If you are looking for a full breakdown of the local music scene in San Antonio you are in the right place. The best instrument stores in your area including some different sections for where to buy guitars and the best drum shops in town will also be covered.
There will definitely be a lot of crossover between some lists but we have done our best to get the right spots in the right sections for you. 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.
Contents
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 San Antonio 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 blogs on the Midwest at that link.
San Antonio Musical Instrument Stores
Some of the best musical instrument stores near you would be:
- Alamo Music Center at 1530 Babcock Rd
- High School Music Service at 5535 W Loop 1604 N #103
- New Braunfels Music at 1028 I-35BL, New Braunfels
- 3D Music at 1291 Common St, New Braunfels
- Jams Music at 118 S L B J Dr, San Marcos
Alamo Music Center is a qualified full-service center for many of the brands musicians in your area rely on offering complete overhauls and more for brass, woodwind, piano, guitars, and orchestral instruments.
Band and orchestra instruments are sold at High School Music Service as well as steel-string, classical, and electric guitars, basses, drum kits, cymbals, hardware, hand percussion, amplifiers, speakers, mixers, strings, cables, and picks.
New Braunfels Music provides band and orchestra instrument rentals and accessories ranging from soprano to baritone and everything in between as well as new and used saxophones, flutes, and clarinets for rent plus repair services are available.
For a local music store dedicated to carrying high-quality new and used band instruments from Yamaha, Bach, Buffet, and many more brands as well as guitars, basses, drums, and live sound products from major brands visit 3D Music.
Where To Buy Guitars
For all the guitars and accessories you need check out:
- Guitar Tex at 4330 McCullough Ave
- Lark Guitars at 5103 McCullough Ave #101
- Robot Monster Guitars at 2102 McCullough Ave
- SpaceTone Music at 416 Austin Hwy
- Guitar Center at 7325 San Pedro Ave #105
- RCS Guitars & Gear at 227 Courtyard Dr, New Braunfels
- Helotes Guitar
Guitar Tex was founded in 1999 as a repair store and a venue to sell some of their own used instruments and they can help you discover the perfect guitar and fix the one you already have.
Lark Guitars sells a wide range of new and used guitars near you including acoustic, bass, amps, and other accessories.
Guitar Center is home to the world’s largest selection of popular guitars, basses, amplifiers, keyboards, workstations, drums, percussion, microphones, PA systems, DJ equipment, stage lighting, recording software, studio gear and more.
RCS Guitars & Gear buys, sells, and trades all types of guitars, gear, and accessories plus they can do restorations and repair services.
Our initial best music stores in San Antonio list will have many spots that are also good places to buy guitars around the metro.
Drum Shops Near You
And then there are these drum shops too:
- Jeff Ryder’s Drum Shop at 9323 Perrin Beitel Rd #205
- X8 Drums at 251 Uhland Rd #120, San Marcos
X8 Drums & Percussion in San Marcos offers a good percussion instrument shopping experience with djembes, congas, hand pans, ashiko, and more available.
We mentioned 3D Music, High School Music, Guitar Center, and Sam Ash in other lists but they are also a great place to buy drums in your area.
Instrument Repairs
Instrument repairs in San Antonio are available at:
- Musical Instrument Service at 328 W Southcross Blvd
- Sam Ash Music Stores at 25 NE I-410 Loop
- Hillje Music Center at 18130 San Pedro Ave
- NB Guitar Repair in New Braunfels
Sam Ash offers the latest and greatest from all of the top brands in guitars, amps, drums, keyboards, pro sound, DJ, and band and symphonic instruments as well as local repair services, modification, and customization.
For a full array of band and orchestra instruments at low costs as well as major brands of acoustic and electric guitars, drums, and related accessories visit Hillje Music Center who also offers flexible leasing programs and a full service repair shop.
NB is a guitar repair and restoration facility near you that occasionally builds acoustic and electric guitars by appointment.
Other places that we have mentioned throughout the post that also offer instrument repair include New Braunfels Music, RCS Guitars & Gear, and Guitar Tex.
Music Lessons
Level up by taking lessons at a music school in your area:
- San Antonio Music Academy at 9910 W Loop 1604 N #103
- LJE Music Lessons at 9815 Culebra Rd #106
- St John Music Lessons at 2540 Thousand Oaks Dr #109
- School of Rock at 109 Gallery Cir
- Arpeggio Music Academy at 24123 Boerne Stage Rd #202
- Music & Arts at 20821 U.S. Hwy 281 N #312
- FM Studios Music School at 863 IH 35 S #863 L, New Braunfels
- Music Retreat at 323 Hunters Hill Dr, San Marcos
- Cibolo Piano Lessons
San Antonio Music Academy teaches a variety of musical instruments in San Antonio as well as voice lessons to students of all ages.
Private music instruction in piano, percussion, guitar, strings, brass, and woodwinds as well as vocal lessons can be found at LJE Music Lessons.
St John is a professionally established music school near you founded by successful musician Robert St. John.
Rock 101 is one of School of Rock’s top programs for kids and novices with weekly private music lessons from an instructor who helps them master the principles and abilities behind their performance songs.
Arpeggion Music Academy offers local music lessons for kids, students, and adults.
Back in 1952 Music & Arts was founded and today they provde printed music, music lessons, dance lessons, and art supplies.
Private and group lessons in voice and different instruments such as violin, piano, cello, and guitar can be taken at FM Studios Music School in New Braunfels.
Music Retreat in San Marcos offers classes for dozens of instruments as well as voice, music theory, and sound recording technology.
CD & Record Stores
Check out all kinds of vintage CD’s and records at these local stores for music lovers:
- Janie’s Record Shop at 1012 Bandera Rd
- CD Sam at 4522 Fredericksburg Rd
- CD Exchange at 9861 I-10
- Hogwild Records Tapes & CD’s at 1824 N Main Ave
- Alamo Records & Sheet Music at 125 Broadway
- Southtown Vinyl at 1112 S St Mary’s St
- Del Bravo Record Shop at 554 Enrique M. Barrera Pkwy
- Stingray Records at 243 N Union Ave, New Braunfels
- Sundance Records at 241 N LBJ Dr, San Marcos
CD Exchange carries one of the widest assortments of previously owned vinyl records in your area along with blu-rays, DVD’s, CD’s, video games, game hardware, and game accessories.
Alamo Records and Sheet Music has rich stock of vinyl records and CD’s of classics.
Records, turntables, needles, and more are the specialty at South Town.
Del Bravo Record Shops sells CD’s, records, music accessories, cassettes, and DVD’s.
If you want to buy vinyl records in San Marcos from different genres including rock, pop, hip hop, jazz, blues, country, and many more as well as gifts and special products check out Sundance.
San Antonio Live Music Venues
Seeing a concert at San Antonio live music venues is always a good time:
- Fitzgerald’s Bar & Live Music Venue at 437 McCarty Rd #101
- The Rock Box at 1223 E Houston St
- Zombies Bar & Music Venue at 4202 Thousand Oaks Dr
- Luna at 6740 San Pedro Ave
- Carmens De La Calle at 320 N Flores St
- River Road Ice House at 1791 Hueco Springs Loop Rd, New Braunfels
- Cheatham Street Warehouse at 119 Cheatham St, San Marcos
- Old Main Ice House at 110 N Main St, Cibolo
Fitzgerald is a large facility with a roomy stage, free parking, and a well-stocked bar with delicious eats and the greatest event production.
Carmens De La Calle offer unique environment and presentation of food, art, and intimate local live music performances.
For a popular speakeasy with an outdoor pavilion showcasing rock, folk and blues, jazz, and country bands head over to River Road Ice House.
Cheatham Street Warehouse is a venerable honky-tonk featuring live country, soul, folk and blues bands, and a recording studio.
Old Main Ice House has a large full bar with live music in Cibolo that also offers an outdoor stage, outdoor bar, and rotating food trucks.
Fun Restaurants With Entertainment
You can take a date or a group of friends to these restaurants with live music:
- The Rustic at 17619 La Cantera Pkwy #204
- Jazz at 312 Pearl Pkwy Building 6
- Tony G’s Soul Food at 915 S Hackberry
- Sam’s Burger Joint at 330 E Grayson St
- Spechts Texas at 112 W Specht Rd
- Azuca Nuevo Latino at 709 S Alamo St
- Margaritaville Restaurant at 849 E Commerce St
- Krause’s Café at 148 S Castell Ave, New Braunfels
Bars With Live Music
There are also some bars that play live music around town:
- Sanchos Cantina & Cocina at 628 Jackson St
- Main Street Bar at 13477 Wetmore Rd
- Howl at the Moon at 111 W Crockett St #201
- Retox Bar at 1031 Patricia #105
- 502 Bar at 502 Embassy Oaks
- Phoenix Saloon at 193 W San Antonio St, New Braunfels
- Moonshine & Ale at 236 W San Antonio St, New Braunfels
- Jack’s Roadhouse at 1625 Hopkins St, San Marcos
- Noble Lounge & Bar at 203 S Main St, Cibolo
Sanchos Cantina & Cocina which first opened its doors on February 14, 2015 specializes on Mexican beer, tequila, and scratch-made cuisine.
If you are searching for a pub and chili parlor serving American fare with live music and karaoke in New Braunfels we suggest Phoenix Saloon.
Music Festivals
Have as much fun as you can at one of these music festivals near you:
- Sound for the Crown Music Fest in March
- Cibolofest in October
- Wassail Festival in December
In the past we have also discussed:
- Where To Buy CD’s & Records In Austin
- Where To Buy CD’s & Records In Houston
- Where To Buy CD’s & Records In Dallas & Ft Worth
- Where To Buy CD’s & Records In El Paso
Enjoy The San Antonio 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 the local music scene themself 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 San Antonio.