High Strung Violins and Guitars

08/14/2025

Our "messaging" seems to be on the fritz. Please call High Strung at 919-286-3801 if you need to talk with us. Thanks!

01/11/2025

We will be closed Saturday 1/11/25 due to the storm.

08/05/2022

It's a "ukulele beach" kinda weekend! Stop in today or tomorrow and check out the fabulous, beach friendly Waterman Ukes by Kala! Made to a) withstand sun, sea and sand and b) not clobber your pocketbook!
Clear ones, black ones, blue ones, GLOW IN THE DARK ones!!! Give the fireflies some competition with your backyard hootenanny! Soprano and concert sizes, while supplies last.
See you tomorrow, 10:00-5:00!

02/22/2022

Time to vote! IndyWeek's nominations are open for their "Best Of". Please, go here to nominate us for "best place to buy a musical instrument" (under SHOP) and the High Strung School of Music for "best music lessons" (under SERVICES).

https://vote.indyweek.com/

We need enough nominations to make it the finalists and we're counting on YOU! Thank you so much!!!

11/24/2021

High Strung's retail shop will be closing early today at 2:00pm and will be closed Thursday 11/25 through Sunday 11/28 for the Thanksgiving holiday. We hope you have a wonderful weekend with your loved ones.

09/19/2021

For those who know and love High Strung, here is my official announcement. I have been guiding the business for over fifteen years and my last day as its owner will be Tuesday, September 21st. I am proud to tell you that Will Postlethwait and Gail Stewart will be succeeding me as the new owners. They have worked with and for me for over seven years, and we have been planning this change for two.

I will miss you all, and ask that you continue to support Durham's community music store. I hope to see many of you at the Festival for the Eno River or Chatham Arts Council's Clydefest, as well as at the (now IN PERSON) Irish learning jams. (Tuesday nights, 6:30 - 8:00 at Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church.) It's been a challenging and fulfilling 15 years and I feel blessed to have been part of Durham's music-making scene. Thank you all.

"For the good are always the merry, save by an evil chance, and the merry they love to fiddle, and the merry they love to dance." (WB Yeats)

08/26/2021

The Irish Learning Jam is back in person (masks required) at Blacknall Presbyterian Church as of Tuesday, September 7th. Moving to Tuesdays, still 6:30 - 8:00. If you play an acoustic instrument, please join us to learn trad Celtic music by ear (!), with instruction in ornamentation and "what makes it Celtic". No charge. Call or email High Strung for more details.

06/06/2021

We are looking for theremins or thereminis we could borrow for the Festival for the Eno. If you have one you're willing to lend (we will guard it with our lives) please get in touch!

03/29/2021

We are helping a local bluegrass band search for a new fiddle player. Traditional bluegrass with some original material; weekly (outdoor) rehearsals; local gigs - when the world turns right side up and we can all gig again. Meanwhile, if you're interested please get in touch with High Strung (919-286-3801). If you don't play, but know someone who does, please share this with them. Thanks!

03/12/2021

Please watch this brief, wonderful speech from Congresswoman Susan Bonamici, supporting music eduction in our schools. https://twitter.com/i/status/1370114831399927810

And then, please sign this pledge, supporting "Arts ARE Education" and making sure that funding is provided for the important Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) that the arts provide. https://www.artsareeducation.org/sign-the-pledge

The arts are part of a balanced education, providing America’s learners with crucial skills and knowledge they need to be productive, college and career-ready individuals. Accordingly, all students have the right to an arts education that includes dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts...

02/18/2021

Virtual lessons scheduled for today will take place as usual. Retail and repair are closed, to ensure the safety of our customers and our staff. We expect to be open tomorrow (Friday).