House of Musical Traditions. All things musical. Sales, rentals and repairs of musical instruments, music lessons, books and CDs, electronics (amps, tuners, pickups, mics, cables) and instrument cases. Also the home of the non-profit Institute of Musical Traditions, which has sponsored a weekly concert series in Maryland for 17 years.

Olsson's Books and Records. Washington DC's oldest independent book and music stores.

Ossian USA. A wide selection of Irish and Scottish CDs, DVDs and books, including tutorials for instruments and dancing.

Celtic Grooves Imports. Source for hard-to-get Irish CDs, books and videos, based here in DC.

CD Baby. A great source for recordings you won't find at a mainstream music store.

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. Originally Folkways Records & Service Company, Folkways released 2,168 recordings before founder Moses Asch's death in 1986. The Smithsonian, which acquired Folkways in 1987, continues to make almost all of the original Folkways recordings available for purchase while continuing to add new recordings to the collection.

Turtle Hill Banjo Co.. A truly frightening number of banjos in a single store.