A coworker recommended going, I was reluctant since I live on the VA (other side) of the city. But…read moreOMG. The inventory was amazing. I was actually overwhelmed by the number of guitars and amps in stock. Literally thousands. What I thought would be a 10 min max, look around, buy a pack of strings (I always try and buy something at non chain music stores) turned into a 2 hour adventure. Rows and rows of guitars. I was at first intimidated and it took a bit to get my bearings as how the instruments were organized. LPs over here, Fenders over there. Did I mention there were "like 2 thousand guitars. Then I was shocked at how reasonable the prices were. After 45 minutes I had decided I was definitely getting a new guitar that day, then what to choose? Narrowed down between 2 that I wanted and matched what I could afford that day. The guy who rang me up, saw it was my first purchase there and knocked a few bucks off and threw in a new set of slinky strings. Look if you are looking for a posh music boutique store with fancy displays, this is not the place for you. But if you are a musician looking for quality gear that is priced right and huge inventory, this is the place. I am already planning my next visit with a bigger budget.

They say the true test of a relationship isn't how things are when everything goes right, but in…read morehow things are when things go wrong. Last month, I stopped into Atomic Music and saw the most beautiful guitar, a model I had been dreaming of for years. My birthday was coming up, so I decided to splurge and treat myself. One of the owners gave me a great price and was really friendly. Everything was wonderful until a month later when I finally got around to setting up the guitar for my preferred gauge of strings. I discovered a serious but repairable structural issue with the guitar. Not their fault -- It wasn't something they would have been aware of unless they had taken the truss rod cover off and attempted to adjust the guitar's neck. I sent an email detailing the problem and it wasn't even five minutes later I got a call from one of the owners. He told me to bring it back for a full refund, and that he'd even pay for my gas to bring it back. There was no argument and no questioning of my expertise. That's fantastic service in my book! I will be back and I have no worries about spending money there again. The shop has an enormous used inventory including some high-end instruments and prices are fair.

Though I loved the old Guitar Shop on Connecticut, this new location is just as convenient for me…read more I have owned a bass for five years.... FINALLY started taking lessons a few months ago with John, and I'm loving it! It's so much fun, and John is an excellent teacher. He teaches to my learning style, he's patient and thorough, and consistent with his reminders of how I should be playing (finger placement, posture, and all). Though his style may seem scattered at first, he really does a great job of building off of what we learned from the previous week while keeping it interesting. If you're like me and thinking that you'll eventually get around to taking lessons, DO IT NOW! (Before they realize that they're not charging enough!)

From the owner: Lessons offered on guitar (blues/jazz/rock/classical), bass (electric or string bass,) banjo and…read moremandolin to all levels of students from beginner to advanced, using a patient approach designed for relaxed, comprehensive, fun lessons tailored to each student. Formally at The Guitar Shop in DC for 6+ years, teaching theory, improvisation and repertoire building, supplying aspiring musicians with the necessary tools and materials to be successful. We specialize in showing students how to learn from and play their favorite recordings.

Great service from across the country. They were very helpful with my purchase of an autoharp and…read moreshipping it out to California. They answered all my questions and were very friendly. I just wish I could be there in person to browse what else they have in stock!

Lovely people, lovely instruments. The best place for folk/traditional instruments and musicians in…read moreDC. If you go in, just talk to the guys. They know so much, and love to talk. I guarantee you'll learn something. Also a great place to run into other musicians. They're fair and honest consigners.

They were able to get the job done Micheal with the long hair love the vibe! He was very helpfu.read more

Came in today to secretly figure out which guitar my little brother liked and felt good in his…read morehands. Bday coming up so we came to check stuff out. I want to thank Jason for being kind and understanding. This location is a busy one but everyone here is knowledgeable and Kind. Just treat them how you want to be treated. Thanks Again Jason.

Great violin shop! have been a client of theirs since i started playing the violin. Friendly staff…read moreand cozy atmosphere!! If you're looking for anything violin, viola, cello related check this place out, you won't regret it.

We have been their customers for the last decade. Both…read moremyself and my 3 kids violins all came from here. Their service, staff and the quality of their instruments are what you are looking for regardless, you are a 3rd grader starting with your first instrument or professional virtuosa, buying an instrument or getting one repaired I think you would like this shop

Awsome. Great. So glad we found this place…read more This is an excellent place for young musicians to connect with other musicians and to work in Band like settings and perform. Forrest at the Silver Spring location is really great and he extract the most out of the kids in a really positive environment. My son has been to many music schools and lessons over the years and this really is an outstanding program. The best part is it really has many kids who are really musically inclined, talented and willing to work in a group setting. The performances are very impressive and fun to watch. I can not say enough good things about it. The price is very reasonable and they don't pressure you to subscribe to packages or long term contracts - if you pull out you don't pay any more. They focus on who wants to be there. Give it a try - much better than similar programs in Bethesda.

I just ended my employment here after 5 months. I was only afford a couple hours on Sundays for…read morework with the promise that I would be able to pick up more students and days quickly. I was given $15 an hour while working less than 4 hours a week. The lessons aren't even an hour long so i was hardly even being paid to provide expert professional lessons to young children. Essentially I was an underpaid babysitter. On top of being unable to provide employment, my one day that i worked ranged from 3-4 hours a day where i was teaching drums and guitar back to back. I was not given any space of time to switch gears as well as i had to change rooms between each lesson. This was made more difficult by a manager who would pester me about getting out of one lesson to go to the next, presumably because if i went over on the lessons i would then go over on my work time and therefore have to be paid for more than just the minutes where i was in lessons. My last day of employment, I had called in an hour before i was to be there, as I was sick, I had been seeking a day off so as to recover and not come in with an unknown illness that might be contagious. I contacted the manager who proceeded to berate me about her personal issues and was told that because other teachers had called out on other days this week she was unwilling to contact my students and cancel my lessons. I was also told to consume whatever quantity of cough syrup i needed and chase that with vitamin C. I showed up for these lessons, first student didn't even show up. I spent the next two days trying to work out in my head what had happened so that i could contact the manager to follow up without carrying my personal baggage to the conversation. The manager tried to make contact to "discuss School of Rock's staffing policy". I received this message the day after my lessons which i taught while carrying a sickness. As I had missed the managers call, this was the first point of contact she made with me following what had happened, which set me off and so i took an extra day to clear my head, fearing the harassment from my employer of being unwilling to understand or care for my needs as an employee. There was one or two more attempts made at contacting me before what happened next. After three days i received, an email to my inbox stating that my employment had been terminated. I work another job that provides me with just short of full time employment, yet left me availability to work at School of Rock on any day of the week. I had never called out sick prior to this situation. and had been forced to miss/move lessons to cover other people's call outs, mostly made the day of the class or lesson that needed covering. I feel very strongly that I was treated with disdain and profiled as an irresponsible person and made to feel outcast by this organization because of my status as a musician. To the point where i feel that supporting musicians means not enrolling in School of Rock. To my students: I am very sorry that I could not say bye or finish lessons that I had started with you. That is unacceptable.