WikiCompare live prices on Export Nola A New Orleans Music Experience across Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, and partner merchants. Music gear covers instruments, recording, speakers, headphones, and accessories. For instruments, Sweetwater is the consensus best — every guitar is hand-inspected before shipping. Guitar Center, Reverb, and Musician's Friend are alternatives. For recording: a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface + Shure SM7B or SM58 microphone + a pair of studio monitors (KRK Rokit, Yamaha HS5) covers home recording for any genre. Headphones for mixing: AKG K371 ($150) or Sennheiser HD 560S ($200) — flat, neutral, accurate. Avoid Beats and Bose for monitoring — they color the sound for casual listening, which is the opposite of what you want for mixing. Click any card to open the seller's product page; we earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions about Export Nola A New Orleans Music Experience
Where to buy instruments online?
Sweetwater (the consensus best — every guitar hand-inspected before shipping). Reverb (used + new from individual sellers, like eBay for music). Guitar Center (in-store experience + online). Musician's Friend. For high-end: B&H Photo, Vintage King. Always check Sweetwater first for new — the personal sales rep adds real value.
What's the best beginner musical instrument?
Acoustic guitar (Yamaha FG800, $230 — best $/quality ratio for any beginner instrument). Ukulele ($60-120, lowest learning curve). Keyboard (Yamaha P-45, $500 — for piano). Cajón ($100, easiest percussion to start). Skip drum kits for true beginners (loud + expensive); start with electronic kit ($400+) or hand drums.
How much should I spend on my first instrument?
Enough to get a quality instrument that won't fight you. Guitar: $200-500 (anything cheaper has bad action and won't stay in tune). Piano/keyboard: $500-800. Violin: $250-500 (rentals start at $20/month). Drum: $400-800 (electronic) or $600+ (acoustic). Cheap instruments make practice frustrating — beginners quit because the instrument fights them.
Acoustic vs electric guitar — which should I start with?
Acoustic — simpler setup (no amp, no cables), portable, develops finger strength faster, broader use cases. Electric — easier on fingers initially (lower string action), more genres possible, requires amp + cables. Most teachers recommend acoustic first; electric second. Beginners with rock/metal interest: electric is fine to start.
Are music subscriptions worth it for musicians?
Yes for learning — JustinGuitar.com (free), Yousician ($150/yr — for guitar/piano), Pianote (piano), Drumeo (drums) — structured curriculum better than YouTube alone. Splice ($10-30/mo) for producers + beat makers. Soundtrap or BandLab (free) for DAW. Most amateur musicians benefit more from one quality subscription than dozens of YouTube videos.
How often should I tune my guitar?
Every time you play. Acoustic guitars hold tune longer than electric. New strings need re-tuning frequently for first 2-3 days. Temperature + humidity changes detune guitars. Quality tuner (Snark Clip-On, $15 or Boss TU-3 pedal, $100) is essential. Most beginners give up because they play out of tune — fix this first.