Deciding what instrument you should learn can be a little daunting for beginners.
Learning an instrument isn’t just about becoming a musical genius, it’s about unlocking the power to create, express yourself — and have a blast doing it!
Whether you want to belt out power ballads like your favorite rockstar or strum mellow tunes under the stars, this guide is meant to help you find your musical match.
Learning Any Instrument Has Benefits
Think of your brain as a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets.
Playing any instrument is indeed a good workout for your brain. It boosts your memory; sharpens your focus; and has numerous other cognitive, emotional and social benefits too!
Cognitive Benefits
Numerous studies suggest that playing music can enhance cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. The brain engages in various complex activities when you learn and play an instrument, contributing to overall development.
Emotional Well-being
Playing an instrument is a powerful emotional outlet. It provides a means of expressing feelings and emotions that words sometimes can’t convey. Creating music can be therapeutic, reducing stress and promoting a sense of empathy too.
Personal Growth
The process of learning an instrument involves overcoming challenges, developing discipline, and building resilience. It encourages self-expression and creativity, leading to personal growth that extends beyond just becoming a good musician.
Factors to Consider
It’s easy to see that any instrument is worth learning. However, you’ll obviously enjoy playing certain instruments or types of music more.
So before deciding on what instrument you should learn, make sure to consider these factors.
Personal Interest
First of all, the most important factor should be what you want to learn.
Do you vision yourself playing an emotional piano recital? Rocking out on stage with an electric guitar? Giving an intense drum solo? Even if you don’t have an inherent passion for any specific instrument, you should think about the genres of music you enjoy most.
Learning to play the music you love is a huge motivator. So pay special attention to your interests, and start from where your current passions are!
Time Commitment
Different instruments can require varying levels of time commitment.
While we aren’t suggesting you “not learn piano because it’s too hard,” you should be realistic about the progress you can make given your schedule. Unrealistic expectations can set you up for frustration and early quitting!
So do assess your schedule and consider choosing a more “straightforward” instrument if necessary. There’s nothing wrong with learning a couple easy songs on the ukulele, harmonica or keyboard.
Budget Considerations
It’s worth saying that some instruments are more affordable than others.
For example, even entry-level violins can be upwards of $750. While worth the long-term investment to more committed players, it’s understandably outside the budget of many beginners.
So certainly do some research on beginner-friendly options, used instruments, and if rentals are possible in your area. You won’t enjoy playing on the cheapest instruments available — and they may cause serious frustration that cause you to quit learning!
Moreover, you should factor in additional costs like music lessons, instrument setups and repairs, and possible accessories.
Available Resources
Evaluate the resources available to you, including access to lessons, potential teachers and online tutorials!
Many beginners choose guitar to learn. Since it’s such a popular instrument with a strong community behind it, it does make learning to play a little easier. There’s no shortage of online gurus with great song tutorials on YouTube, and you probably have guitar teachers near you too!
Overall, having a supportive community can significantly impact your learning experience. If you know people that play an instrument already, it’s worth asking them how they started too.
Popular Instruments for Beginners to Consider
Guitar
As mentioned before, the guitar is very popular amongst beginner musicians. If you’re looking for an instrument that’s versatile, portable, and opens doors to a supportive community, grab a guitar and get ready to strum!
Versatility Unbound: Unlike some instruments that are associated with specific genres, the guitar is a chameleon. Rock out with riffs, serenade with delicate fingerpicking, strum folk tunes around a campfire, or add a funky edge to jazz standards.
Portable Playground: Tuck a guitar in its case, and it’s a great travel companion. An acoustic guitar typically weighs under 5 lbs, doesn’t require electricity, and some models can withstand a little beating too!
Community of Creativity: Consider that many bands have two guitarists. There are all kinds of guitarists, and many of them are happy to share their passion among each other. As such, several online forums and social media groups buzz with tips, tricks, and encouragement too.
Piano
The piano is another classic instrument many people would love to play. Its broad range and visual layout make it accessible, and it serves as a great foundation for music theory.
Every Note at your Fingertips: A piano’s 88 keys places the notes of entire orchestra at your fingertips. It offers the melody only a piano can carry as well as the moving tones of a bass and the playful chirp of flutes.
Transferrable Skills: Learning piano doesn’t just teach you one instrument, it teaches you fundamental musicianship. Ear training and recognizing tones, music theory and how songs are composed, performance and collaborating with others — the lessons are endless.
Community of Creativity: Being another popular instrument, the piano also has a strong community behind it. Whether you want to learn songs, find a new practice routine or find a piano teacher — you’ll have plenty of options and resources.
Ukulele
If you’re looking for an instrument that’s portable, easy to learn, and guaranteed to bring smiles, the ukulele is a perfect musical match.
Various & Affordable: Even nicer solid-wood ukuleles can be had for under $300. You can also pick up a plastic uke for younger beginners or for travel. There isn’t a one “best instrument” for everyone, but it’s highly likely you can find a ukulele that fits your needs and budget.
Soothing Sounds: The ukulele’s happy-go-lucky sound is like sunshine bottled in strings. Its bright, breezy tones instantly conjure up images of sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, and carefree singalongs. It’s instantly relaxing which is reason enough to give it a play.
Easy Entry, Endless Fun: Like the guitar, a ukulele has a friendly pattern-based layout. However, it has easier-to-play nylon strings, only four strings and a forgiving fretboard. Basically, it’s super easy to pick up and start strumming chords. While you can develop more advanced techniques, you can stick to simple songs indefinitely too.
Recorder
Yes, believe it or not, the little plastic flute many of us picked up in grade school is actually a great first instrument. It’s approachable, budget-friendly and opens you to other woodwind instruments.
Small But Mighty: Though compact and lightweight, a recorder does lend itself to many musical applications. From the sweet melodies of Renaissance tunes to the lively rhythms of folk dances, the recorder’s breathy, expressive tone can enchant.
Ultra Budget Friendly: Many recorders are made of plastic and are therefore easy to manufacture and reproduce. As a result, you can find a high-quality one for under $50. Other than voice, there’s no other instrument that’s more affordable.
Learn Music, Join the Band: For anyone who would like to learn how to read music, it is a solid idea to start with the recorder. Without too much difficulty, one can produce a tone that sounds pretty good. As you learn to control your breath and sightread, you can then extend these skills to other instruments too.
What Instrument Should I Learn Then?
Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong to the question of what instrument to learn. The best one is the one that makes your soul sing and feet tap.
Try a few instruments, and find the one that speaks to you most. If after an honest try you decide it’s not for you, there’s no shame in picking up another!
No matter what, do remember the importance of committing to an instrument. It does take some work! Finding a good music teacher is a great way to be kept accountable, and it can also get you where you want to be a lot faster.
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