Gift Ideas For Musicians: 10 Ideas You Can’t Go Wrong With

par Mackenzie Leighton
Gift Ideas For Musicians, 10 Ideas You Can't Go Wrong With

When it comes to finding gift ideas for musicians, there are almost too many to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a Christmas, birthday, housewarming, or secret santa gift, we’ve got you covered. Unique gifts don’t have to be expensive, they just have to be thoughtful. We’ve all seen the tacky ones (cheap mugs that say “plays guitar like a boss”, a key ring shaped like a music note, a tote-bag that says “music is life”) and they usually end up in the bottom of a junk drawer. Instead of concocting a “gifts for him” or “gifts for her” list, we’ve created a gift guide to find the perfect present that is both practical and thoughtful for every musician and music lover alike.

1. Music Instrument Accessories

  • Guitar
    • Capo
    • Cables for electric guitar
    • New strings
    • Leather strap
    • Tuner
    • Amp
    • Guitar pedal
    • New case
    • New pick
  • Piano or drums
    • Metronome
    • Electronic drum pads
    • Sheet music/sight reading book
    • Piano voicings book
    • Songbook
  • Tech-oriented
    • Bluetooth guitar jacks
    • MIDI controller
    • Pocket synth

A simple and practical gift idea for musicians are music instrument accessories, and are great stocking stuffers during the holiday season. For guitarists, this could include a capo, cables for an electric, new strings, a nice leather strap, or a tuner. If you have a bit more of a budget, you can look into getting them a nice amp or new guitar pedal. If you want give them a personalized gift that is also practical, you can get a case for their instrument with their name on it, or customize a new guitar pick.

For beginner pianists or drummers, a metronome is essential for keeping in time! Sheet music or a sight reading book is also a perfect gift for all musicians looking to learn new songs. Customize it to their liking: do you know that they love pop songs from the 80s? Find a songbook with a fun collection of songs they can add to their repertoire.

There are lots of instrument accessories that are more tech-oriented: Bluetooth guitar jacks, a MIDI controller, or why not a pocket synth like the Stylophone?

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2. Recording Equipment and Headphones

  • New microphone
  • Audio interface
  • Studio headphones
  • Studio monitor speakers
  • Mic arm
  • Mixing console

If they’re into recording their own music, new gear could be the perfect gift. Consider gifting them a microphone, audio interface, or studio headphones to enhance their recording setup or home studio. Maybe they are already producing music but need better studio monitor speakers to properly mix and master their tracks, or a microphone arm to attach to their desk! Recording equipment is one of the best gifts you can give a working musician who is producing their own work. To read about how to create the best budget home studio and the equipment you need, check out our article dedicated to the topic here.

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3. A DAW, Subscription Service, or Plug-Ins

  • DAW (Ableton, Logic, FL, Pro Tools, Cubase)
  • MasterClass
  • Splice subscription
  • VST plug-ins
  • Virtual instruments
  • Effects plug-ins (ex: Autotune)

For the budding music producer, gifting a DAW (digital audio workstation) or a subscription service is a huge help. The most popular programs include Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, FL Studio, and Steinberg Cubase. This type of gift can really spark their creativity and encourage them to translate their ideas to sound.

You can also get them a subscription service to online lessons like MasterClass, or an audio sample library like Splice. If they are already well-versed in using DAWs and could benefit from having an extra gadget, think about getting them that VST plug-in they’ve been wanting for so long! This could either be a virtual instrument or an effect plug-in used to enhance their music production.

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4. A Groover Gift Card to Ace their Music Promotion

Groover Gift Card 👇

  • Access to vast network
  • Opportunities for feedback on music, playlist placements, radio play, and even record deals

If they’re good to do with all things equipment, perhaps they could do with a gift that helps them after their music has been made. Give them a Groover gift card to get in touch with music industry professionals for feedback. It’s like gifting a whole network to your loved one!

Groover is a platform that helps budding artists make connections in the industry, get more streams through playlist and radio play, and build confidence in their music-making. For the USD equivalent of 2 Euros, an artist can pitch their music to an influencer of their choosing: media, labels, managers, publishers, and more.

They will get feedback within 7 days, and if they don’t, they get their credits back to send to someone else! Take your gift giving to the next level and check out the Groover gift card options here. You’ll see why it’s the perfect music gift for emerging artists looking to gain visibility.

Try Groover now

5. Music Books and Biographies

  • Artist memoirs
    • Just Kids by Patti Smith
    • Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein
    • Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon
  • Music history books
    • This Is Your Brain On Music by Daniel J. Levitin
  • History of a genre books
    • Can’t Stop Won’t Stop by Jeff Chang

Does your musician friend also love reading? As artists, we often can learn from each other and inspire one another. Grabbing one of their favorite artists’ biographies/memoirs or a music history book is a great idea – there is so much great literature out there about how today’s music scene came to be. Are they interested in how hip-hop started? Check out the book Can’t Stop Won’t Stop by Jeff Chang. Maybe they want more of a memoir about Rock n Roll? Check out Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein or Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon. For a more general overview from David Byrne’s perspective, check out How Music Works or This Is Your Brain On Music by Daniel J. Levitin. Books can make a great last minute gift, especially if you’re short on time.

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6. Festival and Concert Tickets

Hands down one of the best gift ideas for musicians and music lovers alike is tickets to a festival or concert. Instead of going through lists of gifts and gadgets, check out if any of their favorite artists are performing in their city or somewhere nearby. If the show requires a little travel, suggest to make a trip out of it! Show tickets are excellent gifts because of their diversity. No matter what genre your person is into, there is something for everyone. Symphonies, jazz shows, mosh pits, open mics, and world tours are happening year-round. This is a fool-proof gift for an anniversary, birthday, or Valentine’s day.

7. Sessions in a Recording Studio

For the musician who is ready to record their next track, think about giving them studio time in a recording studio! It can be expensive to record in a professional music studio when you’re starting out, so gifting a session is certainly practical and would be appreciated by all. Check out local music studios in your area and see what their rates are.

This gift can also be a great way for some music lovers to live out their dreams of singing in a studio. Let’s say your mom loves singing and mother’s day is just around the corner. She’s always wanted to record herself singing but never has had the opportunity or the time. Imagine her surprise when you give her 2 hours in a local studio with a sound engineer to record a track – talk about the coolest gift ever.

8. Home Decor: Framed Photographs or Instrument Mounts

  • Framed photograph of artist(s)
  • Wall mounts for instruments
  • Instrument rack for keyboards
  • Record collection organizer

Home decor as always a go-to option as a nice gift, so long as it’s not too cheesy. Music wall art of a framed photograph of your person’s favorite band or artist is a safe bet. Do they have an impressive guitar collection? Get them some wall mounts to put their instruments on display, or a rack to put their keyboards and consoles. Perhaps they need an organizer for their record collection. There are even recycled vinyls that have been turned into sculptures or bowls for every day items! If you’re sure of their tastes and know they’ll love it, go for it! These types of gift are great as housewarming presents, for example.

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9. Vinyls, a Turntable, or a Bluetooth Speaker

  • Vinyl records
  • Record player/turntable
    • Sampler
  • Collectible vinyl or physical music
  • Bluetooth speaker
  • Bluetooth headphones
  • Waterproof shower radio

Sometimes the best gift for a musicians is simple: music! Vinyls have made a comeback in a big way. If you want to get them a record player, there are options out there for all budgets. Some new turntables even have Bluetooth options so that they can connect their phone and play music easily. Your person may be into DJing – why not offer them a turntable that allows them to sample their favorite classics for their next track!

If your person has a turntable already, think about offering them a vinyl by an artist they love, or one you think they’d be happy to discover. Is there a special collectible vinyl that just came out as a remaster of their favorite album?

If they are someone who enjoys listening to music on the go, think about getting them a Bluetooth speaker or Bluetooth headphones. If you’re looking for more of a novelty or gag gift, why not a waterproof shower radio!

10. Group Gift: The Instrument of Their Dreams

For bigger budgets or a group looking to pitch in for one big present, it’s very possible that an instrument could be the gift of their dreams. Let’s face it, musical instruments can be expensive. With enough participants it’s more than doable to buy your friend a new Fender guitar or Roland keyboard. One amazing gift will be much more memorable than a few small tinker toys. The best gift ideas for musicians are usually ones they can use every day, inspiring them to keep doing what they do best.

11. Bonus: Gifts for Kids!

  • Maiasaura MAIA speaker
  • Playtronica Midi Controller Playtron
  • Notebook for songwriting
  • Karaoke machine
  • iPad/iPhone music production app

Is your young child, sibling, or cousin expressing a love for music? It can be difficult to find a gift that kids will be able to use, appreciate, and most of all, stay interested in. Fortunately, we’ve got some great ideas for kids that can also help in their development, attentiveness, and creativity! Our top choice for younger kids (including newborns) is the Maiasaura MAÏA speaker that offers an audio library of songs, stories, nursery rhymes, and lullabies. This will allow your kid to listen to music from around the world without being on a screen.

Another great gift that can spark creativity is the Playtronica Midi Controller Playtron. This is both a music and science-centric gift that lets you connect cables to any object and produce sound through touch. Parents will have to help connect the device to a computer or a phone, but then their child is free to grab anything (fruits, spoons, stuffed animals, etc) and let their hand movements do the rest!

For older kids and teens, they may enjoy a notebook to write songs, a karaoke machine to practice their vocal skills, or an iPad/iPhone app to start producing their own music!

We hope this gift guide has given you a better idea of what to put on your shopping list and how to pick the perfect holiday gift for your loved one. There are still a plethora of gift categories out there to explore. For a foodie, maybe a gourmet music-themed cake, instrument-shaped cutting board, or fun kitchenware could be the perfect gifts. For the stylish friend, why not some music-themes earrings, bracelets or a watch?

If you really want to offer the most unique gift possible, go with a handmade one – it is the most thoughtful and personal way to connect with someone.

Send your music to the best media, playlists and pros on Groover 👇

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