Great old timey vibe. Lots of vintage pedals. Nifty other stuff like quality cables.read more

Several month ago I had an Elektron Digitakt serviced at this store. There was a small mix up…read moreduring the repair, manager Andrew Marrah went above and beyond to ensure the device was returned to me in perfect working condition. I cannot overstate the professionalism of Andrew Marrah and everyone at Synth City. I would trust this store with anything regarding my gear, they will make sure to treat you well and with respect. 10 out of 10 hands down.

Chicago Music Exchange (CME) is massive. There is a lot of ground to cover and many instruments to…read moresee. I accompanied my husband to CME during our weeklong trip to Chicago this summer. We took the L to Paulina, and the music store is a short walk from the train station. So many guitars on the street-level part of the shop. Drums, basses, and the repair shop are found on the lower-level. Aside from all the guitars displayed on the walls, there are also so many canvased photos of musicians and groups who visited CME over the years. There are a number of comfortable spots where you can sit and play. There's also a cushy couch area with Gucci pillows where you can sit, especially if you're waiting for your significant other :)

I used to be able to play a little. Love guitars and amps, everyone should…read more Walking in here: I'm not Worthy. I'm NOT Worthy. Beautiful guitars in many different price ranges. From classic American Fenders, to Paul Reed Smiths, Gibson, and a full fledged acoustic guitar room with beautiful acoustics. The people working there are helpful and not elitists cooler than thou musicians. The folks I encountered were warm and welcoming. Really positive and fun.

Update March 2025: It took about 7.5 months, but I have the…read moreinstrument back and in great shape (action and intonation all fixed). Although the experience was frustrating overall, manager Charlie and two sales associates whose names I didn't catch went FAR above and beyond to make this right. I appreciate their care and transparency.

Placed an order on reverb for a guitar. Next day seller cancelled due to the item already having…read morebeen sold. Meanwhile I already bought a hardshell case and accessories elsewhere.

I completely lucked out when I found this place…read more.. There was some piano music I'd heard that I really really wanted to learn to play, but could never find the sheet music. I literally walked in with my ipod and asked if they could transcribe it for me. They did and then gave me lessons to learn it! A month or so later, I was playing the music I had loved so much for so long. This was pretty much a dream come true for me. Since then I've been taking weekly lessons. It's hard to describe how easy it was to start doing something so fulfilling. It takes a lot of practice, but it's fun and there's no pressure. Learn whatever you like to play at your own pace with super nice people. I would recommend ACM to anyone who's even thinking of learning piano. Treat yourself to lessons from passionate, talented, friendly people.

This company is doing some amazing things for music and music education. I attended Access…read moreContemporary Music's street festival back in August and it was a fantastic event. They had a live ensemble, craft brews and dogs. Pretty much everything a girl could ask for. BUT THEN during the Ear Taxi festival I noticed ACM also performed a free concert at the Cultural Center. AND THEN!! My friends and I went to Open House Chicago and there was an ensemble playing in some of the buildings... IT WAS ACM. Basically everywhere in the city. It's insane. Seems like something in the universe is trying to tell me something; only, I have two left hands so I don't think I'll be learning to play an instrument anytime soon. TL;DR: Check out the website for events/cool way to impress people.

I can't rave hard enough about Major Keys Studio. I came across Major Keys when I was lsearching…read morefor piano lessons for my girls, and was intrigued by the idea that Major Keys could do piano and voice. In fact, they pretty much let the kids take the lead on what and how they want to learn. This approach won my kids over vs. traditional lessons, and they built up a great relationship with their instructer, Alan. Last summer they took a break from the traditional lessons and worked on a summer project to learn and record a song - one playing guitar and the other piano. Experiencing the end to end process was so exciting for them, and Alan did an amazing job producing the recording. We have since moved from Chicago, but were back in the neighborhood this summer. I asked if there were any activities or camps they wanted to do, and they wanted to work on another project with Alan. So over just 5 lessons, they each learned and recorded a song. After being gone for a year, this has reignited a love for making music in both of my children. Alan and Gwen's passion and talent are contagious. I highly recommend them to anyone (adult or child!)

My 7 year old loves music, and wanted lessons. Her high energy and struggle with sitting still,…read moreespecially when things are boring to her made me reluctant. After sitting with her for two lessons with Gwen, I had ZERO worries. Gwen has a true gift in connecting with her students, keeps them engaged and having fun while learning music. And this is with virtual lessons! Her talent and passion for music and helping others learn music is infectious. My daughter looks forward to her lessons, LOVES to play and practices on her own. We're on our fourth set of sessions and we will not be stopping any time soon. BOTH Gwen and Alan are amazing, talented and incredible teachers in voice, piano, guitar, ukulele and more. I highly recommend them both for your music lesson needs, both locally and remotely. They are AMAZING.

Excellent work on the setup and strings for my guitar not to mention a friendly staff and clean…read morestore.

Still want my guitar back please leave it at 6506 W Imlay St. I wonder how insane a business owner…read morecan be to not give a client back a guitar after holding on to it for years. It was never worked on and I just want it back.

Just started taking lessons with Eric today, so far so good :) My hopes with these lessons are to…read morehave a firm grasp of the theory behind what I've learned to play by ear.

I would highly recommend Eric's studio for any level guitar player. He teaches you how to 'see'…read morethe scales and arpeggios in ways that make them come to life in music. I have taken lessons before and never got 1/10th of what I have learned from Eric. Very relaxed atmosphere and a great place to talk about and experience jazz and blues in all their forms.

I recommend Music House for singers of all abilities & ages. I'm a senior who has been singing &…read moreperforming most of my life. I've studied voice with 2 other wonderful teachers. My Music House teacher - Ms. Lily - is a gem! She is always patient & encouraging. She has a way of explaining vocal technique that is easy to understand & follow. When I bring in songs that I'm working on elsewhere, she always breathes new life into my practice. If you want to begin or advance your singing, I very much recommend Music House.

I took violin lessons here for about ten years. I'm surprised this place is still around. They've…read morebeen in business a very long time. I met a lot of cool and talented people here. Mr Trombone was the owner and I think he still is. Fitting his name.. right! I had the same teacher for most of that decade. Man, she was a bitch. Mean and wicked. Middle aged Russian lady. Used to talk shit to me constantly, tell me my fingers were too fat for the Violin. Shit. She was fat, too fat to sit properly in a folding chair. Aside from 1/2 hour practice sessions with that fat old bitch, I looked forward to the group practice sessions. Kind of like a mini orchestra. I think Mr Trombone headed those. They were a lot of fun. You are wondering why I give this place four stars and also bitch hunted my old teacher? All the other experiences at the Music house were fun. When that bitch was ill or out of town, I got to have the nurturing teachers that taught with respect . Occasionally I think I got lessons from Mr Trombone, he was a nice guy. It was the lesson training here that prompted my success in H.S. I went on to play Concert Orch for a few more years. The Music house is a great place to get you started. Parents if you are reading this. Do me a favor. 30 minutes of daily practice is enough. Especially if you are making your kid go for "their benefit." When I was in elementary school, Music House offered practice sessions available during your kids lunch break at their elementary school. DON'T ruin their lunch with more practice! How many games of kick ball missed, just to sit with that rude teacher I had. (Oh yeah, listen to your kids. Some teachers are awesome at their trade, they can really help your kid excel. While few other teachers are assholes. Some use negative treatment hoping it will make your kid better. It doesn't) The Music House offers sales on musical equipment and their accessories. As well as lessons. Whether you need lessons or not, you can also choose to rent an instrument instead of buying.

I took expert theater goers Megan and I a minute or two to figure out this one. The Lincoln Square…read moreTheater is a performance space used by the Lincoln Square Community Arts Center. The theater is located in the Berry Memorial United Methodist Church basement. You got that?? Basically a small playhouse in a church that is used by many production companies. But, it doesn't just have plays, it also hosts cultural discussions, stage readings, live music, and dance. One evening Megan and I decided to track down this theater for a "Babes and Blades" production called "The Double". A screwball comedy meets swashbuckler in a tribute to Cyrano de Bergerac and the 1940s. Megan liked it but I did not. It's nothing against the actors or playwright, I'm tired of old fashion period pieces. Again it's a personal thing. The actors were great, singing, dancing, sword fighting (though I expected more), and an easy to follow story filled with romance and comedy. It really did remind me of 1940's film, the way they spoke, the way they dressed, and even the dance numbers. Anyways can't hurt to keep an eye out for future shows at LSAC.