You can learn a new instrument to expand your musical repertoire, write your songs, perform live, or improve your musicianship.
What’s the best part? It doesn’t need to be difficult or expensive to learn a new musical instrument! You can find a wide range of affordable instruments that you can buy and will not require you to spend years practicing to learn the basics. You can also learn to play the guitar yourself with the help of a huge number of online resources. Let’s start.
Acoustic Guitar
Acoustic guitars are not only easier to play than electric guitars but also cheaper.
Guitar is one of the most popular instruments, both for solo play and in bands. It’s a great instrument for new musicians to learn.
When learning to play guitar, you should start with the basics: strumming patterns and chord progressions.
Strumming patterns can be described as repeated patterns. You’ll spend a lot of your time on the acoustic instrument, playing with different patterns.
To play chords, you need to get comfortable with your hands. You’ll have to place your fingers on the strings of the fretboard at different angles while using your other hand to strum.
It can take some time to learn the finger patterns, but with practice, you will soon be able to play the chords.
We recommend the following for beginners: Fender FA115 Dreadnought set, priced at $99.
Ukulele
Ukuleles are a great choice for beginners. They’re easy to carry, cheap, and can be worn comfortably on the fingers.
The Ukulele has four nylon strings and is, therefore, much easier to play than the traditional guitar.
The instrument, which Jason Mraz and other musicians popularized, has become a mainstay in many chart hits.
The portability makes the Ukulele a great instrument for musicians who are always on the go. You can practice and improve your playing anywhere.
It is important to note that no two ukuleles are the same. They come in different sizes and shapes.
There are two main types of ukuleles.
Soprano Ukuleles These are the smallest and most commonly played type.
Baritone/Tenor ukuleles These are larger, making them a better choice for those with bigger hands.
The Ukulele is a guitar-like instrument that has a similar appearance and feel. However, the Ukulele’s unique sound makes it much more than just a guitar imitator. It has become a favorite of many instrumentalists!
We recommend the following for beginners: Mahalo Kahiko Series MK1 soprano ukulele priced at $29.
Keyboard
The keyboard is a cheaper and better alternative to a piano. If you are a musician and write your music, having a keyboard on hand is a valuable tool.
There are many free resources available online for learning the piano. These include tutorials, sheet music, etc. You can learn to play the keyboard online without having to pay for lessons.
A keyboard has many more features than a piano. It comes with built-in technology, such as click tracks for the unboard, training features, and play-alongs. This makes learning much easier.
You can plug in a keyboard with a USB MIDI port into your Digital Audio Workstation to access sounds on the computer.
The possibilities for music and sound creation are endless. In fact, the keyboard is a more suitable instrument than the piano for those who prefer to create their music rather than play and perform pre-written pieces.
We recommend the Yamaha PSR E273 Portable Keyboard for beginners. It costs $193.
Recorder
You may also know it as the recorder.
It’s easy to learn and affordable, so it’s perfect for beginners.
The recorder is a wooden wind instrument that you can play by holding the recorder between your palms, like a tin whistle, and pressing down on different holes with your fingers.
The recorder allows you to play, write, and learn melodies and tunes by focusing on only one note at a given time.
Don’t let the fear of sounding pristine on the recorder put you off.
We recommend the Yamaha YRS23Y Soprano recorder for beginners, which is priced at $17.99.
Harmonica
The small size of the harmonica and its portability make it a great choice to carry around in your pocket.
Harmonica is played only by the breath. The harmonica is played by inhaling and exhaling breath through a tube that vibrates a metal tine.
The technique is based on using the tongue to direct air into the correct holes. As you cannot see the hole you are playing in, you will have to play by feel, which may take some time to become accustomed to.
The harmonica has a fixed scale, which is called a diatonic scale. This means that there are no incorrect notes. Nice!
You can choose a chromatic harmonica if you really want to challenge yourself. It is more difficult to learn but has more versatility. This makes it an excellent accompaniment for other instruments or when playing in a group.
The harmonica is a great instrument for melodic play because you can focus more easily on one note than on multiple notes at once.
We recommend the following for beginners: Fenders Blues deluxe Harmonica at $15.
Electronic drums
Electronic drums are a good option for beginners who are drumming.
They’re also easier to handle, carry and play with – and they will generate fewer complaints from neighbors and family!
A drum module (which can be installed at different locations)
You can also play along with drum VSTs by going electronic.
Once you have mastered your playing, you can go to the studio and mix your drums or record your drums, depending on what you are trying to achieve.
We recommend the following for beginners: Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit at $395.
Auxiliary percussion
Auxiliary percussion instruments are primarily used to support the rhythm of the band.
Most of these games are easy to learn and inexpensive to purchase – most of them can be found for less than $50.
You won’t have to learn how to read notes or music because of their percussive nature. It’s more about keeping a steady beat and creating solid rhythms.
It’s not as simple as it seems – internalizing rhythm takes time and dedication. Many drummers and percussionists use metronomes to train their brains, resulting in muscle-memory playing.
After you have mastered the smaller styles of percussion, you can move up to the bigger instruments like congas and bongos.
The best thing about being a skilled percussionist is that you can integrate this instrument into any song or band, especially when it comes to rock and metal genres.
Your voice
Your voice is the least obvious instrument (or perhaps even the most obvious).
Your voice is the best instrument you have.
You can train and strengthen your vocal abilities and skills, whether you are beatboxing, rapping, or playing an instrument.
When it comes to writing your lyrics and singing them, improving your vocals is a great way to improve your skills.
You can improve your voice by taking singing lessons or meeting a teacher. If you are interested in singing professionally or if you wish to master a style of singing that demands a high level of technical ability, like opera, this is a must.
You don’t have to! You can learn to sing completely on your own. You can find a lot of online tutorials and learning materials that will help you improve your vocal abilities, regardless of whether you are a natural-born Whitney Houston or not.
Looking back at all the instruments that we have discussed, it is clear that buying an instrument (and keeping it) is much easier than you think.
If you want to learn an instrument, expand your musical skills, or start creating your music, this is the time to do it!
