Music Stands – The ULTIMATE Buyers Guide

In Guides for Musicians by Jake L Leave a Comment

Last updated on June 7th, 2019 at 10:16 pm

There are many tools that are very helpful for musicians of any skill level, but if you’re like me, you don’t want to spend your money on something that you won’t use often enough for it to be worth it. There is a tool I believe that any musician will benefit from, and that is a Music Stand. Music stands are an essential tool for any musician as you can use it during your practice sessions, gigs, and even your recording sessions.

Owning your own music stand will make your life as a musician much easier and will be well worth the money you have to put into buying one.

Table of Contents

Why Should You Buy a Music Stand?

Like I said earlier, it will make your life easier as a musician and there are many uses that you will find that will make the small investment worth it.

Practice Sessions

Having a music stand will make practice sessions for any musician much smoother. It will help you keep all of your music sheets organized and easy to view so you can focus more on practicing your musical instrument.

You won’t have to worry about the inconvenience of laying your music sheets on a table or trying to lean your phone/tablet onto something so it can stand in a way that makes it visible to read. You can be more efficient in your practice sessions and you’ll have fewer problems down the road.

We literally had 8 hours to meet up, organize a setlist, and practice for an hour-long set.

Using Music Stands at Gigs

As it would be ideal to have all of your music memorized for a gig, sometimes there are situations where it would be very difficult to do so. Maybe you were asked to perform a gig on short notice with specific music that you haven’t practiced. It might even be hard to have hours of music ready to perform if you were asked to play some background music at a venue/event.

Music stands can help you in these type of situations as well. If your time is limited and you don’t have enough time to memorize every song that needs to be played, bring a music stand to hold your music and lyric sheets. You won’t have to turn down a gig opportunity just because you won’t have enough time to memorize the songs.

Music Stands During Recording Sessions

It’s very convenient to have a music stand to use at a recording session. While many recording studios will have music stands ready for use, this might not be the same if you’re a person who records music at home.

Recording sessions can be stressful at times as you’re trying to get your best takes to put into the final recording.

I often found myself frustrated during home recording sessions after messing up an almost perfect take just because I forgot the lyrics or the chord change in a song. Music stands made it possible for me to focus more on giving a good recording take, instead of scrolling through my phone/tablet for the lyrics and chords.

Time is money, even if you’re at the comfort of your own home recording studio, and I definitely saved a lot of time using a music stand.

Heavy Duty Music Stands

Let’s get right into it, shall we? Let’s talk about heavy duty music stands first. We’ve assembled a short list of trustworthy, high-quality and durable music stands that any musician can afford.

Here are my picks for the top heavy-duty music stands on the market today.

1. Manhasset Model #48 Sheet Music Stand (Built to Last)

If you’re looking for a long lasting, high quality, sturdy music stand that won’t topple over when there’s too much weight on it, the Manhasset Model #48 Sheet Music Stand is an easy choice.

Features and Design

  • The Manhasset music stand has an all aluminum lightweight desk that can handle a good amount of weight
  • Automatic no-knob friction tilt neck
  • It also has a nice black textured finish to its design, helping prevent any scratches or chipping that can happen from constant use
  • This Manhasset music stand has solid brass barrings and a greaseless heavy-duty chrome inner shaft that adds to its durability
  • Original counter balanced Magic Finger Clutch provides one-hand friction grip
  • An all-steel welded base provides this music stand with excellent stability
  • Secure at any height to fit your needs
  • Does not take too much space

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My Favorite Features

The Aluminum Lightweight Desk

What I really like about the desk on this music stand is that it feels nice and sturdy, while maintaining its lightweight.

You won’t have to worry about having a heavy stack of music sheets or a big music book causing your music stand to collapse on you.

The nice black textured finish helps prevent any scratches or chipping from occurring, which is great for anyone who is worried about the aesthetic look of their music stand in the long run.

Automatic No-Knob Friction-tilt Neck

It’s easy to tilt the desk in any position that you need while maintaining its hold due to the constant tension that is being delivered from its automatic no-knob friction tilt neck. This a good feature to have, especially if you find yourself adjusting your music stands constantly in different situations.

You won’t have to constantly unwind knobs to adjust this music stand to your specific needs.

It Will Last You a Long Time

It’s a long-lasting music stand that is very durable.

Many people have stated that their Manhasset Music Stands have lasted them many years, and the newer ones they have purchased are just as high quality as the ones from before.

Final Verdict

Overall, this music stand is very high quality and will definitely last you a long time, even after consistent use.

The Manhasset #48 Model Music Stand is good for any type of situation, especially if you plan on using it as a stationary music stand. It’s a great stand for anyone who owns their personal home recording studio.

If you’re looking for a music stand that is more portable, this may not be your best choice as it is heavier than other stands and doesn’t come with too many portability features.

Make sure to keep reading on as we will discuss more portable music stand options for musicians who are looking to move around their music stands constantly.

Something to keep in mind

I will admit, that it isn’t the most portable music stand you will find on the market. You may be required to disassemble the music stand if you plan on traveling with it. It still is possible to bring this music stand with you on your travels without disassembling it, just make sure you have enough room before packing it up.

If you do order this particular music stand, do keep in mind that there is some assembly that is required before using it.

Here’s a great video from Musicroom UK that shows you the step by step process of assembling your Manhasset Model #48 Music Stand.

2. On-Stage SM7211B Professional Grade Folding Orchestral Music Stand

Another durable music stand that is nice and sturdy that any musician can find value out of. What I like about this music stand is not only is it durable, it’s also a lot more portable than other heavy duty music stands.

Features and Design

  • Folding Tripod Base for convenient storage and travel
  • Angle adjustment tension knobs, making it easy to remove from the upper shaft
  • High Impact Plastic Leg Housing for stability
  • Friction locking knobs
  • leg support straps
  • Non-slip rubber feet which are great for any surface
  • Nice Black coat finish (Charcoal)

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My Favorite Features

Heavy Duty With Some Portability

The foldable tripod base is a great feature to have as it makes it easier for storage and travel.

It is on the heavier side when it comes to a music stand that is portable, and if you’re looking for the easiest music stand to carry around everywhere you go, this may not be the stand you are looking for.

However, this music stand is definitely heavy duty while offering features that make it more portable. It’s nice and sturdy with great stability making it an excellent music stand to bring to any setting.

This is a music stand I would trust to use in an outdoor area as I won’t have to worry about the wind blowing it down.

There are definitely better options when it comes to more “portable” music stands.

This is a high-quality and durable music stand with some portability as an added bonus.

Highly Adjustable

This music stand is easy to adjust to fit your needs with its friction locking knob design. You can adjust the music stand from 24″ up to 45″ in height leaving you with a lot of options to work with.

There are 3 adjustment knobs found on this music stand.

  1. At the top of the legs allowing you to expand or contract the tripod
  2. In the middle of the stand so you can adjust the page holder higher or lower
  3. Behind the page holder so you can easily adjust the tilt to your liking

The legs are strong and adjustable as well. If you find yourself in a situation where there isn’t much floor space, you can adjust the legs to fit your needs without sacrificing any stability from the music stand.

3. PARTYSAVING Orchestra Sheet Music Stand

A great music stand with a nice heavy duty design, the PARTYSAVING Orchestra Sheet Music Stand is a great choice for anyone looking for a durable music stand that’s easier to carry around.

This music stand is around 5lbs in weight , making it the lightest heavy duty music stand that we’ve discussed yet. Best of all, it’s affordable for any musician shopping for a music stand on a budget.

Features and Design

  • Lightweight tripod legs that fold down to a compact size (Good for travel and storage)
  • Practical design, providing you with easy height adjustments, as well as quick assembly
  • Metal spring arm extensions to keep your music sheets in place
  • 2 adjustment knobs that allow you to adjust the stand’s height to suit your needs (Height Adjustable from 21.5″-48.5″)
  • Durable legs for great stability
  • Rubber feet that help the stand stay in place and prevents it from moving or sliding around
  • Sturdy Page Holder
  • Overall lightweight design for easy travel

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My Favorite Features

Overall Lightweight Design

The overall lightweight design of this music stand makes it a great choice for a musician who’s looking for a stand that can be easily transported.

While it is lightweight, it doesn’t detract from the quality of this music stand. It’s built to be reliable, as it is composed of durable steel materials with a sleek black finish to top it off.

Convenient for Travel

This music stand is easy to assemble and disassemble, making it very convenient for travel.

You can fold this music stand down to a nice compact size, great for transporting it, especially if you are limited on space.

It’s sturdy legs and rubber feet is also good for many surfaces, giving you a peace of mind when setting up your music stand for different locations.

Metal Spring Arms

I love the design of the metal spring arms on the page holder because it makes it very convenient for anyone who has a lot of music sheets on their music stand.

This is especially good for someone like me, a person who performs a lot in outdoor settings. When performing outdoors, wind can become a factor to keep in mind, but with the metal springs arms, I won’t have to worry about my music sheets flying everywhere.

The arms can also hold thicker music books, which is great if you need something to keep your music book in place while you perform.

Best Portable Music Stands

If you’re looking for a good music stand that is portable there are a few things to look for. Is the music stand lightweight and easy to carry? Does it have features that are all about transportability while still remaining durable and of high quality?

There are many options to choose from when it comes to portable music stands, but let me help you narrow down the search. Here are some of my favorite portable music stands on the market right now.

1. Crafty Gizmos Deluxe Adjustable Folding Music Stand

Definitely one of my favorite music stands, being one that is nice and durable while offering some awesome portability features.

The Craft Gizmos Deluxe Music Stand covers a lot of musicians’ needs and offers features that many musicians will find useful.

Design and Features

  • Made with high-quality materials and is built to last
  • Durable wide shelf with extra wide spring page holders
  • Squeeze Handle for quick adjustments and effortless height adjustments
  • high-quality rubber feet leaving no scratches on your flooring
  • a sturdy base that opens and closes quickly and easily
  • Desk is foldable
  • Ability to adjust to a 15-degree angle for use on uneven surfaces
  • Entire music stand can be packed down to fit in a carrying bag
  • Comes with a carrying bag

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My Favorite Features

Portability Features

This music stand is very portable due to its portability features.

First of all, the entire music stand can be packed down to fit in the carrying bag that comes with the music stand. The desk and legs fold up for easy storage when you plan on transporting your stand.

The carrying bag is great, but do keep in mind that it is a zippered bag. Make sure to use the bag with care as zippers can get chewed up and jammed when used to roughly. Also remember that the bag is made specifically for the music stand so try not put too many extra things into it.

Quality Music Shelf

The music shelf on this stand is made of quality metal , making it very durable however the vent hole design makes it much lighter compared to other music stands made of the same type of material.

You can also use sheet music magnets with this stand to hold all of your loose papers together, but you might not need them. This stand comes with spring arms at the bottom of the shelf to hold down your papers.

If you don’t need the spring arms, simply adjust and move them out of the way until they are needed again.

Final Verdict

The Craft Gizmo Deluxe Music Stand is an all around stand that comes with many awesome features.

This is one of the best portable music stands that you can find as the design is focused around being portable while not sacrificing any of its durability.

This music stand is easy to set up and adjust to fit your needs and also easy to break down and pack up once you are finished using it. This is great when it comes to travel as it makes it even easier for you to transport your music stand.

If you’re a musician who’s looking for a music stand that you can bring around easily without having to worry about its durability and longevity, this stand is the one you are looking for.

2. Gearlux Deluxe Collapsible Orchestra Music Stand

The Gearlux Deluxe Collapsible Orchestra Music Stand is great for anyone looking for a high-quality portable music stand at an affordable price.

These music stands are built to last and offer features that make it more portable and convenient than other stands.

Features and Design

  • Durable and built to last
  • Lightweight and easily transportable (Weighs around 4.41lbs)
  • Height adjustable (28 to 48 inches)
  • Twist knob on verticle post (Designed and built for maximum weight handling capability)
  • Tray tilts 180° for maximum flexibility (Tray’s ratio 2″x19″)
  • Magnetic tray (Hold loose music sheets with the use of magnets on your music stand)
  • Detachable and foldable legs for even more portability

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My Favorite Features

Portability Features

I enjoy the features that this music stand offers that makes it more portable. Portability of equipment is very important for a musician who has to move their gear around.

The detachable and foldable legs make things much more convenient whenever you have to travel with this music stand. It allows for more space when traveling and even when put into storage for future use.

The vented tray design is also a nice touch as it makes the music stand lighter in weight.

Magnetic Tray

I personally love that the tray is magnetic on this music stand. It makes it much easier to maintain all of the loose music sheets on your tray without the use of clips.

Simply stick a magnet onto those loose sheets that are placed on your tray, and you’re good to go.

This is great for someone who performs at outdoor venues as you won’t have to worry about the wind blowing away all of your papers. You won’t have to use rubber bands, clips, and other interesting tactics to keep your paper still, giving you a chance to focus more on your performance.

Final Verdict

Overall a very nice, affordable music stand that comes with great features. If you are looking for a music stand that is portable, easy to set-up, and durable enough to last you a good amount of time, the Gearlux Collapsible Orchestra Music Stand is a great choice. For the price of this music stand, you’re getting a lot of great features that I’m sure you’ll love.

3. Peak Music Stands SMS-20 Collapsible Music Stand

Another great music stand for musicians who need a stand that is portable but sturdy.

The Peak Music Stands SMS-20 is a fully collapsible music stand that’s all about portability and durability. It even comes with a nice carrying bag to keep your music stand in when traveling to your gigs and performances.

Features and Design

  • Made of high-quality tubular steel
  • Foldable desk
  • Fully collapsible tripod design
  • Quick Clamp Levers for quick and easy adjustments and set-up
  • Comes with a Carrying Bag

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My Favorite Features

Portability Features

The portability features that this music stand offers are excellent for someone looking for a stand to travel with.

The foldable desk and its fully collapsible tripod legs make it easy to pack this music stand into the carrying bag that comes with it. Great for traveling musicians who need a stand that is easy and convenient to transport.

It’s also lightweight, making it even easier to carry around.

Quick Tip:
When this music stand is all packed up, it small enough to fit into another bag such as the one that holds your gig speakers. Saving you one less trip back to the car when setting up for a gig/performance.

Quick Clamp Levers

The quick clamp levers on this music stand make it so much easier to adjust the stand satisfy your needs. You’ll spend less time adjusting and assembling your music stand, giving you more time to focus on more important things.

Final Verdict

Overall an excellent choice for someone who is looking for a music stand that comes with many portability features. It’s a little more expensive than the Gearlux music stand that we recently talked about, but not by much. Do remember that it does come with a nice little carrying bag for the stand so that little extra you pay might be worth it.

Another great music stand at an affordable price.

Must-Have Music Stand Accessory

There are many great accessories that you can add on to your music stand that are beneficial to have, but there is one particular accessory I believe every music stand owner needs.

A Music Stand Light Clip. I’ve brought my music stands to performances that we’re in dark locations, making the stands useless.

Story Time

I had a nightmare experience where someone turned off the lights as I was performing a song. It was cool to see everyone turn on their phone flashlights and waving it in the air making for an epic scene. However, I was performing a song that wasn’t entirely memorized. You can piece together what happened next.

But anyway, so you don’t run into a situation like that, let’s talk about the music stand light clip that I recommend to any music stand owner.

Lumiens L9 – Music Stand Light Clip

It’s always good to have a trustworthy light clip for your music stand as there will be times where you will find yourself in a location with that requires one.

The Lumiens L9 Music Stand Light Clip is a great choice as it is light enough to stay on your music stand without making it top-heavy.

It also has a strong clamp to ensure that it firmly grips onto your music stand. It has a lot of nice features that make this Light Clip an excellent addition to your musical tools and accessories.

Features

  • Operates on 3x AA batteries or can be plugged in (3x AA batteries Included )
  • Comes with a power chord (78 inches long)
  • LOW CONSUMPTION (20 hours continuous use with 3x AA batteries)
  • 9 LED lights and 2 levels of brightness
  • MULTI-USE with its Clip-on design
  • Silicon pad on clip protects gripped surfaces from damage
  • NO FLICKER due to its Optical Grade Lens providing evenly distributed light with no hotspots
  • Comes with Lifetime Warranty

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This is a must-have if you’re looking to buy a Light Clip. It’ll make everything more convenient for you while also being easy to use and set up. No more trying to read your music in the dark.

Final Thoughts

Well there you have it, The Ultimate Buyers Guide for any musician looking to buy a music stand. We’ve covered durable music stands that are great for stationary workplaces and music stands that are highly portable for musicians who are always on the go.

We all have different needs when it comes to music stands so always keep in mind that not every stand is for every person. Find the one that has what you need.

I hope this guide has helped you in your search for a good music stand and as always, don’t forget to keep practicing and have fun playing music!

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