“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” (Bob Marley)
There’s no understating or downplaying the importance of music in one’s life. It touches everyone, whether a musician, hardcore fan of a given genre, or someone who has a Spotify playlist as diverse as the United Nations. Music unites us, but can also help us when we feel all alone. And yes, as Bob Marley stated, it can take away the pain.
You want to get a tattoo to express your appreciation for the arrangement of sound and its ability to create expressive audible content. However, you’re a little stuck on design concepts which is why you’re online and searching for music tattoo ideas to inspire yours. With one of our shops being located in the entertainment hub of Vancouver BC we have certainly done our fair share of music-themed tattoos and can help answer your query with a few visuals. Have a look below.
Music Themed Tattoo Ideas to Inspire Yours (and why choose Adrenaline Studios to get it done)
Instrumental
Recently completed at Adrenaline Studios in Vancouver BC (Rodrigo Valenzuela)
Your favorite instrument is a logical choice. If you play, getting a tattoo of your personal weapon makes sense. If you don’t play, but favor a particular instrument in any given song this is also a great idea. For instance, if you get the chills over 80’s hairband guitar solos, one of those v-shaped electric axes would make for an amazing concept piece.
Realism Portrait of a Favorite Musician
Recently completed at Adrenaline in Vancouver (Rodrigo Valenzuela)
Is there a particular singer/musician who has inspired you through the years, and you’re pretty sure their legacy won’t be tarnished by an unforgivable scandal (a la R Kelly)? If so, a Realism style tattoo of their likeness is a concept you won’t ever regret. The two examples above we find pieces featuring My Chemical Romance’s Gerald Way and another of Amy Winehouse.
Realism Recreation of a Famous Photo of a Favorite Musician
Recently completed at Adrenaline Studios in Vancouver (Rodrigo Valenzuela)
This music tattoo idea expands upon the Realism portrait concept. Comb through old copies of Rolling Stone, Billboard, Spin, Creem, Source, and so forth to find a famous image of your favorite artist doing something (even if just a facial expression) that makes a statement about who they are and/or what their music represented/represents. In the above tattoo of Bruce Dickenson (Iron Maiden) a statement is made about how the mainstream media vilified metal bands during a given era, making it seem as if the genre corrupted youth and society as a whole. His expression (with horns adorned) is priceless!
Express with No Expression
Recently completed at Adrenaline Studios (Rodrigo Valenzuela)
We’re flipping the script on Billy Idol’s “Eyes Without a Face” by showcasing a concept that takes a famous image of a singer/musician but tattoos it without any of their facial features. There is nary a better representation of this, than the one done featuring Bob Dylan dangling a cigarette in Bob Dylan fashion. What we like about this, is that if you know (who the musician is) then you know. And if you don’t, you don’t. This puts you in an exclusion club of those who know their history for a particular period of music.
Other Popular Music Tattoo Ideas
- Album covers
- Band logos
- Song titles
- Song quotes
- Famous interview quote from a musician
- Symbols of song notes
- Vintage microphones
- Concert ticket stub
Ready to get your music themed tattoo?
CLICK TO BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION
(Greater Vancouver BC area)
Written By:
Adrenaline Tattoo
Tattoos, not attitudes. Piercings, not pricks. From the beginning, Adrenaline’s focus has been on delivering the best customer service possible within the body modification industry.
More By This Author