For many decades now, since the mid-20th century, people of many different backgrounds began playing instruments for a hobby. Needless to say, the number of professional musicians has increased, and the overall standards of what means to be a “good” musician have also been rising steadily over the years. At the beginning of the 21st century, a lot of young folks have expressed at least some desire to play an instrument. But what are the easiest instruments for beginners?
Anyhow, the moment they start finding out more about music and these instruments, the higher the chances are that they’ll get discouraged. Which is not unusual for the beginners of any age. When you’re just starting out, you’ll feel as if you’re not doing well enough to fulfill your own expectations. As a result, even some of the most talented and hard-working individuals may just completely give up on their dream to become musicians.
One of the best solutions to overcome this obstacle is to start playing an instrument that’s easier to learn. But what exactly does “easier to learn” mean here? Well, the instruments that we’re going to mention here will offer a more rewarding experience for absolute beginners. In practical terms, this means they’ll be able to learn their first songs much quicker. This does not make these instruments inferior to others in any way whatsoever. Everything is difficult if you want to become really good at it. These will just make the whole experience easier and more rewarding. So let’s get into it.
Piano or any type of keyboards
It’s not unusual to see the piano, or any other type of keyboard-based instrument, being chosen as the first instrument. First off, the piano is really easy to figure out. All you need to do to get a sound is to press a key. This means that simpler songs and melodies are really easy to learn. A beginner will be able to get a hang of some basic stuff after only a few lessons.
Any kind of electronic keyboard is also a good option. Mostly because they offer an abundance of different sounds, presets, and effects. This is especially exciting for the younger ones who are just getting into music.
Guitar
While it takes some coordination between the left and right hand, the guitar is a good option for beginners. The very start might be a bit trickier compared to the piano. However, it won’t take long for anyone to start learning full songs on the guitar. And when a music enthusiast covers some of the basics, they’ll realize that transposing is pretty easy to do on the guitar. This will open up the world of possibilities, and they’ll be able to accommodate their playing to desired settings.
An electric guitar is also a good option for a first instrument, but it’s generally more advisable to start out on an acoustic. Either way, the whole experience is pretty gratifying, especially because you can take your guitar with you almost anywhere.
Easiest instruments for beginners continue with bass guitar
Many think that the bass guitar is just a simplified version of the guitar. As a lot of people say, it’s easier to play because it only has four strings (at least the standard bass does). However, this is not exactly true. Yes, it might be a bit simpler and more accessible for beginners, but the process of becoming a good bassist has its own challenges.
But with all this said, there’s one reason why the bass guitar can be a good option for beginners – it’s the instrument’s purpose. In modern rock music – or any other modern genre – bass guitars usually play bass lines that are chord progressions turned into single notes. Learning a simple rock song on bass will not be as challenging compared to the regular 6-string guitar.
Ukulele
The biggest advantage of an instrument like ukulele is that it’s really accessible. Not only are there fewer strings, but the instrument is smaller and all the tunings are conceived in such a way that it’s really easy to play basic chords. What’s more, there are so many accessible and easy to follow resources online.
This is why ukulele is a great choice for beginners of any age. You’ll see both kids and grownups taking ukulele lessons and learning some basic songs. This is a good approach if you want to get into the world of music quicker. After getting a hang of ukulele and some basic music theory, it will be much easier to transition to a regular guitar, piano, or any other instrument.
Drums and percussion
Although becoming a professional drummer requires a lot of effort, any type of percussive instrument can be a great choice for a beginner. After all, it’s pretty easy for anyone to get a sound out of it. And, of course, it won’t take a lot of time for a beginner musician of any age to learn a simple drum beat. Yes, it requires some coordination, but it’s actually not that hard, even a total novice.
What’s more, drums are usually the most attractive instrument for beginners. This is why there’s a higher chance a young music enthusiast will be more motivated to keep practicing. And keeping your motivation up is something that’s really important for a young musician.
The only downside is that they’re loud and are only suitable if you have a bigger home. However, thankfully for all the music enthusiasts, there are some pretty affordable electronic drums. This way, a new musician also gets the chance to learn more about how MIDI controllers work. Either way, it’s great fun, and definitely a good choice for any newbie; hence the spot on our easiest instruments for beginners list.
