Eyewear
* Fish
* Flowers
* Food
* Foodservice
* Fruit stand
* Furniture
* Garden centre
* Gardening supplies
* General merchandise
* Gold
* Greengrocer
* Grocery
* Public grocery
* Guns
* Hardware
* Health food
* Herbal tea
* Hobby supplies
* Home decor
* Home improvement products
* Ironmongery
* Jewellery
* Lingerie
* Lumber
* Magic supplies
* Meat
* Medications
* Medicinal plants
* Music
* Musical instruments
* News
* Office supplies
* Outdoor equipment
* Party supplies
* Personal accessories
* Pets and pet supplies
* Real estate
* Religious goods
* Sexual goods
* Shoes
* Skateboarding supplies
* Sporting goods
* Survival equipment
* Tickets
* Resale
* Online
* Tobacco
* Toys
* Vaping products
* Vehicles
* Video games

By format|

* Anchor tenant
* Automat
* Automated retail
* Big-box store
* Boot fair
* Boutique
* Brick and mortar
* Bring and buy sale
* Butcher shop
* Car boot sale
* Cash and carry
* Cashierless store
* Category killer
* Chain store
* Charity shop
* Closeout store
* Company store
* Consignment shop
* Consignment store (East Asia)
* Convenience store
* Automated convenience store
* Corner store
* Mini-mart
* Mini market
* Superette
* Dark store
* Department store
* Junior department store
* Discount store
* E-commerce
* Estate sale
* Experiential commerce
* Experiential retail
* Factory outlet
* Factory store
* Flash retailing
* Free box
* Freeshop
* Free store
* Garage sale
* General store
* Give-away shop
* Haberdasher
* Head shop
* High Street
* Honesty box
* Hospice shop
* Hyperstore
* Immersive commerce
* Inspect and pay
* Jumble sale
* Junk shop
* Lifestyle store
* Main Street
* Mall kiosk
* Market
* Bazaar
* Christmas market
* Dark market
* Dry market
* Grey market
* Farmers' market
* Fish market
* Flea market
* Floating market
* Hypermarket
* Marketplace
* Online marketplace
* Market booth
* Market hall
* Market stall
* Market square
* Mart
* Meat market
* Mercado
* Morning market
* Pasar pagi
* Night market
* Pasar malam
* Open-air market
* Palengke
* Pannier market
* Public market
* Souk
* Street market
* Supermarket
* warehouse supermarket
* Tianguis
* Traditional market
* Wet market
* Megastore
* Micro-retailing
* Military cooperative
* Moving sale
* Non-store retailing
* Off-price
* Omnichannel retail strategy
* Online grocer
* Online retailing
* Opportunity shop
* Outlet store
* Pop-up retail
* Pop-up shop
* Pop-up store
* Pretail
* Resale shop
* Retail kiosk
* Rummage sale
* Second-hand shop
* Shop-in-shop
* Shopping center
* Big-box center
* Community center
* Festival center
* Festival marketplace
* Galleria
* Lifestyle center
* Neighborhood shopping center
* Outlet center
* Outlet mall
* Pedestrian mall
* Plaza
* Power center
* Retail park
* Shopping arcade
* Shopping complex
* Shopping mall
* Shopping plaza
* Shopping precinct
* Strip center
* Strip mall
* Strip plaza
* Theme center
* Showroom
* Smartstore
* Smart shop
* Specialty store
* Store-in-store
* Store-within-a-store
* Supercenter
* Superstore
* Swap meet
* Indoor swap meet
* Swap shop
* Tag sale
* Thrift store
* Unmanned store
* Variety store
* Dollar store
* Five and dime store
* Vending machine
* Warehouse club
* Warehouse store
* Web store
* White elephant sale
* Wholesale club
* Yard sale

By type|

* Arabber
* Boutique
* Braderie
* Butcher shop
* Concession stand
* Cooked food centre
* Costermonger
* Direct sellers
* Duty-free shop
* Food booth
* Food cart
* Food court
* Food hall
* Food kiosk
* Food stall
* Food stand
* Food truck
* Gift shop
* Hawker
* Hawker centre
* Ice cream truck
* Ice cream van
* Museum shop
* Pawn shop
* Peddler
* Pharmacies
* Refreshment stand
* Snack bar
* Snack kiosk
* Souvenir shop
* Surplus store
* Tack shop
* Tax-free shopping
* Tuck shop

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