27 Gifts for Musicians, From New Artists to Superstars

If you’ve noticed the guitar player on your list grabbing that weirdly bent fork and wirecutters each time they change their strings, this is the first gift to grab.

Designed for use with guitar, mandolin, and ukulele, the Pro-Winder tool helps players quickly pull string pegs, wind on new strings, and chop the ends so they don’t poke an eye out. Every player needs one of these, it’s as simple as that. D’Addario also makes a larger version for bassists.

From demos to professional recordings, every singer needs a microphone at home to lay down ideas, and every microphone needs a pop filter. This simple tool reduces a microphone’s overemphasis on hard consonants like Bs and Ps to create silky-smooth vocals and dialogue.

While this particular model is made to pair with a specific microphone, the very popular Blue Yeti, it will work with any microphone and stand.

If you’re looking for an upgrade, I’d recommend Shure’s PS-6 filter for around $50, but I’ve used a similar model for over 10 years with no complaints.

For musicians decorating a home studio or an artsy sitting room, hanging an instrument like a musical work of art on the wall for all to see is both fashionable and convenient. With solid components and an inviting wooden backdrop, the String Singer is the guitar hanger of choice in studios and homes everywhere.

You’ll find woodblock versions in light or dark stains, as well as a smaller size for ukuleles and mandolins to mix and match instruments in style.

Keeping guitars and other stringed instruments in tune is a constant battle, especially for musicians who tend to play gigs out in the elements.

The Snark ST-8 is the most convenient and affordable tuner I’ve used. With its simple clip-on design and a bright and clear display, it’s great for adjusting strings on the move or in between songs without skipping a beat.

We’ve all seen troubadours like Bob Dylan bounce from singing to belting out some jangly blues melodies on harmonica without skipping a beat on guitar. This Hohner 154-U is the perfect device for the job, letting your favorite minstrel elevate their next gig with some twangy mouth harp, no spare hands required. A three-piece performance with a one-way split of the take? Bravo, Mr. Dylan.

Whether they’re on stage or in the studio, every performer needs a great microphone stand to complete their setup. This tripod stand is well-reviewed, simply designed, and comes with great accessories, including a carrying case and dual microphone adapters.

Most notably, its boom arm offers dual extension points, which makes it easy to fine-tune mic placement for vocals, guitar, amplifier, kick drums, and just about anything else.

A good guitar slide can spark new ideas and directions for players of all levels. There’s no shortage of options out there, but the professional guitarists I chatted with love the Rock Slide for its great feel, excellent tone, and rock-hard durability.

From blues to psyche rock, if the guitarist on your list wants to expand their proverbial toolkit, this is the perfect accessory to raise their game.

I bought this songbook for my wife and my sister, both of whom are seasoned piano players, and it's spawned lots of good times and sing-alongs loaded with nostalgic throwbacks. You and your pianist companions can rock out to tunes like “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and 18 other legendary classics from Sir Elton himself. For a good time, just add piano.

Radiohead said everyone can play guitar, but the tambourine is a whole lot easier. Perhaps that’s why no audience member can resist picking one up off the stage and playing along. Unwanted accompaniment aside, any good musician needs a tambourine in their arsenal, and this Rhythm Tech is the perfect choice.

With a soft grip and crisp nickel rings to cut through the fog, this jovial tambo makes it easy to add that missing groove you didn’t know you needed.

Put away your thoughts of pyramid pedestals and swinging pendulums; the modern metronome is a whole new bag. Boss’ DB-30 is an impressive rhythm tracker, allowing users to program up to nine different rhythms, including options like odd time signatures and heady Latin grooves.

Its pint-size form factor makes it easy to bring along, and clear visual cues help players keep the beat and stay in the pocket. For any drummer or percussionist, a good metronome is a must, and this model makes for a great entry point and beyond.

The availability of increasingly affordable home studio equipment makes it easier than ever for musicians to create great recordings at home. Acoustic treatment is key to converting any room into a suitable home studio, which makes these simple but effective foam sound dampening pads an insightful gift.

I’ve used similar pads for multiple home studio builds, and while you can spend a heckuva lot more on soundproofing treatments, these do the trick on a tight budget.

If you’re also helping your giftee build their studio, here’s a quick primer on how to use these pads effectively: First, make sure to set up pads at all corners, as well as the ceiling and walls around vocal and instrument recording areas. If you’re setting up studio monitors–special speakers made specifically for audio production–line up a laser pointer with the tweeters of each speaker once they’re properly placed to see where the sound hits first, and place pads there.

For larger rooms, you may want to get a couple of sets, or you can supplement them with moving blankets or other thick fabrics that will absorb sound.

There’s a lot of divisiveness in the world these days, but I think we can all agree on one thing: Drummers are loud! The beauty of this practice pad is it encourages your favorite tub thumper to hone their skills in a quieter (and more portable) manner.

As the name implies, the Evans RealFeel is designed to offer both the shape and feel of an actual drumhead, with one side for more realism, and a second for better bounce and more pronounced articulation. It also fits into most snare stand setups, making it a great option for all involved – your ears included.

As every good player knows, you can never have too many stands to hold onto your guitar or bass. The Hercules has been a mainstay for guitarists and bassists of all skill levels since debuting in 2002. Its brilliant design is built tough to last for years, yet its heaps of padding and top-side auto-lock arm cradles instruments with a mother’s care. Whether for stage, studio, or music rooms, every player needs a Hercules.

Even if you’ve never heard of a Guiro, you’ve almost assuredly heard one. From Bowie to Bossa Nova, this little ribbed tube makes a distinctive sound that adds that certain something to all sorts of musical genres.

I’ve only ever used the wooden one, but reviewers say this new plastic model sounds just as sweet. Guiros are an integral addition to any good percussion set. More importantly, they’re just plain fun.

It’s easy to balk at spending this much money on a single instrument cable. After all, how complicated can the connection between your instrument and amp really be? Serious players know better, and they may never stop thanking you for this one.

Mesh-coiled for protection and hand-crafted in Montana, Rattlesnake’s Snakehead cables are beloved by stage performers for their durability, clarity, and tone preservation, especially for longer connections. The only complaint I’ve heard is that they can be slippery when stepped on, so make sure your favorite player keeps their wits about them.

Thalia guitar capos aren’t just gorgeous, they also provide the best performance of any capo I’ve used. Their U-shaped design is anchored by a spongy hinge for easy placement, while a strong grip presses the capo evenly across the strings so you don’t need to retune.

Each capo is made from robust materials and includes multiple plastic inserts to match different guitar types. They’re available in a wide array of designs and colors. Plus, if you buy direct from Thalia, you can even customize them with your giftee’s name or a message for that personal touch.

Buying a keyboard as a gift can be a particularly tricky (and expensive) undertaking. But the compact Novation Mini is less of a keyboard than it is a creative vessel to help unlock the potential of aspiring creators, composers, and beat makers. The Launchkey Mini MK3 is designed to be used with a computer and recording software, also called a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), to control synthesizer plug-ins, make loops, and generally program creative bliss.

At less than $100, it’s the perfect starter board for the digital music maker in your life, and can also serve well as part of a larger package if you’re gifting a full recording setup. It’s designed to work with Ableton Live, but plays nice with other recording apps like Apple GarageBand and Logic Pro, making it as versatile as it is affordable.

The Shure SM58 series is an undeniably legendary set of stage microphones. They’re tough like hammers–people have literally used them to hammer nails with no ill effects–and sound great for vocals and instruments alike. They also don’t need a separate (phantom) power source, so you can plug into any amplifier or soundboard with an XLR input.

I personally prefer the SM58S because it has an on/off switch, but you can rest assured that every version will be a dynamo on stage and in the studio. At the price, you simply will not find a better, more dynamic mic.

If your musician is looking for something specifically designed for instruments, the Shure SM57 has virtually the same pattern, but without a built-in pop filter.

Have you ever been to a performance where a single person creates their own percussion, vocal harmonies, and even solos on top of their own guitar? A looper pedal, which stores and plays short recordings, can give an artist the ability to play all their instruments at once. If you know someone who wants to play their solo music live, the Boss RC1 will get them started on that path.

With up to 12 minutes of looping, mono and stereo connection, and intuitive visual feedback, the Boss RC1 is an affordable and intuitive looper pedal. It requires just a single 9-volt battery for power and will even keep the last loop recorded in its memory banks after you shut it off. If you know someone looking to take their stage show to the next level, the Boss RC1 Loop Station is the perfect electronic companion.

The Sennheiser Profile is my favorite USB-C microphone out there, offering excellent performance and an intuitive design that’s perfect for aspiring recording artists, podcasters, and more. It sets up and connects easily over USB-C on Mac and PC, with all the connections you need, including a separate headphone output and volume control.

It’s great for everything from streams to zoom meetings, with a visible mute key to make sure your scoffing at the boss won’t go on record. Best of all, it sounds fantastic, making it a great tool for music demos and beyond.