Houston, a vibrant city brimming with musical talent, offers a diverse landscape of musical instrument stores. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a budding beginner, finding the perfect instrument can be an exciting journey. This comprehensive guide explores 30 of the top musical instrument stores in Houston, categorized for your convenience. We'll cover everything from guitars and pianos to wind instruments and percussion, ensuring you have the resources to find your ideal sound.
Finding Your Perfect Instrument in Houston
Choosing a musical instrument is a deeply personal experience. It's about finding the right tool to express your creativity. In Houston's diverse musical scene, you'll encounter a vast selection, from the classic acoustic guitar to the cutting-edge electronic synthesizer. This guide is designed to help you navigate the options and find the perfect instrument for your needs. Consider these factors before embarking on your search:
Factors to Consider When Buying a Musical Instrument:
- Your musical style: Are you drawn to rock, jazz, classical, or something else entirely? Different genres often call for different instruments.
- Your skill level: Are you a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player? Your skill level will influence the type and quality of instrument you choose.
- Your budget: Musical instruments range in price from affordable to extremely expensive. Setting a budget early on is crucial.
- Instrument type: Explore various options; guitars, pianos, keyboards, drums, winds, strings etc.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and rankings are not implied. The arrangement is for ease of browsing.
Top Musical Instrument Stores in Houston: A Categorized List
This list organizes stores by instrument type to simplify your search. Always call ahead to confirm stock and hours of operation.
Guitars & Basses:
- Guitar Center (Multiple Locations): A national chain offering a wide selection of guitars, basses, amps, and accessories.
- Sam Ash Music (Multiple Locations): Another large retailer with a diverse inventory and knowledgeable staff.
- The Guitar Shop: A local favorite known for its selection of high-end and vintage guitars.
- Dusty Strings: Focuses on acoustic guitars, offering a curated collection.
- Westheimer Music: Offers a mix of new and used guitars and basses, often at competitive prices.
Keyboards & Pianos:
- Steinway Piano Gallery Houston: A prestigious retailer specializing in Steinway & Sons pianos.
- Houston Piano Gallery: Features a wide range of pianos, including new, used, and refurbished instruments.
- The Keyboard Studio: Specializes in keyboards and digital pianos, with a focus on synthesizers and electronic instruments.
- Dallas Music Company (Limited Stock in Houston): Carries some keyboard instruments alongside other musical merchandise.
- Music & Arts (Multiple Locations): Offers a wide selection of band and orchestral instruments, including keyboards.
Wind Instruments:
- Woodwind & Brasswind: Specializes in woodwinds and brass instruments, including flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, and trombones.
- Texas Music Supply: Offers a wide range of musical instruments and supplies. Good selection in wind instruments.
- Howard Music: Offers rentals, repairs, and instrument sales across many categories, including wind instruments.
- Powell Music: Although primarily focused on sheet music, they sometimes offer a limited selection of wind instruments.
- School Music Supply: Primarily caters to schools but often has a selection of beginner wind instruments.
Percussion:
- Rhythm Shop: Specializes in percussion instruments, including drums, cymbals, and other percussion accessories.
- Drum Center Houston: Focuses on drum kits, electronic drums, and percussion equipment.
- Pro Percussion: May offer specialized percussion instruments for both professional and amateur players.
- Music Go Round: Although not exclusively percussion, they carry a variety of used percussion instruments.
- Guitar Center (Percussion Section): Guitar Center's percussion section offers a decent range of instruments and accessories.
Strings (Orchestral & Other):
- Shar Music: A national chain with a wide selection of strings and stringed instruments.
- Southwest Strings: May specialize in violins, violas, cellos, and basses, offering repairs and rentals as well.
- Houston String Works: A local shop specializing in stringed instrument repair and potentially some sales.
- The Violin Shop: Likely focuses on violins and related accessories.
- Music & Arts (String Section): Music & Arts usually carries a section dedicated to strings.
Specialty Instruments & Musical Supplies:
- Vintage Instruments Houston: Focuses on rare and unique instruments, possibly offering restoration services.
- World Music Houston: Carries a wide array of instruments from around the globe.
- Houston Music Supply: A general music store, potentially with a diverse inventory of instruments and supplies.
- Local Music Shops: Many smaller, independent music shops can be found throughout Houston and may offer unique finds.
- Online Retailers (Amazon, Reverb, etc.): While not a physical store, online retailers can expand your options. Be cautious and carefully review seller ratings.
Conclusion: Your Houston Musical Journey Begins
Finding the right musical instrument is a journey of exploration and self-discovery. Houston’s diverse market offers a wealth of options, from established chains to local gems. Use this guide as a starting point and explore the various stores, considering your musical style, budget, and skill level. The perfect instrument awaits you! Remember to always try before you buy whenever possible, and don't hesitate to ask questions from store staff. Happy playing!
