Guitar is in NO way the easiest instrument to learn. You first have to deal with the pain of the strings, especially on an acoustic guitar as the gauge is the highest, and the strings are the roughest. Classical guitars have nylon strings, and electric guitars have steel strings, both of which are more comfortable to play. You could say triangle is one of the easiest to learn or a guiro or wood blocks or a tambourine. They all help give rhythm and structure to a piece of music. I know people might recommend bongos as a good starter instrument if you want to be part of a rhythm section one day. But my recommendation here is a cajon.
Interested in music, but nervous about getting started? Find out some of the easiest instruments for adults to learn in this guest post by Christopher Sutton.
It’s a common misconception that learning to play a musical instrument as an adult is too difficult, if not impossible. Yet the myth that you need to pursue music lessons early in life in order to master the craft has kept many people from exploring their musical skills.
It’s never too late to learn! In fact, there are many advantages to learning music as an adult.
For one, adults are much more independent and self-motivated than a child being forced to take music lessons. With the right help, guidance, and motivation, any adult can excel at playing a musical instrument.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are five of the easiest instruments for adults to learn.
The Easiest Instruments for Adults
1. Ukulele
Inexpensive to buy and super fun to play, the ukulele is one of the easiest instruments to learn. With just four nylon strings (instead of the guitar’s six), you can quickly pick up simple chords and play some of your favorite songs in just a few weeks. You’ll also be able to gain many fundamental skills that make it easier if you ever want to graduate from the ukulele to the guitar.
2. Harmonica
Be it blues, jazz, rock, folk, or country music, the harmonica (also known as the “Blues Harp”) is a great choice for adult beginners. You don’t need to know a lot in order to start playing and it has a big advantage that any note will be “in key” — it’s hard to sound bad on harmonica!
Plus, harmonicas are very portable — you can carry and practice it anywhere and any time.
3. Bongos
If you’re a fan of salsa, the bongos might be your calling. Bongos originated in Cuba and consist of two conjoined drums. It’s a simpler option than a full drum kit but can provide the same satisfying percussive experience. From there, you can move on to other types of drums and percussion instruments easily!
4. Piano
The piano may seem complicated — after all, you need to learn to coordinate both hands at once — but it’s actually one of the easiest instruments to learn for adults.
Because the notes are all laid out in front of you, it’s easier to understand than many other instruments. And although you can play wrong notes, you can’t ever play out of tune the way you can with other instruments. Moreover, due to its popularity, you’ll have no shortage of useful learning materials when you choose piano as your instrument!
5. Glockenspiel
You might recognize the glockenspiel (pronounced “glock-ench-peel”) from your elementary school music classes or if you were ever enrolled in a Kindermusik class. It looks a lot like a smaller version of a xylophone, but instead of having wooden bars, its bars are made of metal, producing a bright and cheery sound. The glockenspiel is a great way for you to get in touch with your inner child and your inner musician.
Which Instrument Will You Choose?
Learning how to play a musical instrument as an adult isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. There are dozens of instruments out there that are simple and easy to get started with. And while the options listed above may be some of the easiest instruments to learn, there’s no need to limit yourself!
Whatever instrument you choose, excelling at music will eventually feel easy and natural, just as long as you’re genuinely engaged in your lessons and have a dedicated teacher who will nurture your inner musicality along the way. Need help finding a teacher near you, or online? Check out the music teachers at TakeLessons and start becoming the musician you’ve always dreamed of being!
Guest Author: Christopher Sutton is the founder of Easy Ear Training and Musical U, where musicians can discover and develop their natural musicality. Born and raised in London, England, he lives with his wife, daughter, and far too many instruments.
There could be many reasons you didn’t learn an instrument as a child.
Maybe you couldn’t afford it, or you just didn’t have any interest at the time.
However, it’s never too late to learn! Learning an instrument as an adult is fun, rewarding, and easier than you think.
Playing an instrument comes with a number of health benefits, too!
Contents
- So, What’s The Easiest Instrument to Learn?
- What Are the Benefits of Playing Musical Instruments?
- How to Start Learning a New Musical Instrument
So, What’s The Easiest Instrument to Learn?
By now you should be eager to pick up and learn. We’ve shown you why you should learn, how you should learn, and now we’re about to help you decide what you should learn.
Our next list will cover which instruments are the easiest to learn for adult beginners. Enjoy!
Ukulele
They aren’t miniature guitars! Ukuleles have their own unique sound and a huge, loyal following across the globe. They were once heard almost exclusively in Hawaiian music, and have now broken out into the mainstream.
The four nylon strings make the Ukulele less complicated to play than the guitar, and they’re made from nylon which is kinder to your fingers. Being smaller, everything is closer together, making chords far easier to play.
Guitar
Guitars are fantastic instruments because you can learn the basics fairly quickly, yet they offer a lifetime of opportunity to improve your skills.
Bass guitars are generally considered the easiest to learn, as they have fewer strings and you can play great sounding bass riffs which are incredibly simple and easy to learn.
Once you’ve learned the basic techniques involved with playing the guitar, you’ll be able to strum chords along to your favorite songs. With time and practice, you’ll be able to tackle the more advanced techniques.
Melodica / Pianica
A reed instrument and a piano had a child. They called it the melodica (or pianica).
It’s simple to play – just blow into the mouthpiece and play the keys like you would on a piano or keyboard. Unlike a piano, though, you don’t need to learn to play with both hands.
These quirky instruments have been used in mainstream music since the 60s.
Harmonica
The harmonica is deceptively easy to learn. It’s inexpensive and is widely used across a variety of genres such as jazz, folk, rock and pop, making it a great choice if you’d like to learn to play styles of music.
You can learn how to play harmonica – on a basic level – in around two weeks. Even basic harmonica sounds groovy as hell.
Bongos
A popular instrument in Latin and African music, the bongos are incredibly fun – and easy – to play! After learning the basic techniques, there really is no right or wrong way to play the bongo.
You can experiment with different rhythm patterns and slap away to your heart’s content. As long as you play with rhythm, it’s impossible to make the bongos sound bad.
Xylophone / Glockenspiel
This instrument is nostalgic for most of us, having had, or at least played, a xylophone when we were kids. With a dreamy, angelic sound, the xylophone is easy to play and serves as an important part of the orchestral rhythm section.
After you’ve mastered the xylophone, the African marimba, or the balafon are all more advanced variations for you to play.
Tambourines
This reliable percussive instrument may not sound like the most impressive instrument on its own, but as part of a rhythm section, the tambourine really shines.
Very straightforward to play, you just need to be able to shake and slap in rhythm. If you’re eager to play in a band, instruments like the tambourine serve as a great starter instrument.
Triangle
The triangle is the quintessential “I don’t play any instruments” instrument. I’m fairly confident that you can play the triangle already, giving you an idea as to how easy it is to learn.
All you really need is timing. While it’s true that you won’t have as much fun jamming with a triangle as you would with a guitar, they are popular elements in classical music and a great way into an orchestra or band.
What Are the Benefits of Playing Musical Instruments?
Aside from a sense of profound self-achievement and the ability to blow your friends and family away with your new talent, countless medical studies have proven that learning a musical instrument can have a number positive effects both physically and mentally.
Improved Language Learning
As learning to read sheet music is similar to learning another language, the techniques and processes used will make any future language learning easier and faster. You’ll be able to pick up Russian in no time! ?
Increased Memory Capacity
Learning to play songs has an even stronger positive effect on our ability, not only memorize new things but recall them when needed.
Learning those melodies, chords and playing techniques will dramatically improve your memory capacity in the long run.
Physical Benefits
Learning to play the drums can be a highly physical experience, improving your endurance, fitness and overall strength. Similarly, learning to play the guitar requires strength and flexibility in your fingers.
Don’t believe me? Go and shake the hand of an experienced guitar player. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Sharper, More Accurate Hearing
As you learn a musical instrument, you’ll be required to critically listen to your own performance and pay close attention to the song you are trying to play.
Listening intently to music will improve your brain’s ability to process audio. You’ll find your hearing becomes more accurate and sharper as you play more.
Confidence
Many people fail to even start learning a musical instrument, even if they want to. Even more stop part-way through and never finish learning.
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By successfully learning a new instrument, you’ll have far more confidence in your ability to challenge yourself, take up new hobbies and succeed at everything you do.
How to Start Learning a New Musical Instrument
Once upon a time, you had to pay somebody to teach you. Now, we have a wide variety of ways to learn a new instrument. From the old school approach to self-teaching, here are the different ways to learn.
One on One Lessons
The most expensive, yet the most beneficial. Learning from a qualified teacher, one-on-one tutoring is perhaps the most effective way to learn a new instrument.
You’ll have someone there to teach you the correct techniques so you learn an instrument the right way, without picking up any bad habits.
Group Lessons
Group lessons still provide you with the knowledge and expertise of an experienced musician, just in a less intimate environment.
You will spend far less time with the teacher and progress at a slower pace. The good thing is that group lessons are significantly cheaper and are a budget-friendly way to learn an instrument as an adult.
YouTube Tutorials
Extremely cheap, usually even free. There are YouTube tutorials for just about anything these days. Music tutorials are there in the thousands to be used as a free resource to learn a new instrument.
There are some qualified teachers with professional looking YouTube channels. They’ll provide you with all the knowledge you need, but you won’t get the real-time feedback if you’re doing something wrong.
Online Courses
You can purchase online courses created by professional teachers and experienced musicians, designed to take you from basic theory to advanced techniques.
The advantage here is that you can work at your own pace, although not having the financial commitment or obligation of attending lessons requires more self-motivation.