The last thing you need when taking to the stage is for your performance to suffer due to a flimsy sheet stand with a screw missing or a tray that won’t tighten properly. To help you achieve your musical potential, we’ve put together this article that highlights some of the best products in the business available at Amazon and Gear4music.
Since not all music stands are made equal, we want to help you find one that will not only last for years but will complement your playing style too. Once we’ve explained what to look out for, we’ll share our top recommendations to buy online, including lightweight foldable metal options as well as heavy-duty wooden designs. Whether you play the guitar, piano, violin or keyboard, one of the stands on our list will be right up your street!
Quick List - Top Music Stands
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Before you check out the ranking, we recommend thinking about your specific needs. Do you require a stand for practising at home or for performing at a concert? You should also consider the ideal height for your frame and whether you'll benefit from an adjustable tray. We'll run through all of these points in the buying guide below!
Many musicians want to go from playing in their bedroom or garage to performing on a stage. If this is the case, you'll need to transport both your instrument and your music stand from place to place. Since a lot of music stands can be cumbersome or awkward to carry, finding one that will fold down neatly will make your life much easier.
While not all stands are completely collapsible, some do at least have folding legs which make them more compact. However, bulkier stands made from wood or those with a non-collapsible sheet tray aren't suited to travel, so they will work better for people who only play their instrument at home.
Every musician is different and, of course, not everyone is the same height! You'll likely require a higher stand if you're tall and a lower one if you're short. Plus, not everyone stands up when performing, so you should consider your preferred playing style too in order to find the perfect match.
In our ranking, we feature music stands between 76–162 cm in height, to suit everyone from small children and sitting adults to tall folks and wind instrument musicians who need to stand up while they play.
Next up, you’ll want to think about the sheet tray and whether you’ll be able to adjust it. The viewing angle is a crucial consideration for a musician, as the wrong one can cause you to strain your neck or you might struggle to see when to turn the page. An adjustable sheet tray should make you feel comfortable (and hopefully more confident!) when playing.
Sadly, most brands will only tell you that the tray is adjustable, not to what extent. As a point of reference, a lot of companies try to accommodate up to a 30-degree angle, but this will of course vary depending on the manufacturer.
Last but not least, you might want to consider the finish or colour of your purchase. As you’re probably aware, most music stands are black and are therefore appropriate for every situation, from the practice room to a concert. It's almost an unwritten rule that this is the only acceptable colour, especially when you start to encounter the upper echelons of the music world.
That said, there are some other colour options available that might interest you — the main ones are different shades of brown, due to stands being made out of wood. Opting for one of these will certainly make you stand out (pun intended!) if you're a soloist, but if you're performing as part of a group then you may want to check whether this will be okay with everyone else.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Manhasset Symphony Stand | ![]() | The Industry-Standard Music Stand | |
2 | Amazon Basics Sheet Music Stand | ![]() | Easily Adjustable With Just One Hand | |
3 | Tiger MUS35-PRO Wooden Top Orchestral Sheet Music Stand | ![]() | A Tasteful Contemporary Design | |
4 | D&A Guitar Gear Bullhead Plus Folding Music Stand | ![]() | Packed With Loads of Handy Features | |
5 | Gear4music Folding Conductor Music Stand | ![]() | Perfect for Travelling Musicians | |
6 | Theodore T-OMS-01 Sheet Music Stand | ![]() | A Wooden Adjustable Desk With Natural Grain | |
7 | ChromaCast Pro Series Folding Music Stand | ![]() | Ideal for Both Sitting and Standing | |
8 | König & Meyler 11617 Wooden Music Stand | ![]() | An Elegant Stand For the Home In Cherry Wood | |
9 | Gear4music Music Stand | ![]() | The Economical Practice Option |
If you've ever been to watch a symphony orchestra perform, chances are there was at least one of these Manhasset music stands on the stage! They're the industry standard and are loved by many musicians for their reliability, sturdiness and overall craftsmanship.
This stand has a decent range of height, a friction grip that allows for easy adjusting of said height, a lightweight aluminium tray and a heavy gauge steel base. Combine all of these features, and you have the ideal stand for pretty much any occasion!
You might be surprised to see an Amazon own-brand product so high up our list, but this one is such brilliant quality for the low price that we just couldn't ignore it! As well as a trusty metal sheet desk, it has a tripod base that's steel welded to ensure excellent stability.
The best part, though, is that there are no knobs for height adjustment. Instead, there's an automatic friction slide which makes it super easy for you to adjust with just one hand. A total bargain that's worth every penny!
With an adjustable tubular design, the MUS35-PRO music stand from Tiger will undoubtedly keep your sheets or books firmly in place and at the right angle. Moreover, it can be folded down easily, making it ideal for those who tend to perform in different places.
Our favourite feature by far is the removable neck — it's this intuitive design that makes the packing away part so simple. Although the wooden finish isn't traditionally what you'd expect from a music stand, it's tasteful and brings a contemporary vibe to your practice space.
While it might seem like this is just an ordinary music stand, it's actually got loads of cool features! We especially like the extra pair of legs that function as a guitar stand for those who like to shred the old six-string.
Plus, there's a snap-lock retention system that allows the tray to hold a laptop and D&A has even included a smart carry bag that'll keep everything safe. This stand is expensive but if you have the cash to spare, we promise you won't regret it!
Although Gear4music is better known for selling other brands' equipment and accessories, they also produce some pretty good-quality apparatus of their own. One such item is this completely collapsible stand that's perfect for travelling musicians.
We love that it's sturdy and strong, regardless of the height you have set it at — so performers of any height can make great use of it! Although it's specifically marketed towards conductors, we'd say it's suitable for every musician due to the convenient design and budget-friendly price.
We have to say, this product by Theodore is one of the most aesthetically pleasing music stands we've ever come across! The laminated wooden tray with its natural grain is a treat for the eyes. Thankfully, it's a pretty good performer too.
Adjusting the height and the angle of the tray is simple, plus the feet have rubber attachments that prevent them from sliding around. It's perhaps not one to take on the road, as the wood is prone to dents, but it will work nicely at home.
ChromaCast makes a range of different music stands, but we've decided to go with a product from their pro series. We've chosen this one for a few reasons. Firstly, it's easily collapsable and lightweight, making it handy for those who play a lot of shows. Secondly, the two-tier vertical shaft means you can use it while sitting or standing, depending on your preference.
On top of that, there are some nifty metal prongs that are helpful for holding your sheets in place. This isn't known for being the strongest piece of kit though, which is a shame considering the high price.
Here we have an expensive music stand that's probably best for the home, rather than travelling. It's made from beechwood, with a four-legged design for optimum stability. The height is adjustable too so it should be suitable for most average-sized folks.
Of course, the big downside is that it's made from solid wood, making it a pretty difficult stand to lug around with you — especially if you don't have your own mode of transport. Other than that, it's very elegant and would look lovely in a home studio.
Getting us underway is the type of metal stand that you've likely come across many times in school classrooms or community centre stages. This simple device is ideal for practice as it has small non-slip feet and fitted page holders to keep you on the right note.
However, this style is not known for being the most robust option and the thin legs are a little flimsy. Still, for a tenner, it's hard to complain much about the quality!
Whether you're heading out on tour or recording in the studio, every musician needs some practical accessories to keep things running smoothly. Check out more of our handy recommendations below!
No. 1: Manhasset|Symphony Stand
No. 2: Amazon Basics|Sheet Music Stand
No. 3: Tiger|MUS35-PRO Wooden Top Orchestral Sheet Music Stand
No. 4: D&A|Guitar Gear Bullhead Plus Folding Music Stand
No. 5: Gear4music|Folding Conductor Music Stand
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