Music Gifts for Christmas: Best Ideas by Age and Budget

A musical gift is one of the few presents that can grow with someone for years. The hard part is choosing: which instrument, which size, and what else needs to be in the box so nothing is missing on Christmas morning. This page sorts the best music gifts we sell by age and by budget, then points you to a detailed guide for each kind of player. Every product named here is in stock at 2kool4skool.com.

Music gifts by age

For sizes, what's in each box and more picks at every age, read our full guide to musical Christmas gifts for kids by age.

Gifts for little kids, ages 3 to 5

Five drums, five sounds

Remo Kids 5-piece hand drum set

The Remo Kids hand drum set ($154.99) is five drums from 6 to 14 inches in a bright rainforest fabric finish. Small drums sound high and big drums sound low, so a child hears pitch just by moving across the set. Remo is one of the best-known drumhead makers in the world.

For a drum they can sit on, the Stagg Kid's Cajon ($114.99) is a wooden box drum sized for children, with a backrest and snare wires inside for a crisp "snap."

Gifts for kids, ages 5 to 11

The easiest first instrument

A soprano ukulele

A ukulele has four soft nylon strings, so the first chords take one or two fingers. Our Stagg soprano ukuleles ($59.99) come in Ocean Blue, Green Grass, Lemon Yellow, Lips Red and Violet Purple, each with a gig bag. Our ukulele buying guide explains the four sizes and covers every ukulele we carry.

For kids who want guitar

A 1/2 or 3/4-size guitar

Size matters more than anything with a child's guitar: a guitar that's too big is hard to hold and hard to play. As a rough guide, a 1/2-size fits ages 5 to 8 and a 3/4-size fits 8 to 11. Choose nylon strings, which are gentle on small fingertips. The Stagg SCL50 1/2-size is $110.99, and the Stagg 3/4 guitar pack ($135.99) adds a clip-on tuner and a bag with backpack straps. Not sure which size? Our kids' guitar size chart goes by age and height.

Gifts for teens

• An electric guitar: the Stagg SES-30 ($156.99) is a three-pickup "S" style with a paulownia body, in colors like Ice Blue.
• An amp for the bedroom: the battery-powered Laney Mini-STB-Lion ($149.99) is a guitar amp and a Bluetooth speaker in one, so they can play along with their favorite songs.
• A drum kit: the Premier Revolution five-piece kit ($749.99) is a complete kit. For quieter practice at home, the Premier low-volume cymbal pack ($92.99) cuts cymbal volume a lot.
• A school band instrument: starting band this year? Our school band instrument guide explains what to choose, and rent or buy does the math.

Gifts for adults who want to learn

The complete ukulele gift

Islander "Reforest Hawaii" concert ukulele pack

An adult who has always wanted to play something will often play a ukulele every day. The Islander "Reforest Hawaii" pack ($149.99) is a mahogany concert ukulele with a bag, a tuner and a cleaning cloth printed with a chord chart. Islander is the affordable line from Kanile'a, a ukulele maker in Hawaii.

• A guitar with everything: the Cort Earth Pack ($249) is a solid-spruce-top acoustic with a gig bag, clip-on tuner, strap and picks in a gift box.
• An instrument anyone can play: a kalimba, or thumb piano, makes a melody the moment you touch it. The Stagg 17-note electro-acoustic kalimba is $99.95.
• Something different: the Stagg bluegrass mandolin ($134.99) for folk and bluegrass fans.

Gifts for people who already play

If they already have an instrument, the best gift is something that makes playing more fun: a better sound, quieter practice, or a way to play with others. We have a full guide for each:

Music gifts by budget

Under $100

• A Stagg soprano ukulele with gig bag, $59.99
• A Stagg UC-30 concert ukulele, $86.99
• A drum throne for a drummer, $94.95
• A Premier low-volume cymbal pack, $92.99
• A Stagg electro-acoustic kalimba, $99.95

$100 to $200

• The Stagg 3/4 guitar pack, $135.99
• The Remo Kids hand drum set, $154.99
• The Islander ukulele gift pack, $149.99
• The Laney Mini-STB-Lion amp and speaker, $149.99
• A Stagg birch cajon, $148.99

$200 and up

• The Cort Earth acoustic guitar pack, $249
• The Islander solid mahogany soprano ukulele, $253.99
• The Laney Lionheart Bluetooth speaker, $339.99
• The Premier Revolution five-piece drum kit, $749.99

Stocking stuffers for musicians

Small things musicians use up or lose make great stocking stuffers, and they feel like a real present when you give two or three together. Ideas by player:

• Guitar players: a capo, a colorful cable and a pair of studio headphones. Our guitar gift guide lists our favorites.
• Drummers: light-up drumsticks, a cowbell and a stick bag. See the drummer gift guide.
• Anyone: a harmonica in the key of C. Our harmonica for beginners guide explains which one to choose.

How to choose a music gift

• Get the size right. For children, size matters more than brand. Height is a better guide than age.
• Buy the complete kit. Look for a gig bag, a tuner and, for electric instruments, a cable. Everything here says what comes in the box.
• Think about volume. Drums and electric guitars are loud. A headphone jack, low-volume cymbals or a small practice amp keeps the peace at home.
• When in doubt, a ukulele. It suits almost every age from 5 up, it's easy to start, and it's small enough to keep out where it gets played.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good musical gift for a child?

Hand drums for ages 3 to 5, a soprano ukulele or 1/2-size guitar for 5 to 8, and a 3/4-size guitar for 8 to 11. From about 12, full-size instruments fit, such as an electric guitar or a drum kit.

What is the easiest instrument to give a beginner?

A ukulele. It has four soft nylon strings, first chords use one or two fingers, and many beginners play a simple song in the first week. A kalimba is even easier: it plays a melody the moment you touch it.

What do you buy a musician who has everything?

Something that makes playing more fun: a looper pedal for a guitar player, low-volume cymbals for a drummer, a solid-wood ukulele for a uke player, or a USB microphone for recording at home.

What are good music gifts under $100?

A Stagg soprano or concert ukulele with gig bag, a Stagg kalimba, a drum throne, or a Premier low-volume cymbal pack.

What is a good gift for a band student?

Their own instrument, if they're renting one now. Our school band guide and rent-or-buy guide explain what to choose and what it costs.

When should I order music gifts for Christmas?

Order by December 15 for delivery before Christmas.