Anything and everything about music in Los Angeles is going to be covered in full detail over the next few minutes. Of course this is a really broad topic but we will do our best to share as much info as possible while doing our best to not waste your time.
Getting things going will be a list of the best musical instrument stores in your area. There will even be separate lists for where to buy guitars and the top drum shops in town and while some may quibble about which store should go in which list we will do our best to get things sorted out for you.
Contents
Where to get a broken instrument repaired will follow that up. There are many repair companies that can tune a piano, repair a guitar, or work on all varieties of band instruments.
Once all the instrument talk is out of the way we will pivot to local music classes and lessons for kids or adults before moving on to stores for music lovers that sell vintage CD’s and records. You can find numerous places to be entertained at the best concert halls and live music venues near you.
Bars and restaurants with live music will get a shout out as well. A discussion about the Los Angeles music calendar wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some great festivals and events either.
At the end we will share a map to help you find these stores or venues, and you are all welcome to read more about the scene in some other towns around the region if interested.
Musical Instrument Stores In Los Angeles
The best musical instrument stores near you would be:
- Adam’s Music at 11742 W Pico Blvd
- RDG Woodwinds at 535 E Walnut St
- Caveman Vintage Music at 3231 N Main St
- International House of Music at 821 S Los Angeles St
- Sam Ash Music Stores at 7360 Sunset Blvd
- Future Music at 5112 York Blvd
- Gilmore Music Store at 1935 E 7th St, Long Beach
- Long Beach Woodwinds & Brass at 4420 E Village Rd, Long Beach
- Truetone Music at 714 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica
- Santa Monica Music Center at 1901 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica
Adam’s Music is a friendly local full-service music store in West Los Angeles selling and renting instruments as well as providing classes and maintenance.
RDG Woodwinds sells new and used high-quality oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and woodwind accessories for your next performance, rehearsal, or practice session.
For a resale shop that sells vintage musical instruments in your area aong with albums, guitars, and amps and provides repairs and lessons head to Caveman Vintage Music.
The International House of Music in LA sells a wide range of musical instruments such as guitars, drums, audio equipment, and used gear.
A well-known retailer of musical instruments as well as DJ, lighting, and recording equipment is Sam Ash Music.
Gilmore Music Store has musical instruments, rehearsal space, a recording studio, music lessons, event space, and equipment.
Long Beach Woodwinds & Brass rent all new and used woodwind and brass instruments and also offer repair service and music lessons.
For assistance in selecting a guitar, bass, pedal, amp, or pedal board visit Truetone Music.
Santa Monica Music Center sells various instruments like guitar, pianos, drums, and more.
Where To Buy Guitars
If you are specifically trying to buy a guitar or guitar accessories check out:
- Ventura Music at 11268 Ventura Blvd
- Guitar Center at 10831 W Pico Blvd
- Quarter Panel Guitar at 235 E Broadway 8th fl, Long Beach
Guitar Center carries a large selection of amps, drums, keyboards, recording equipment, DJ equipment, lighting, and other instruments from top brands such as Fender, Gibson, and others.
Bespoke guitars and basses as well as set-ups, light repairs, and parts installations go down at Quarter Panel Guitar in Long Beach.
We mentioned Adam’s Music, Caveman Vintage Music, International House of Music, and Truetone Music in the best Los Angeles music stores list but they are also a great place to buy guitars.
Drum Shops Near You
And for the best drum shops visit:
- Professional Drum Shop at 854 Vine St
- Sam Ash Drum Shop at 7401 Sunset Blvd
- Motherland Music at 601 N Eucalyptus Ave
The Professional Drum Shop is a one-stop percussion shop offering everything from drum kits to cymbal stands as well as all of the instruments, parts, and hardware that you desire.
Motherland is an instrument store that specializes in African drums and various percussion accessories as well as repairs.
Other great places to buy drums near you are Caveman Vintage Music, Santa Monica Music Center, and International House of Music who we have linked you to in other sections.
Instrument Repairs
You can get quality instrument repair services in Los Angeles at:
- Nomadic Guitar Repairs & Lessons at 2575 N San Fernando Rd
- Patt’s Guitar Repair & Instrument Conservation at 10536 Culver Blvd #M
- Mikaleno’s Guitar Repair at 440 N Coronado St
- Mory’s Musical Instrument Repair at 21919 Sherman Way, Canoga Park
Nomadic Guitar is your one-stop shop for everything musical including high-quality guitar repairs and music instruction.
Routine maintenance for electric and acoustic guitars as well as extensive high-end restoration and conservation of historical instruments is what you can expect from Patt’s Guitar Repair and Instrument Conservation.
Mikaleno’s Guitar Repair is committed to offering high-quality service, quick turnaround times, and consistent customer satisfaction including fret leveling and dressing and wiring difficulties as well as neck, bridge, nut, and tremolo adjustments.
Mory is a skilled artist who repairs woodwind and brasswind instruments in Los Angeles including the flute, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and clarinet.
Other places we have mentioned throughout the post that also offer local instrument repair include Caveman Vintage Music and Quarter Panel Guitar.
Music Lessons
Taking music lessons at these schools can level up your game in a hurry:
- Westminster Arts Academy at 14441 Beach Blvd #100
- Tiffany Music Academy at 3272 Motor Ave D
- Rhodes School of Music at 215 N Larchmont Blvd #C
- Hollywood Academy of Music & Arts at 7469 Melrose Ave #34
- The Rok Music Academy at 5465 E Carson St, Long Beach
- On Stage Music Academy at 2221 Palo Verde Ave Suits H&I, Long Beach
- Music Maker at 5701 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd J, Anaheim
- Green Brooms Music Academy at 1445 6th St, Santa Monica
- Santa Monica Academy of Music at 2414 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica
Westminster Arts Academy teaches piano, guitar, bass, drums, violin, cello, voice, saxophone, flute, clarinet, accordion, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and other popular instruments plus they offer dance lessons in styles such as pop-ballet, hip-hop, jazz, ballet folklorico, and more.
Local lessons in piano, guitar, drums, voice, ukulele, violin, voice, bass, songwriting, keyboard, and other instruments can be taken with Tiffany Music Academy.
The Hollywood Academy of Music and Arts in LA offers high-quality low-cost music lessons and performing arts classes in a professional studio setting to both children and adults.
Various opportunities for music education including private lessons, group lessons, and more are available with On Stage Music Academy.
The Rok Music Academy in Long Beach provides music training with lessons in guitar, bass, drums, singing, piano, recording, audio engineering, and more.
If you visit Music Maker in Anaheim you can work with hard-to-find print music including the latest pop and country hits as well as classical, jazz, and standard collections for all instruments and all levels.
There are online music lessons available with Green Broom Music Academy for the piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, drums and percussions, cello, voice, violin and viola, brass, and woodwinds.
Santa Monica Academy of Music offers one-on-one instruction in piano, guitar, voice, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, ukulele, electric bass guitar, music theory, and composition.
Other places we have mentioned throughout the post that also offer music lessons include Adam’s Music, Caveman Vintage Music, Gilmore Music Store, and Nomadic Guitar.
CD & Record Stores
Some of our favorite stores for local music lovers with lots of vintage CD’s and records are:
- The Record Parlour at 6408 Selma Ave
- Record Surplus at 12436 Santa Monica Blvd
- High Fidelity Records at 4765 W Adams Blvd
- Rockaway Records at 2395 Glendale Blvd
- Jacknife Records & Tapes at 3149 Glendale Blvd
- Permanent Records at 1906 Cypress Ave
- Dudley’s Records Vintage Vinyl at 3914 Sepulveda Blvd
- Going Underground Records at 356 1/2 E 2nd St
- Bagatelle Records at 260 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach
- Retro Stereo at 1345 Coronado Ave, Long Beach
Record Surplus buys and sells used vinyl records in Los Angeles along with CD’s, DVD’s, cassettes, books, and collectibles from all genres of music.
If you are searching for a popular music store that sells new and used records, hi-fi audio equipment, and memorabilia head to High Fidelity Records.
Rockaway Records is a global buyer, seller, and trader of valuable vinyl records, CD’s, autographs, and music memorabilia.
Jacknife Records is a laid-back local music store that sells new, used, and rare vinyl records as well as CD’s, cassettes, vintage clothes, and posters.
New, used, and local music as well as live performances by musicians can be found at Permanent Records.
Going Underground Records is a great place to buy new and used vinyl LP’s, 45’s, cassette tapes, and other items from all genres and eras.
Bagatelle Records in Long Beach is where you can find quality products at an affordable price and new merchandise is added frequently so that customers keep coming back.
Curated, collectible, vintage music, gear, sunglasses, film cameras, and more are all available at Retro Stereo.
Live Music Venues
These Los Angeles live music venues are great places to see a concert or performance:
- The Echo at 1822 Sunset Blvd
- Resident at 428 S Hewitt St
- El Rey Theatre at 5515 Wilshire Blvd
- The Sayers Club at 1645 Wilcox Ave
- 1720 at 1720 E 16th St
- Regent Theater at 448 S Main St
- Ovation at 350 Pine Ave, Long Beach
- Shannon’s At The Top at 105 W Broadway, Long Beach
- House of Blues at 400 Disney Way #337, Anaheim
- TR!P Santa Monica at 2101 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica
The Echo is an American music venue and nightclub known for their punk rock events which draw huge lines of fans.
Resident is a hip industrial-chic hangout featuring outdoor seating, craft cocktails, draft beers, DJ’s, and some of the best live music in LA.
For an original art deco theater with sweeping staircases, an art deco lobby, a VIP balcony club, and a big ballroom with a full stage check out The El Rey Theatre.
1720 is a state of the art live music, concert, and event venue located in the Fashion district of Los Angeles.
A vintage 1914 cinema that has been restored as an indie concert hall and performance space complete with a bar and pizzeria is what you get from The Regent Theater.
House of Blues celebrates blues history through live music, art, and cuisine in Anaheim.
Restaurants With Live Music
Have a nice meal and enjoy good music at these restaurants:
- Pips On Labrea at 1356 South La Brea Ave
- Colombo’s Italian Steakhouse & Jazz Club at 1833 Colorado Blvd
- Perch at 448 S Hill St
- The Dresden Restaurant & Lounge at 1760 N Vermont Ave
- Bandera at 3419 San Pedro St
- Guelaguetza Restaurante at 3014 W Olympic Blvd
- Casa Sanchez at 4500 S Centinela Ave
The recently rebuilt Pips on Labrea impresses local foodies and music lovers with a wine bar and restaurant serving pizza, spaghetti, and salads as well as live jazz weekly on the patio.
A family-owned Italian steakhouse and jazz club is what you get from Colombo’s which has been servicing the neighborhood since 1954 with live jazz most evenings.
The Dresden Restaurant & Lounge has been an iconic family-owned Hollywood landmark for seven decades serving skillfully crafted classic and artisan cocktails, high-end bar food, and live entertainment nightly in an intimate yet casual ambiance.
Bars With Live Music In Los Angeles
Plus there are bars that play live music too:
- The Escondite at 410 Boyd St
- Hotel Cafe at 1623 N Cahuenga Blvd
- The Love Song Bar at 450 S Main St
- Harvard & Stone at 5221 Hollywood Blvd
- Sam First at 6171 W Century Blvd #180
- Alex’s Bar at 2913 E Anaheim St, Long Beach
- Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen at 1590 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim
The Escondite is a cozy atmospheric bar with excellent eats, booze, live music, and views of the Downtown Los Angeles cityscape.
The Love Song Bar is a cozy lounge where you can enjoy unique cocktails and live music in a subdued setting with unusual design.
For a buzzy bar with a factory-like ambiance that serves innovative cocktails and occasional burlesque shows visit Harvard and Stone.
Sam First is a stylish establishment that offers live jazz as well as local beer, wine, house cocktails, and appetizers.
If you are trying to find a fun spot to enjoy to live music in Long Beach head to Alex’s Bar.
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen is a great place to enjoy tasty food with live music in Anaheim.
Music Festivals
The Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival is an annual music festival held over two weekends in Indio just east of Palm Springs. Each year the Coachella lineup manages to mix familiar music festival headliners, out-of-left-field reunions, and under-the-radar buzz acts.
You may also be interested in our posts about:
- Restaurants & Bars With Music In San Diego
- Restaurants & Bars With Music In Riverside & San Bernardino
- Restaurants & Bars With Music In Las Vegas
- Restaurants & Bars With Music In Phoenix
Enjoy The Los Angeles Local Music Scene
Well guys, we tried cover as much as we possibly could. You read about the best musical instrument stores, drum and guitar shops, instrument repair services, where to go for lessons, vintage CD and record stores, concert halls and other live music venues like bars and restaurants, plus the best festivals near you.
Anyone that is still here probably knows bit about the local music scene themselves. If so feel free to tell us if we got anything incorrect, if we left any cool spots out, or just share your own thoughts in the comments at the end of the post. Now go have fun enjoying the music in Los Angeles.