House of Musical Traditions

Musical instruments & accessories, repairs, rentals, pro sound in Takoma Park MD since 1972. We offer many services at our store.

House of Musical Traditions is a music store in Takoma Park, MD, right outside of Washington DC. Since 1972, HMT has been specializing in acoustic musical instruments from around the world. You can see our complete catalog on our website, www.musicaltraditions.com. We also carry instructional books, folk music tunebooks, general interest music books, and amplification systems (focused on the acous

Maryland Renaissance Festival – Revel Grove 09/18/2024

All remaining dates of the Maryland Renaissance Festival are now sold out! Tickets may become available from returns, but you must check the MDRF website: https://rennfest.com/ . If you managed to secure advance tix, we hope to see you there!

Maryland Renaissance Festival – Revel Grove Maryland Renaissance Festival 2022 season begins on August 27th for nine weekends of merriment. Online ticket sales will begin on August 1st. Learn more.

School of Musical Traditions 09/16/2024

Have you checked out School of Musical Traditions' fall schedule? In addition to private lessons, they have group classes coming up for bluegrass repertoire, Celtic repertoire, and even a toddler music class with Mr. Gabe! Plus lots of regular jams: bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, uke and more.

School of Musical Traditions This class will help students expand their repertoire while honing the skills required to play with others and be creative while doing it.

09/11/2024

It's always a pleasure to have a Homer Ledford dulcimer come through the shop! This one was made by the legendary Kentucky maker ca. 1969, with a yellow poplar top that came from wood from a house near Lexington that was over 100 years old at the time. More information: https://hmtrad.com/products/homer-ledford-4-string-lap-dulcimer-used-1 . Free shipping within the continental US!

Takoma Park Folk Festival | Celebrate Community Sept 8, 2024 09/04/2024

Don't miss the Takoma Park Folk Festival (TPFF) this Sunday, September 8th at the TP Middle School! Music on 6 stages (the lineup is superb!), crafts, food and community tables. We will have our festival booth there as usual. It's FREE and 100% volunteer-powered (including the performers, so bring some cash to buy their merch and support them!).

Get all the details at

Takoma Park Folk Festival | Celebrate Community Sept 8, 2024 Join us in September for a free annual folk festival celebrating the arts and the Takoma Park-Silver Spring community. Six stages of music, a juried crafts show, international food, community nonprofit tables, and children’s games and activities - rain or shine!

House of Musical Traditions | Reverb 08/30/2024

🌟Labor Day Sale!🌟
A wide range of used instruments are 15% off through Sept 4...plus JHS pedals are 20% off! Deals are listed here in our Reverb store, but prices will be honored in-store as well: https://reverb.com/shop/house-of-musical-traditions?on_sale=true

Our shop is open regular hours through the holiday weekend (11-7 Fri-Sat, 11-5 Sun-Mon) - plus, our booth at the Maryland Renaissance Festival is open Sat-Sun-Mon!

House of Musical Traditions | Reverb Shop House of Musical Traditions on Reverb

Photos from House of Musical Traditions's post 08/26/2024

We had a great opening weekend at the Maryland Renaissance Festival! Make sure to visit our booth in Revel Grove if you’re attending on future weekends.

Maryland Renaissance Festival – Revel Grove 08/22/2024

We are busy packing up for the first weekend of the Maryland Renaissance Festival! Sellouts are extremely likely for any weekend, so be sure to get your tickets in advance online at

Maryland Renaissance Festival – Revel Grove Maryland Renaissance Festival 2022 season begins on August 27th for nine weekends of merriment. Online ticket sales will begin on August 1st. Learn more.

08/13/2024

It's time to start thinking about back-to-school! If your child needs an instrument for their band/orchestra program, we can help. Our trial period special is now in effect: most instruments rent for only $15 for the first two months. Low monthly rates thereafter; cancel any time or rent-to-own.

Get started at our rental portal through our partner NEMC: https://www.nemc.com/house-of-musical-traditions

08/12/2024

Our Summer Sale runs for a couple more weeks - visit https://hmtrad.com/collections/summer-sale to see what's 15% off!

We just launched a big summer sale! Visit https://hmtrad.com/collections/summer-sale to browse over 50 instruments that are 15% off: a wide range of used items, and new Larrivee guitars. Plus instant rebates on select Breedloves, and sale prices on Fishman Loudbox Mini amps.

Martin 00-17 Guitar, 1946 - Needs Repair | eBay 08/11/2024

Luthier's Special!
This 1946 Martin 00-17 is in need of extensive restoration, but has potential in the hands of a skilled repairperson. Up for auction in our eBay store in as-is condition; starting bid $650.

Martin 00-17 Guitar, 1946 - Needs Repair | eBay This Martin 00-17 all-mahogany guitar dates to 1946 (s/n 94781). It is in need of extensive restoration work (issues detailed below) and isnot currently playable. The guitar has non-original tuners.

08/10/2024

✨B-STOCK DEALS!✨
In addition to the dozens of items discounted in our ongoing Summer Sale, we've recently gotten in a number of new, B-stock instruments offered at great discounts! These come straight from our suppliers with small (sometimes undetectable) cosmetic flaws, and carry a full warranty.

We have several B-stocks from Gold Tone, including this F-6+ mando-guitar (tuned 1 octave above standard guitar). $100 off for a tiny top blemish. Others include banjos, a tele-style banjitar, bouzouki, and frypan mandolin.

From Breedlove, we have a few B-stock ECO Discovery guitars. And from our Latin instruments supplier, we have discounted Puerto Rican-style cuatros.

08/06/2024

Rare National Triolian resonator ukulele just up for sale! Made in 2010 and still in near-mint condition. Less than half the cost of new, with no wait! Details: https://hmtrad.com/products/national-resophonic-triolian-ukulele-used

08/06/2024

We recently learned about a new group forming in this area, the Hand & Limb Different Musician's Collective. They would like to connect with and collect interest from anyone in the area with hand & limb differences impacting the ability to play music. If you are interested in getting involved, fill out the google form posted in the comments, and follow hldmusic_dc on Instagram.

They are also welcoming of:
- people with other disabilities/medical conditions impacting their ability to play music
- people interested in supporting/sponsoring the efforts of this group
- people outside the DMV area interested in participating/supporting (though in-person events will focus on this area)

Please feel free to share to help spread the word!

08/05/2024

Just a few of the recent additions to our used instrument stock:
- 2010 Taylor 8-string Baritone
- 1952 Gibson ES-150
- Snake River handmade 4-string acoustic bass
- Dusty Strings Ravenna 26 harp

Details & pricing at hmtrad.com

08/05/2024

Just in from Eastman: a new flat-top mandolin model in their Pacific Coast Highway series. Only $399 with gig bag! In stock in both Classic & Natural finishes.

08/02/2024

We're thrilled to announce that we've been voted "Best Place To Buy Instruments" in the Washington City Paper's reader poll, for the 8th time! Thank you for your continued support in our 52nd year of business serving the DMV area and beyond.

We also want to recognize all the shops on this list, and encourage you to support them. All of these independent businesses contribute to making our area a great place to make music, and we all send referrals to each other for different areas of specialties. Please consider a visit or call to any of us before going to the big online sellers.

Also, congrats to our partner School of Musical Traditions for winning Best Music Lessons!!

07/30/2024

A very special instrument! This Paraguyan harp was custom-made by the late L. Ruiz Diaz, exclusively for renowned harpist Dr. Alfredo Rolando Ortiz. It is without a doubt, the best-quality Paraguyan-style harp we've had in our shop! Custom Colorado Case included. Available for local pickup. More info & video of Dr. Ortiz playing it: https://hmtrad.com/products/l-ruiz-diaz-custom-concert-model-paraguayan-harp-used-local-pickup-only

07/23/2024

We just launched a big summer sale! Visit https://hmtrad.com/collections/summer-sale to browse over 50 instruments that are 15% off: a wide range of used items, and new Larrivee guitars. Plus instant rebates on select Breedloves, and sale prices on Fishman Loudbox Mini amps.

07/19/2024

This Friday the temperature is cooler, we've got some great musical instruments coming out on the floor, and our IT systems are not affected by the Crowdstrike bug! Hope to see you soon....

07/17/2024

Looking for a great-sounding small acoustic amp? Check out these just-announced deals from Fishman! Both are 2-channel amps; the Micro is 40w and just about 9 lbs. The Mini Charge is 60w, about 21 lbs, has Bluetooth and can run off rechargeable battery!

07/15/2024

One of our Breedlove Guitars on sale for the Summer Upgrade Event - this limited edition Oregon Concert Galaxy! Made in the USA from solid Myrtlewood (native to the Pacific NW), with Baggs Anthem Tru-Mic pickup. Our manager Brennan says:

"This guitar is an absolute wonder. The pictures don't do the iridescence of the silverburst justice - I'm reminded of the signature instrument of one of my favorite electric players. This instrument plays so smoothly and wonderfully, it is really a standout in that sense, even aside from its visual impact."

Original price $2,499, now $1,999, including shipping within the continental US!

07/14/2024

Our lessons partner School of Musical Traditions has plenty of workshops and jams this summer to keep you busy! Coming up soon is this Intro to Celtic Repertoire workshop on July 20. Open to all instruments!

Ever wanted to learn a Celtic tune? This is your chance! Celtic cellist Ellen Gira will lead a one time repertoire class, where you’ll learn a groovy Scottish tune and create a fun arrangement as an ensemble. This class will also offer ideas to take your playing further, including ornamentation and Celtic jamming skills. Info & registration: https://schoolofmusicaltraditions.com/classes-workshops/intro-to-celtic-repertoire

07/11/2024

💥SALE ALERT! 💥
Breedlove Guitars' Summer Upgrade Event is in effect: through September, all USA-made Premier and Oregon guitars are $500 off, and Organic Pro series guitars are $200 off! All of these are built with high-quality, sustainably-harvested woods. Shop our sale collection here: https://hmtrad.com/collections/breedlove-summer-upgrade-event

07/06/2024

Tune into http://takomaradio.org this Sunday from 5-7 for Dave’s tribute to our beloved Tom Prasada-Rao.

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Our Story

House of Musical Traditions is a music store in Takoma Park, MD, right outside of Washington DC. Since 1972, HMT has been specializing in acoustic musical instruments from around the world. You can see our complete catalog on our website, www.musicaltraditions.com. We also carry a wide range of accessories, instructional books, folk music tunebooks, general interest music books, and amplification systems (focused on the acoustic side of things). Check out our Reverb and eBay stores for even more cool stuff!

HMT is considered an invaluable resource to the local music community. We advertise local events; you can always find out what's going on in the area by browsing our bulletin board. Our sister concert series, Institute of Musical Traditions, www.imtfolk.org is a non-profit (501)(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional music and folk arts. In November 2017, we expanded our lessons program and opened the School of Musical Traditions, with locations in both Rockville and Takoma Park for private lessons on a wide range of instruments. We also offer group workshops and other special events at both SMT and HMT.

We offer many services at our store. We do instrument rentals, repairs, and appraisals. We rent sound systems and can provide sound engineers and musician referrals for your event. We deal extensively in used instruments and offer trade & consignment. We've been doing mail order sales for over 30 years and can ship worldwide.

A brief history of the business: in 1972, David Eisner purchased the remaining inventory of Hank Levin’s Musical Traditions dulcimer shop in NYC, and opened House of Musical Traditions at 7040 Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park (now home of Roscoe’s Pizza). After a brief foray in the early 1980s with a second location in Berkeley Springs, WV, the store went back to its single location in Takoma Park. In 2008, HMT moved around the corner to its current location at 7010 Westmoreland Ave, Takoma Park, MD. The location included more parking and expanded merchandise & storage areas. 2017 marks HMT’s 45th year in business, which we commemorated with limited edition 45th Anniversary Musical Traditions dulcimers built by Carl Gotzmer.

Videos (show all)

So many Breedloves!
It’s the season for carols to be played prettily- here’s our Justin on what could be your Kamaka Ukelele
Sacred Forest Crystal Harp Demo
Mandocello of a Down!These Gold Tone Music Group mandocellos are just too fun, especially with JHS Pedals...
The Dirty Grass Players will be in concert 6/12 at Institute of Musical Traditions Rockville, with Mark Schatz & Bryan M...
What would 2 weird instruments that have no business playing metal sound like?Mando-Cajon-Tallica!Gold Tone Music Group ...
We got some Cricket travel violins in from Magic Fluke Co. LLC! Bebe takes one for a spin on Cuckoo’s Nest; sounds great...
Wayne Henderson John Cephas Guitar Demo
Alvarez-Yairi DYM70CE demo
Update: SOLD!Amazing 1936 Martin 0-17 (all mahogany) just up for sale! Details at https://hmtrad.com/products/1936-marti...

Telephone

Address


7010 Westmoreland Avenue
Takoma Park, MD
20912

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 5pm
Tuesday 11am - 7pm
Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 7pm
Friday 11am - 7pm
Saturday 11am - 7pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

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