Easy to Learn Musical Instruments for Beginners

If you're looking to dive into the world of music, learning a new instrument is a fantastic way to express your creativity, improve your musicianship, and even perform live. The best part is, it doesn't have to be a daunting or expensive endeavor. There are many affordable instruments that are easy to pick up, and with the wealth of free online resources available, you can even take a DIY approach to learning.

Acoustic Guitar: A Classic Choice

The acoustic guitar is a popular instrument for beginners due to its versatility and relatively gentle learning curve. Not only are acoustic guitars easier to master than electric guitars, but they’re also the cheaper option to buy as far as guitars go. It's a great instrument for solo playing or as part of a band, making it advantageous for new musicians and songwriters.

When learning guitar, start with the basics: strumming patterns and chord progressions. Strumming patterns are repeated rhythmic patterns. Playing chords involves pressing your fingers onto the strings on the fretboard in different positions while strumming with your other hand. It might feel tricky at first, but with practice, you'll memorize finger patterns and shapes in no time.

Recommendation: Fender FA-115 Dreadnought Set (around $99).

Ukulele: Portable and Playful

The ukulele is a mini guitar with four nylon strings, making it softer on the fingertips than a traditional guitar with steel strings. Ukuleles have some definite benefits for new musicians - they’re portable, they’re cheap and they’re a lot easier worn on the fingertips. Its portability allows you to practice anywhere.

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Ukuleles come in different shapes and sizes. Soprano ukuleles are smaller and the most common, while tenor/baritone ukuleles are larger, potentially making them easier to play for those with bigger hands.

Despite its similarities to the guitar, the ukulele has its own unique sound, making it a favorite among instrumentalists.

Recommendation: Mahalo Kahiko Series MK1 Soprano Ukulele (around $29).

Keyboard: Versatile and Tech-Savvy

The keyboard is an excellent and cheaper alternative to the piano, especially for musicians who write their own music. The keyboard is the best & cheapest alternative to the piano. With a plethora of free online piano training, tutorials, and sheet music, you can learn to play without paying for lessons.

Keyboards often have built-in technology like click tracks, training features, and play-along tracks, enhancing the learning experience. Many keyboards also support MIDI controllers, allowing you to connect to a DAW and access a wide range of sounds.

Recommendation: Yamaha PSR-E273 Portable Keyboard (around $193).

Recorder: A Childhood Favorite

The recorder is a woodwind instrument that's easy and affordable to pick up, making it ideal for beginners. You hold it between your hands and use your fingers to cover holes, producing different pitches and sounds. The recorder is a woodwind instrument, which you play by holding it between your hands, similar to a tin whistle, and using your fingers to press down and cover different holes to get your desired pitches and sounds.

Focusing on playing one note at a time makes the recorder perfect for learning tunes and melodies. And, in the right hands, the recorder can sound surprisingly beautiful.

Recommendation: Yamaha YRS-23Y Soprano Recorder (around $17.99).

Harmonica: Pocket-Sized and Expressive

The harmonica's small size and portability make it an ideal choice for practicing on the go or entertaining friends. The harmonica is played solely by breath. It sounds when you inhale and exhale breath through a channel which vibrates a metal tine.

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The technique involves using your tongue to focus air into the right holes, which can take some getting used to since you can't physically see where you're playing. One of the best parts about the harmonica, however, is that you can't play it badly. The harmonica comes with a diatonic scale, meaning there are no wrong notes.

For a challenge, you could opt for a chromatic harmonica, which is more difficult but offers more musical versatility.

Recommendation: Fender Blues Deluxe Harmonica (around $15).

Electronic Drums: Quiet and Customizable

Electronic drums are a great option for drumming beginners because they’re easier to handle, carry, and play, and they generate less noise. A standard electronic drum kit includes pads, a kick drum, and a drum module.

The electronic setup allows you to integrate drumming samples or drum VSTs to play along to. Once you've mastered the playing side, you can record and mix your drums in the studio to achieve your desired sound.

Recommendation: Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit (around $395).

Auxiliary Percussion: Rhythmic Foundation

Auxiliary percussion instruments provide rhythmic support to a band. Some popular options include the tambourine, shakers, maracas, and triangle. The majority of these are very easy to play and affordable to buy - you can usually find all of them for below $50.

Playing these instruments is about keeping a beat and producing solid rhythms, which takes time and practice to internalize. Many percussionists use a metronome to engrain the motions and beats, eventually developing muscle memory.

Once you've mastered the smaller styles, you can move on to larger percussion instruments like congas or bongos. Percussion instruments can seamlessly integrate into almost any band environment or song.

Your Voice: The Innate Instrument

Your voice is your own best natural instrument. Whether you’re beatboxing or rapping, your vocal skills and vocal ability can be trained and strengthened, the same way your playing skills can be. Hone in on your vocals when it comes to writing and singing your own lyrics. You can improve your vocal ability with free learning materials and tutorials available online.

Other Instruments to Consider

Piano: The piano is one of the easiest instruments to learn because all of the notes are laid out before you. And to make a sound, all you have to do is press the key.
Bongos: Bongos are a great instrument to teach rhythm and basic percussion. They are also inexpensive and very portable.
Xylophone: The melodies are commonly recognized by children before they understand the words. The xylophone is a simple instrument that every child may learn to play.
Banjo: The banjo has four full strings and one string that goes halfway up the banjo’s neck. This setup combined with the way it’s tuned means you can play several chords by pressing the strings with just one or two fingers at a time.
Bass Guitar: Bass guitar is easy to learn the basics of because you can play songs by pressing the strings with just one or two fingers.
Strumstick: This 3-stringed instrument has frets that noticeably vary in size, much more so than a guitar.
Cello: Similarly to violin, cello is one of the best strings instruments for beginners. Although significantly larger than the violin, the cello is still relatively easy for beginners to handle and teaches the basics of strings technique.

Choosing the Right Instrument for You

Several factors should influence your choice of instrument:

Your Goals: Consider the type of music you want to play.
Abilities: Try out different instruments to see what feels natural.
Cost: Beginner-level options are available for most instruments at affordable prices.
Passion: Choose an instrument that excites you, as this will motivate you to practice and improve.

Tips for Mastering Your Musical Instrument

Choose the best instrument for you. Picking the right instrument for you is an integral part of sticking with it and enjoying even the more repetitive elements of the learning experience.
Develop a practice schedule. Practice at least a little each day to improve consistently.
Seek out an education. Music is a complicated subject that encompasses music theory, performance, technique, and many other aspects. To help make sense of it all and track your progress, it’s a good idea to seek out music education that can keep you on the right track. There are many free learning materials and beginner musician apps out there.
Choose the One You’re Most Excited About. As you were looking at this list of instruments, is there one that intrigued you the most? If so, follow that gut instinct. Music is meant to be fun, and learning an instrument should be too.
Create a Practice Routine. Once you’ve chosen your instrument, figure out a regular practice routine. But instead of making practice a chore, make it fun.
Consider Getting a Music Teacher. Yes, these instruments are easy to learn and you can learn them by gathering tips on the internet. But some people do better with accountability, and that’s where a music teacher is helpful.

Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument

Learning an instrument offers numerous benefits, including stress relief, increased gray matter in the brain, and improved immune system function.

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