Gifts for Musicians and Music Lovers: Christmas Ideas

Musicians are hard to shop for because they already own their main instrument. The best gifts sit around it: something new to play, a better way to listen or record, or a reminder of the gear they love. This guide covers all three, and every item is in stock and ready to ship.

Gifts at a glance

For music lovers who don't play (yet)

Our top pick for non-players

Stagg kalimba: music from the first touch

A kalimba, or thumb piano, is a small wooden box with metal keys you pluck with your thumbs. It comes from Africa, and every key is tuned to a C major scale, so there are no wrong notes. Pluck any keys and it sounds like a music box. That makes it a perfect gift for someone who loves music but has never played.

The Stagg 17-key mahogany kalimba ($99.95) has a resonating box with sound holes front and back, a jack to plug into an amp, and comes with a protective bag, a tuning hammer and key stickers that label each note. The 21-key zebrawood kalimba ($87.99) has a wider range, a palm rest and a built-in pickup, and the clear crystal kalimba ($99.95) looks striking on a shelf.

Why people love it

• Sounds beautiful with no lessons
• Small enough to keep on a desk
• Note stickers and tuning hammer included

Good to know

• Plays one key (C major) by design; that's what makes it easy

For listening

A speaker that looks like an amp

Laney Bluetooth speakers

Laney has built guitar amps in England since the 1960s, and its Bluetooth speakers borrow the look of its classic amps. The Laney F67 Lionheart ($339.99) has a rechargeable battery rated for 20+ hours of playtime and an onboard EQ to shape the bass, mids and highs. The F67 Supergroup ($339.99) is the same speaker in Laney's Supergroup styling.

For players and listeners

Guitar amps that are also speakers

For a guitarist, a small amp with Bluetooth does both jobs: play guitar along with a song streamed from a phone. The Laney Ministack-Lion ($179.99) looks like a miniature amp stack, runs on six AA batteries, and has clean and drive channels, a delay effect and a headphone jack. The smaller Mini-STB-Lion is $149.99. More ideas in our gifts for guitar players guide.

For home recording and singing

Plug in and record

Stagg USB microphones

A USB microphone plugs straight into a computer, with no extra equipment and no drivers to install on Windows or Mac. The Stagg USB microphone set ($113.99) comes with a stand, shock mount, pop filter and USB cable, ready for vocals, instruments and podcasts. The Stagg SUSM60D ($99.95) is a large-diaphragm condenser mic that records at up to 96 kHz and switches between two pickup patterns: cardioid for one voice, omnidirectional for a room or a group.

For pianists and readers

Stagg LED piano lamp and a music stand

The Stagg LED piano lamp ($101.99) lights sheet music with 15 LEDs and a swiveling shade, has two brightness settings, and runs on its included power adapter or on AA batteries. Pair it with a folding music stand ($29.95) for practice anywhere in the house.

A new instrument for a player

Many musicians love learning a second instrument, and these are natural next steps for a guitarist.

• Mandolin: the Stagg M20 bluegrass mandolin ($134.99) in violinburst, with an adjustable bridge and "F" sound holes. For more, the Stagg M40 with a solid spruce top is $193.99.
• Banjo: the J.N Guitars Moon S5 ($269.99) is a five-string open-back banjo with a satin natural finish, ideal for folk and old-time music.
• Autoharp: the Oscar Schmidt OS21C 21-chord autoharp ($499) is a classic first autoharp. Press a chord bar and strum, and it plays the chord for you, so singers can accompany themselves right away.
• Silent violin: the Stagg electric violin set ($233.99) plays quietly through headphones, which are included with a soft case, so a violinist can practice at any hour.

For the gear fan: shirts, mugs and posters

Some music lovers know the famous machines behind their favorite records by sight. We print shirts, mugs, posters and phone cases of classic gear:

• Drum machines and synths: the Roland TR-808 T-shirt ($29.95), the drum machine behind early hip-hop, electro, house and techno, plus a TR-808 mug ($15.95) and poster. Also the Moog logo shirt and Casio SK-1 shirt.
• Guitar pedals: the vintage Boss pedal collection poster ($19.95) shows five classics in one print, from 12×16 up to 24×36 inches. There's also a Big Muff poster and a Fuzz Face mug.
• Classic rock radio: shirts for KROQ, KLOS and 91X San Diego, for anyone who grew up with Southern California rock radio.

Order these early. Each one is made to order and ships from a US print facility, so allow a few extra days before Christmas.

Buying for a musician when you don't know their gear

• Ask what they play, not what they want. A guitarist, a pianist and a singer each need different things. Once you know the instrument, our guitar and drummer gift guides go deeper.
• Pick something new to play. Players rarely buy themselves a second instrument. A kalimba, harmonica set or ukulele is a fun side project that won't duplicate anything they own.
• Think about where they play. Apartment players love anything that keeps practice quiet: headphones, a silent violin, or an amp with a headphone jack.
• Help them share their music. A USB microphone turns a laptop into a home studio for recording songs, lessons or a podcast.
• When in doubt, go with the gear they love. A shirt or poster of a famous synth, drum machine or pedal is a gift every gear fan understands, and it never needs batteries.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good gift for a music lover who doesn't play an instrument?

A kalimba. Every key is tuned to the same scale, so anything you pluck sounds good, and it needs no lessons. A Bluetooth speaker or a shirt of a famous drum machine are good picks too.

What do you get a musician who has everything?

A second instrument, such as a mandolin, banjo or kalimba; better recording gear, like a USB microphone; or something for their practice space, like an LED piano lamp or studio headphones.

What is the easiest instrument to learn as an adult?

The kalimba, harmonica and ukulele are the quickest to enjoy. The kalimba and harmonica play in one key, so it's hard to hit a wrong note, and the ukulele has just four soft nylon strings.

Is a USB microphone good for recording music?

Yes, for vocals, acoustic instruments and podcasts. It plugs straight into a computer with no extra equipment. The Stagg SUSM60D records at up to 96 kHz and can switch to omnidirectional to capture a whole room.

Are your gear T-shirts and posters in stock?

They're printed to order and shipped from a US print facility, so they're always available. Allow a few extra days for printing before Christmas.