May 22

Buy A Musical Instrument Day

It's Buy A Musical Instrument Day - time to make some beautiful music and explore your creative side!

Yearly Date
May 22
Observed in
United States
Holiday Calendar
Last updated February 7, 2026 by the Holiday Calendar Team
Have an update or spot an error?

Introduction

Celebrate Buy A Musical Instrument Day on May 22 by taking the plunge and purchasing a musical instrument of your choice! Whether you’ve been wanting to try learning a new instrument, or are an experienced musician just looking for something new, this day is the perfect opportunity to get out there and purchase that instrument you’ve had your eye on. Music has long been seen as a universal language, and with Buy A Musical Instrument Day, you can join in on the conversation. Plus, if you buy now, you’ll have plenty of time to practice before the summer concerts start!

Buy A Musical Instrument Day Timeline

1800s
Surge in Piano Purchases
Back in the 1800s, when sheet music became popular, people rushed to buy pianos to play their favorite tunes at home, sparking a buzz in musical instrument purchases.
1939
Introduction of Electric Guitar
The first commercially successful solid-body electric guitar, Fender's Broadcaster, is introduced, setting a trend for rock and roll musicians and hobbyists to buy this electrifying instrument.
1950s
Producers Bring Instruments Home
As the home recording industry began to grow in the 1950s, more and more people bought musical instruments for personal use, enriching music creation on a broader scale.
1964
"Beatlemania" Spikes Sales
The onslaught of "Beatlemania" led to a dramatic increase in the sales of guitars, drums, and other band instruments, as budding musicians sought to emulate the Fab Four.
2000s
Digital Era Transforms Instruments
With the onset of the digital era in the 2000s, the sale of digital musical instruments like keyboards and electronic drums saw a surge, offering new possibilities for music creation.
2013
First Buy A Musical Instrument Day
In order to encourage more people to take up music, 2013 saw the inaugural 'Buy A Musical Instrument Day'. The day offers opportunities to promote musical instrument sales and inspire potential musicians.

How to Celebrate Buy A Musical Instrument Day

1

Shop for an instrument

Head out to your local music store or search online and find the instrument of your dreams. Whether it is a guitar, drum, saxophone, piano, or another instrument, there are so many options to choose from.

2

Attend a music show

Go to a live music show featuring the instrument you want to buy. Spend some time listening to the music and watch how the musician plays. This can help you decide what kind of instrument you want to buy.

3

Take a lesson

Sign up for a few music lessons to learn more about the instrument you want to purchase. Through lessons, you can learn how to play the instrument and learn more about its different features.

4

Compare instruments

Visit different stores and compare different instruments. Listen to how they sound and try them out to find the one that best suits your needs.

5

Join a band

Once you have bought your new instrument, join a band or start your own! Playing with other musicians is one of the best ways to celebrate Buy A Musical Instrument Day.

Why We Love Buy A Musical Instrument Day

A

Making music can improve mental health

Playing a musical instrument has been proven to have a positive effect on your mental wellbeing. Whether it's playing alone or performing with others, making music is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as having the potential to boost memory, creativity and mood.

B

Improving hand-eye coordination

Playing a musical instrument requires a fair amount of coordination between the eyes and hands. For example, learning guitar chords involves having to switch between different chord shapes while remembering which string is played for each finger position. This type of physical skill can be beneficial in many other areas of life!

C

Making music can increase self-confidence

Being able to play a musical instrument can be very empowering. With practice and dedication, you get better at playing, which leads to increased confidence in your ability both on stage and off. Playing music can also be a great way to express yourself without words - something that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.

Holiday Dates

Year
Date
Day
2023
May 22
Monday
2024
May 22
Wednesday
2025
May 22
Thursday
2026
May 22
Friday
2027
May 22
Saturday