WikiCompare live prices on music across Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, AliExpress, and curated Awin 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 music
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.