How to Hold a Tablet on a Music Stand

A tablet makes a great music stand screen, as long as it's held steady at the right height. Here's how to mount an iPad or tablet securely for reading sheet music, plus holders that musicians rely on.

Why a Regular Music Stand Isn't Enough

Most music stands are built for paper. A folding wire stand has a narrow, shallow ledge that a tablet can tip off, and even a solid-desk stand can let a tablet slide when you tap the screen to turn a page. A dedicated holder grips the tablet so it stays put, at whatever angle you set.

Four Ways to Mount a Tablet

1. Use a Standalone Tablet Stand

A floor stand made just for tablets doesn't need a music stand at all. These are usually light, fold small enough to carry to a gig, and adjust in height for playing seated or standing. They're a good choice if you don't already have stands, or want one setup that goes everywhere with you.

2. Clamp a Tablet Holder to the Stand's Pole

The most flexible option. A clamp-on holder grips the tube of a music stand or mic stand and holds the tablet in adjustable arms. It works with stands you already own, and many swivel between portrait and landscape. Before buying, check two sizes: the tube diameters the clamp fits, and the tablet sizes it holds with your case on.

3. Swap the Desk on a Manhasset Stand for a Tablet Holder

If your group uses Manhasset stands, Manhasset makes tablet holders for them, so the stand you already use becomes a tablet stand.

4. Use a Sturdy Solid-Desk Stand

A heavy-duty stand with a solid desk can hold a tablet without extra hardware, especially in a case with a grippy back. It's the simplest setup, but the tablet isn't locked in place, so a firm tap can still move it.

Popular Holders and Stands

These are popular choices with musicians. Check each one's current details on Amazon, including the sizes it fits, before buying.

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Standalone Tablet Stands

• AirTurn TechAssist on Amazon
  AirTurn's MANOS holder (tablets and phones from 5 to 13.3 inches, case on or off, rotates 360°) on the goSTAND, which extends to 58 inches and folds to 18 inches for a backpack.
• Hercules DG307B-FS1 Tablet Floor Stand on Amazon
  A tripod floor stand with a tablet and phone holder, for devices about 6 to 13 inches (152 to 333 mm) wide. Folds flat for transport.
• K&M 19775 Tablet Stand on Amazon
  A floor stand for tablets from 10 to 16 inches, with height adjustable from about 25 to 59 inches for seated or standing players, and easy portrait or landscape switching.

Clamp-On Holders

• K&M 19790 Tablet Holder on Amazon
  Fits tablets from 8.6 to 13 inches and swivels 90° between portrait and landscape. Clamps to stand tubes or screws onto a mic stand thread.
• Hercules DG307B Tablet Holder on Amazon
  An adjustable tablet and phone holder from Hercules, made for band and orchestra use.
• Hercules DG207B Tablet Holder on Amazon
  Clamps to most stands whatever the tube shape, with an adjustable angle and a standard camera-tripod thread.
• Ultimate Support JS-MNT101 on Amazon
  An affordable universal holder for iPads and iPad mini that mounts to a mic stand.

For Manhasset Stands

• Manhasset Universal Tablet Holder (3200-U) on Amazon
  For Manhasset stands. Holds tablets up to 12.5 inches in a V-shaped cradle, with one-handed tilt adjustment.
• Manhasset 48 Music Stand on Amazon
  The classic heavy-duty music stand, sturdy enough to hold a tablet steadily.

Setting It Up for Reading

• Height: put the top of the screen near eye level when you're playing, about where you'd put paper music, so you aren't looking down.
• Angle: tilt the tablet slightly back. It's easier to read and cuts glare from overhead lights.
• Distance: a tablet screen is smaller than a printed page, so you may want it a little closer than you'd put paper.
• Portrait or landscape: Page Turner fits each page to the screen, so most sheet music appears largest with the tablet upright (portrait).
• Steady for page turns: if you're the leader and turn pages by tapping, a firm holder keeps the tablet from wobbling. For hands-free turns, see the Guide to Pedals.
• Power: for long rehearsals, run the charging cable down the stand and fasten it so nobody trips on it or pulls the tablet over.

Still working from paper? See how to scan sheet music into a PDF.

Playing outdoors or under stage lights? See reading sheet music on stage and outdoors.

Questions? Contact us.