Best Christmas gifts for musicians 2025: 21 affordable festive present ideas for music-makers (which they'll genuinely love)

Whether you just want to give them a stringed instrument that is (literally) easy to pick up, or they're an experienced player, this ukulele is a perfect choice. Styled in the mould of the effortlessly cool Jazzmaster, not only does this Fender offering deliver textbook playability, but it also looks mouth-wateringly stylish.

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The Spark Go is a truly pocket-sized guitar amp/Bluetooth speaker that benefits from all the features of the bigger Spark amps, including 10,000 guitar and bass tones available via the accompanying app, while Auto Chord and Smart Jam functions are incredibly clever and will revolutionize your practice routine. It's now available in white Pearl finish, too.

Music producers are usually really into their gear, so much so that you'll often find them prodding the guts of it with screwdrivers and soldering irons. A safer way to satiate this electronics need could be this DIY synth kit. You'll end up with an 80s inspired – OK, quite basic – synth and there is a bit of soldering involved.

The Akai MPK Mini MKIII MIDI keyboard packs a wealth of control options into a portable package, ideal for desktop producers on-the-go. There are 25 velocity-sensitive keys, eight backlit pads and eight assignable knobs, plus it comes with SONiVOX Wobble and Hybrid 3 synths.

With the CruzTools Drum Multi-tool you can tackle everything from rattling lugs to sluggish bass drum pedals (and even re-wire a plug) like a pro. The 14-in-1 gadget includes all the essentials you’ll need for any eventuality, including flat and crosshead screwdrivers, hex wrenches and a trusty old drum key.

The EAD10 allows you to record your kit in seconds, just by attaching the sensor to your set-up and then playing. Sounds can be recorded to the module, a USB device, smart device or a computer. It’s a great tool for boosting your kit sound during practice, too.

Price: From $21.99/£18

How excited does anyone get about guitar cables, you ask? Well, ‘surprisingly so’, is the answer when you’re talking about musicians. We love these 1/4” instrument cables from Ernie Ball. They won’t tangle, are really sturdily constructed and they come in both straight or angled options. They look great, too, with 12 eye-catching colour options.

Price: $25.99/£15.99

This handy wall mount will help the guitarist or bassist in your life to stow their instrument safely and securely, without sacrificing floor space. The clever AGS system closes over as you place the guitar on the hanger, meaning it can't fall forward, even if knocked. And when you're ready to play, just grab it and away you go. Plus, this wall hanger is nitrocellulose-safe, meaning it won't react with expensive finishes.

Price: $79/£49/€65

All you need to know about guitar capos is you can't play The Beatles' Here Comes The Sun the way George Harrison intended, without one. That goes for Johnny Marr stuff too. Until recently, you had to pick one of these useful gadgets to fit either an acoustic or electric guitar. The clever little G7th Performance 3 handles both. If you really want to push the boat out, this 18k plated edition is good as gold.

Price: $129/£129

The original Positive Grid Spark is one of the most popular practice amps to hit the market in recent years. Since its initial launch, the 40w amp has been joined by a Mini version and, most recently, the Spark Go, a truly pocket-sized guitar amp/Bluetooth speaker that benefits from all the feature of the bigger amps, including 10,000 guitar and bass tones available via the accompanying app. This compact amp can help you reproduce the tones of your guitar heroes, as well as helping you dial in and find your own voice. Auto Chord and Smart Jam functions are incredibly clever and will revolutionize your practice routine, helping you work out the chords of any song and even jam to dynamic backing tracks generated from your own playing. Read our full Positive Grid Spark Go review here.

Price: $229/£149/€199

Whether you just want to give them a stringed instrument that is (literally) easy to pick up, or they're an experienced player, this ukulele is a perfect choice. Styled in the mould of the effortlessly cool Jazzmaster, this Fender offering delivers textbook playability and looks mouth-wateringly stylish. An added bonus is that a few strums and you’re instantly transported (not literally) to a Hawaiian paradise - handy as we approach the winter.

Price: From $6.99/£7.99

Guitarists will always need new strings so this is one gift that's guaranteed to see use, unlike that jumper that's never left the closet. They come in multi-packs so their guitar collection stays fresher for longer and best of all, they're low-cost, making them a perfect stocking filler.

Price: From around $25/£20

Both DJs and music producers can benefit from these see-through plastic covers that you use as lids to cover the top surface of synths, controllers, DJ mixers and more. The company has covers for many popular models of music gear, and they fit well, offering at least the protection from the dust that is ever present in a studio. Cheap too, starting at around $25/£20, but this will increase with the size of gear.

Price: around $30/£26

Music producers are usually REALLY into their gear, so much so that you'll often find them prodding the guts of it with screwdrivers and soldering irons (don't try these at home). A safer way to satiate this electronics need could be this DIY synth kit from Eight Innovation. You'll end up with an 80s inspired – OK, quite basic – synth and there is a bit of soldering involved. But it's the cheapest way to get a synth, and if you're interested, the same company also makes a Bat Detecting kit. One each please.

Price: $106/£105.50

Every producer needs a good set of studio headphones and there are plenty of great ones out there. We have budget contenders in our round-up, but this AKG K361 set also slots in because it delivers a lovely even sound. This is ideal for music production, where a flat response is needed for mixing and mastering. The closed-back nature means less spill for recording vocals and less intrusion while working, and the ‘phones are particularly suited to mobile listening, offering good isolation alongside ease of wearing/carrying

Price: $190/£159

This is a great mobile recorder that producers can use in the studio as both an interface and recorder, or out and about to capture natural sounds or their own ideas. The DR-40X has loads of other musician-friendly features, including a mix facility to play back all four tracks simultaneously, while adjusting both the mix and pan of each. There is also a peak reduction feature, and a limiter to ensure clean, idiot-proof recordings. A great mobile recorder for the studio and big wide world.

Price: $199/$139/€139

Built into a super tough metal casing, the iD4 MKII audio interface makes a fantastic compact travel companion, among other things. It's sleek, timeless design means it looks good on any desk. Exceptionally clean and clear LED visuals provide vital visual feedback, while also looking the part. The Audient iD4 MKII is one of the most simple, easy to use two-input interfaces on the market today. With the focus on fuss-free usability, it's a great option for the musician that seemingly has everything.

Price: $129.99/£124.00

Volca Beats is purely for making great beats anywhere. No need to connect it up to anything else as it's battery operated and comes with its own sounds and speaker. There's an on-board sequencer to create your own patterns and enough dials and controls to twist your sound. Despite being quite old, it's still a fantastic choice and something we'd love to get in our Xmas stocking – hint, hint.

Price: From $45/£30

Joby makes a massive range of GorillaPod tripods for use with smartphones and for use with cameras, including GoPro action cameras and mirrorless cameras. The Podzilla is the perfect gift for musicians looking to dip their toes in the world of content creation. It’s simple to use, with fully articulated legs to bend and flex into multiple positions, and to wrap it around different objects and surfaces for fun angles when filming. Joby has partnered it with a GripTight 360° Phone Clamp to house phones ranging from 6.7 to 8.8cm (2.6-3.5''). There are plenty of bigger GorillaPods available too, but the Podzilla is a bargain and usually on sale for less than $/£20.

Price: $99/£99

Rode is behind some of the best podcasting microphones for any budget, and the VideoMic GO II is your go-to for capturing crystal clear audio in a variety of situations. Whether you’re vlogging, podcasting, interviewing other musicians or performing to camera, this plug-n-play compact shotgun microphone is the ideal choice. Use it with cameras (via the 3.5mm TRS output) and phones (USB output). You don’t need to charge it up as the VideoMic GO II is powered by your camera (see the Sony ZV-1 if you’re still looking for one). Rode has also designed it with a windshield for recording outdoors, plus a custom shock mount to fend off noise from the camera or other connected recording gear.

Price: From $999/£999

Apple is a dominant force among the best laptops for music production, and if you’re keen to produce your own music at home or on the move, we’d highly recommend the Apple MacBook Air M3. It's super lightweight and there are two versions available - 13" and 15" - with each laptop coming complete with GarageBand; though do check out Apple Logic Pro, too. Both machines are more than capable of producing music at home and on the go.

Price: $7.99/£8.50/€7.90

Every drummer needs some of this in their stick bag. Whether you’re playing a gig or about to perform a take in the studio, a little dab of this could be the difference between a fat, controlled sound and a ringing mess. They’re washable with soap and water too, so you can re-use them time after time.

Price: $20/£16

There’s nothing worse than setting up for a gig, discovering something is loose on your kit and realising you don’t have the right tools to fix it. With the CruzTools Drum Multi-tool you can tackle everything from rattling lugs to sluggish bass drum pedals (and even re-wire a plug) like a pro. The 14-in-1 gadget includes all the essentials you’ll need for any eventuality, including flat and crosshead screwdrivers, hex wrenches and a trusty old drum ke

Price: $65/£20

Protection Racket has been providing drummers of all ages and abilities with high quality cases and bags since 1994, and in that time they’ve learned a thing or two about how to make some of the most durable and classy-looking bags money can buy. The Protection Racket Standard Stick Bag features a carry handle and detachable shoulder strap, a large outer pocket to keep drum keys, ear plugs and other necessities, and quick release clips - making mounting your stick bag to your floor tom (or any other bit of your kit) super easy. With capacity for 10 pairs of sticks, the Standard Stick Bag should do the trick for any keen drummer.

Price: $129/£72/€99

All drummers have endured that gut-wrenching feeling as their kit shifts towards the edge of the stage during a gig. End that worry forever, and do it in style, with one of Meinl’s striking drum rugs. Available in an absolute bounty of designs, these beauties will keep your kit steady in place the whole gig through. We think the zebra print design is particularly eye-catching.

Price: $99/£99

In-ear monitors are an essential part of a drummer's live rig. Let’s face it, as the main timekeeper for live performances, it makes sense to have gear that assists with this vital role. Shure is certainly a big name in the audio production realm, and the SE215 Pro is a fantastic, relatively affordable option with an ergonomic design. It has a solid bass response to aid with timekeeping and even comes with a zippered carry case for taking to gigs. The SE215 Pro ranks highly in our list of the best in-ear monitors, and we’re sure your giftee will love them.

Price: $499/£469/€525

Once upon a time, recording your drums was a lengthy and expensive process that involved carting your kit to a studio and rigging up countless microphones. The EAD10 allows you to record your kit in seconds, just by attaching the sensor to your set-up and then playing. Sounds can be recorded to the module, a USB device, smart device or a computer. It’s a great tool for boosting your kit sound during practice, too.