If you are searching for info on the local music scene in Pittsburgh you have definitely found the right post. The best musical instrument stores in your area seem like the logical place for us to begin.
There will also be some different sections for where to buy guitars and the best drum shops will also be shared. While there is plenty of crossover between some lists we think we got the right spots in the right sections for you.
Contents
Up next we will get into quality instrument repair shops near you because some reading this may need a piano tuned, a guitar repaired, or work done on other band instruments and there is somebody out there that can assist.
Then it will be time to pivot to the best music lessons for kids or adults. Following that we will give a shout out to the top stores for music lovers that sell vintage CD’s and records here.
We also think many of you will want to know about the best concert halls and live music venues while some others may prefer to visit bars and restaurants that have free live music around the city.
And we will get you out of here with the best festivals on the Pittsburgh music calendar. Stay with us til the end where you will find a map with the wide variety of stores and venues we are discussing pointed out.
Everyone reading this is welcome to look through more of our city guides for the Northeast at that link.
Pittsburgh Musical Instrument Stores
Some of the best musical instrument stores near you would be:
- Brighton Music Center at 2110 Babcock Blvd #1
- Phillip Injeian Violin Shop at 821 Penn Ave
- Hollowood Music & Sound at 601 Chartiers Ave
- N Stuff Music at 468 Freeport Rd
Brighton Music Center offers guitars, amplifiers, drums, percussions, keyboards, microphones, band instrument rentals, and sheet music in your area as well as brass, woodwind, orchestra, percussion, guitar, bass, ukulele, and voice lessons.
For decades Phillip Injeian Violin Shop has been providing musicians with some of the finest custom built instruments and has attracted hundreds of string players from all over the world.
You can find acoustic and electric guitars, drums, keyboards, and other musical instruments and even take classes at Hollowood Music and Sound which opened in 1965.
N Stuff Music is your one stop local shop for instruments, lessons, rental, and repair needs. They have provided musicians, DJ’s, and producers with equipment for writing, recording, and performing music.
Where To Buy Guitars
For all the guitars and accessories you need check out:
- Pittsburgh Guitars at 1305 E Carson St
- Acoustic Music Works at 2142 Murray Ave
- Empire Music at 719 Washington Rd
- Guitar Center at 1020 Park Manor Blvd
Pittsburgh Guitars is a locally owned store providing a wide selection of vintage, used, and new guitars, basses, and amplifiers as well as a variety of other stringed instruments and accessories.
Acoustic Music Works has a showroom featuring handcrafted acoustic guitars, banjos, mandolins, and ukuleles from brands such as Collings, Bourgeois, Huss and Dalton, Eastman, McPherson, Maton, Beard, National Resophonic, Northfield, Stiver, Stelling, Bishline, OME, Pisgah, Chuck Lee, Dogwood, Kopp, Baleno, Pleinview, Lanikai, Troublesome Creek, Hohner, Calton, Crossrock, and Reunion Blues.
Electric guitars from Casteodosa, Charvel, Dean, Epiphone, Fender, and more as well as acoustic guitars from Gisbon, Taylor, Squeir, and Open Box are available at Empire Music.
The Guitar Center near you is home to one of the largest selections of popular guitars, basses, amplifiers, keyboards, workstations, drums, percussions, microphones, PA systems, DJ equipment, stage lighting, recording software, studio gear, and more.
Other places that we have mentioned in other lists that sell guitars include Brighton Music Center, Hollowood Music and Sound, and N Stuff Music.
Drum Shops Near You
And then there are these drum shops too:
- Pittsburgh Drum Exchange at 601 Chartiers Ave
- Drum Factory at 304 Four Mile Run Rd
A wide range of DFD custom models, parts, and accessories are offered along with instruments from other brands at Drum Factory.
Earlier we linked you to Brighton Music Center, Hollowood Music and Sound, and N Stuff Music but we also need to mention them here as they are also some of the best drum shops in your area.
Instrument Repairs
Instrument repairs in Pittsburgh are available at:
- Hollis & Germann Music at 4136 Library Rd
- Backstage Guitars at 5401 Butler St #200
- Carnegie Accordion Company at 115 E Main S
- Volkwein’s Music at 138 Industry Dr
Hollis and Germann Music is known to be one of Pittsburgh’s premiere brass and woodwind repair specialists. They buy and sell used instruments and accessories while also providing woodwind and installation tuning services.
Some of Carnegie Accordion Company’s repair services include sticking treble keys, sticking or bent bass buttons, broken or loose reed replacement, air leaks, bellows gasket replacement, bellows frame removal and bellows replacement, keyboard and bass machine cleaning, custom coloring, and installations for mic systems, chest pads, bass straps, and more.
You can also buy high quality instruments at Volkwein’s Music which also offers local rentals and repairs for percussions, woodwinds, and brass.
Music Lessons
Level up by taking lessons at a music school in your area:
- Sunburst School of Music at 5843 Forbes Ave #201
- School of Rock at 4100 Library Rd
- Pittsburgh Music Academy at 1146 Greentree Rd
- Kathy’s Music at 300 Mt Lebanon Blvd#2235
Sunburst School of Music features an in house stage for open mic nights, concerts, and seasonal student recitals. They are known for teaching music production along with brass, guitar, violin, ukulele, bass, and voice lessons.
School of Rock has programs that combine one on one lessons with group band rehearsals and students can even put on live performances at venues around the region.
You can also take comprehensive violin, cello, flute, guitar, and piano lessons at Pittsburgh Music Academy. Hollowood Music and Sound and N Stuff Music from our top list also offer music lessons near you.
CD & Record Stores
Check out all kinds of vintage CD’s and records at these local stores for music lovers:
- Jerry’s Records at 2136 Murray Ave
- Attic Record Store at 513 Grant Ave
- Get Hip Records at 1800 Columbus Ave
- The Government Center at 519 E Ohio St
- Pleasant Dreams Records at 3138 Dobson St
Jerry’s Records has nearly 1 million albums in every genre including rock, pop, metal, soul, R&B, disco, funk, jazz, big band, classical, country, international, and plenty more. They buy record collections from estates, radio stations, out of business stores, and folks advancing to digital.
If you’re looking for hot new releases or a dusty classic Attic Record Store features diverse collections of all genres and sizes.
Over 20,000 titles in garage, punk, soul, pop, doo wop, and good old rock n’ roll are available at Get Hip Records. Whether you have a large collection or just a few collectibles or common records like rock, soul, and jazz The Government Center will pay you a fair price in cash or trade.
Pittsburgh Live Music Venues
Seeing a concert at Pittsburgh live music venues is always a good time:
- Thunderbird Café & Music Hall at 4023 Butler St
- Stage AE at 400 N Shore Dr
- Cattivo at 146 44th St
- Roxian Theatre at 425 Chartiers Ave
Thunderbird Café and Music Hall is a bi level live music venue that features local bands and is popular for its black sheep barbecue and craft brews.
State of the art lighting, acoustical systems, indoor concert hall, and an outdoor amphitheater can all be found at Stage AE. Cake and Anberlin, George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, Wiz Khalifa, The Clarks, and many other artists have all performed there.
There are pool tables, darts, pinball, and an online jukebox at Cattivo where they also host countless acts in acoustic, indie rock, jam, reggae, punk, metal, electronic, brass, and more.
Roxian Theatre provides great musical entertainment in your area including full service event production, state of the art lighting and sound, custom menus and mixology, and more and can even accommodate up to 1,400 guests.
Fun Restaurants With Entertainment
You can take a date or a group of friends to these restaurants with live music:
- Cioppino at 2350 Railroad St
- Olive Or Twist at 140 6th St
- Mullaney’s Harp & Fiddle at 2329 Penn Ave
- Wallace’s Whiskey Room & Kitchen at 123 N Highland Ave
- Revel at 242 Forbes Ave
Whether you are out for a night on the town or heading to Heinz Field or PNC Park for the game Olive or Twist is your weekend getaway for live music, great cocktails, beers, wines, and scratch made food.
Major events such as weddings, baptisms, wakes, birthdays, business celebrations, and reunions are hosted at Mullaney’s Harp and Fiddle as well as occasional live music.
Bars With Live Music
There are also some bars that play live music around town:
- Howl at the Moon Pittsburgh at 125 7th St
- Smiling Moose at 1306 E Carson St
- Gooski’s at 3117 Brereton St
You can watch regular live music shows near you at Howl at the Moon where they also host birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, corporate events, private gatherings, and plenty more.
There’s live music, comedy, and other entertainment at Smiling Mouse. Gooski’s is a dark old school hangout offering imported beer, patrons, cocktails, pierogi, wings, and other bar bites along with live music and a jukebox.
Music Festivals
Have as much fun as you can at one of these music festivals near you:
- Millvale Music Festival in August
- Phillter International Music Festival in October
In the past we have also written a:
- Local Music Guide For Philly
- Local Music Guide For Cleveland
- Local Music Guide For Columbus
- Local Music Guide For Washington DC
Enjoy The Pittsburgh Local Music Scene
We tried to cover everything as quickly and as well as possible for you on this page. After reading about the best musical instrument stores, drum and guitar shops, instrument repair services, classes and lessons, vintage CD and record stores, concert halls and other live music venues near you like bars and restaurants, and the best festivals in the region you should have a much better understanding of what is available.
And anyone that made it this far might just know a little bit about what is available here and if so feel free to tell us what we got wrong in the comments or share your own thoughts. Now it is time for you to go enjoy the music in Pittsburgh.