Get in tune at these music shops in Calgary
Whether you’re looking for the latest Gibson guitar, a sweet vintage drum set or cables and microphones, Calgary’s music stores carry loads of gear for both hobbyists and professional musicians. While some stores specialize in new instruments and accessories, amps and stage equipment, others carry vintage instruments as well as songbooks, sheet music and more.
Music Centre Canada
6425 Bowness Rd NW, Calgary, AB T3B 0E6A go-to shop for beginner musicians, Music Centre Canada has a great selection of budget-friendly starter gear, and its knowledgeable staff will help you find the best instruments and equipment for your experience level and budget. Lessons are available for drums, guitar, bass, piano, voice and more. If you want to try your hand at recording music or need a new space to record in, Music Centre Canada also offers recording services featuring hourly and project-specific rates.
Saks Music Alberta Ltd
10206 Macleod Trail Se, Calgary, AB T2J 0P8This long-established Calgary music shop carries the city’s largest selection of sheet music and method books. If the sheet music you want is not in stock, Saks can special order it for you with pick-up available within two weeks. The store also features a selection of musical accessories and instruments including guitars, drum sets, flutes, keyboards and more. Rent-to-own packages are available for most instruments.
St John's Music
14-700 58th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2H 2E2Featuring eight locations across Canada, St. John’s Music has been around for more than 90 years. The shop carries a very extensive selection of instruments for sale and rent. These include guitars and pianos as well as brass and woodwind instruments. The shop is a favourite among teachers and music educators, as it carries classroom and curriculum resources like egg shakers, bells, maracas, hand drums and more. Recorders, ukuleles and hand bells are also available.
Guitarworks Inc
610-261055 Crossiron Blvd, Rocky View County, AB T4A 0G3This guitar-centric Calgary shop has four locations including one at CrossIron Mills. The store carries the top acoustic, electric and bass guitar brands including Gibson, Fender, Collings, Martin and more. Pedals, cords and various accessories are also available. Want to learn to play the guitar or hone your skills? Guitarworks music classes include half-hour private guitar lessons.
Vintage Music 88 Ltd
2114 14 St NW, Calgary, AB T2M 3N5Located on 14th Street Northwest in Mount Pleasant, Vintage Music has Calgary’s largest selection of vintage instruments. The store specializes in guitars, amps and pedals, but drum kits and other music accessories are also available. The shop also purchases vintage instruments, and trade-ins are also welcome.
Axe Music
4114 MacLeod Trail SE, Calgary, AB T2G 2R7Featuring several locations across Alberta as well as an extensive online store, Axe Music is the go-to spot for new instruments and musical equipment. The music mega-store carries guitars, drums, DJ equipment and keyboards. Live performance equipment including microphones is also available as well as recording gear and studio equipment. Axe also carries karaoke equipment for those of us who aren’t yet ready to take our acts on tour.
Long & McQuade Musical Instruments
225 58th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2H 0N8With numerous locations across the country, Long & McQuade is also Canada’s biggest online music store. It carries the latest releases in keyboards, guitars, drums and orchestral instruments, as well as software and recording technologies. Long & McQuade also offers guitar and bass lessons as well as, brass and woodwinds, percussion and voice classes. Instrument and gear rentals are also available. The shop also offers many in-store special events including musician meet-and-greets, free instrument clinics and industry information sessions.
Total Music Centre
3515 17 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2A 0R5Founded by music industry veterans Tom Jarvie and Terry Knock, Total Music Centre specializes in new and used musical equipment. The store carries hard-to-find instruments such as pan flutes, jaw harps, harmonicas and more. If the shop doesn’t stock the instrument or musical accessory you’re looking for, they will order it in for you. Total Music Centre also services and repairs all instruments.
One World Drum Co
A specialty music store and go-to shop for djembe hand drums, One World Drum Co. carries a large selection of hand drums and other international instruments such as didgeridoos, rain sticks, ashikos, ocean drums and more. One World offers weekly Saturday-night drum circles and evening drum lessons throughout the week. The shop also carries instructional DVDs and CDs.
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