What are the easiest instruments to learn at any age?

It is often assumed that learning an instrument as an adult is too challenging. Mastering an instrument indeed takes time, commitment, patience and practice – but it is never too late to learn! Nothing beats that feeling of satisfaction when the piece you’ve been working at comes together. However, choosing the right instrument for you is vital.

Top 5 easiest instruments to learn

Ukulele

With soft strings, a low price, and lots of online resources to help you learn, the Ukulele has a lot going for it. Learning simple chords can be achieved quickly and it can be a nice prelude to learning to play the guitar. 

Bongos/percussion/drums

If you want to jam with friends, learning a percussive instrument may provide the fun you’re after. Be warned – learning percussion is hard! They are great instruments to practice for any genre. Even if you don’t have a band to jam along with, you can put on your favourite music and play along.

Piano

With all of the notes laid out in front of you, you’ll find it easy to learn all about music and could soon be tunefully singing along to a few chords for your friends! You can even take lessons online and learn to sight-read music. 

Recorder

The recorder is fairly simple for coordinating breath, tongue and fingers so can be self-taught, but is popular amongst both beginners and professionals. It gives learners a solid musical foundation from which they can progress on to other wind instruments.

Harmonica

With the choice of blues, jazz, rock, or country music to practice, playing the harmonica is a great choice for an inspired adult beginner. It’s cheap, portable and, most importantly, it’s hard to sound bad as it’s always in tune!

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Is it easier to learn guitar or piano?

These are popular instruments for budding musicians to start with. The initial learning period for the guitar can be a challenge - fingers may hurt and it can take a while to master that first chord. 

Conversely, learning seems to progress quickly when learning the piano – you may pick up chords and be able to play simple pieces of music relatively quickly. However, as learning progresses so does the need for greater hand coordination - a skilled teacher can assist here. 

What instrument is right for you?

Working out which instrument is right for you depends on what your musical goals are. If you want to learn a few songs to sing along to consider the piano, keyboard or ukulele. 

If your goal is to be a concert musician, consider formal lessons on the piano. If you want to be able to jam along to music with friends, go for something percussive. 

Whatever you go for, learning an instrument is hard work and choosing an instrument that gets you excited each time you pick it up is key to success!

What music do you want to play?

Consider what music you’d like to play. If the piano or drums are dominant in your chosen music, then choosing to learn the piano or drums is logical. 

Learning an instrument is a fun and creative process. And, as many of the skills you learn are transferable, if your musical tastes change you can always change your instrument too!

How much do you want to spend?

Starting out learning an instrument doesn’t have to be expensive. A range of second-hand instruments, including pianos, electric keyboards, guitars and drums are available. Starting with a few lessons with a qualified teacher will surely prove its worth! 

At PLUK, our excellent piano teachers will work to understand your learning style and musical style, helping to keep you engaged to reach your musical potential. We offer lessons in person in Bristol, Brighton, and online. Get in touch with us to find out more