Q&A for How to Choose an Instrument

Any instrument is a good start. If you want to start with something basic, though, learn to play the piano, the guitar, or drums. The first two instruments can help you learn to read music, which will aid you in playing more difficult instruments.

It will be easier for you to learn guitar than for someone who does not know any other instruments, but it will still be challenging. It's like learning a language: The first language you learn besides your mother tongue is always the hardest, and they get easier from then on. It will not be "easy" to play guitar, but it will not be as hard as it was to learn violin.

If you want to play higher notes, try a piccolo. If you want to still play a woodwind instrument with the ability to breathe better, try a clarinet. If you want to use a technique similar to the flute, try a trumpet.

Try learning the guitar if you want to stay in familiar territory. If you want to try something really different, go big and learn the oboe or the viola.

No instrument is quiet, but just go for whatever instrument sounds fun to play for you. You can find cheap used instruments of any sort online, and in good condition. Before you start to search for one instrument to rent or buy, research on how to take care of it and the difficulty of playing it. It may look fun, but if you can't handle the pressure and don't have the patience to keep practicing until you've perfected it, try looking for another instrument.

Usually the trumpet is the best choice for people who discover that the trombone is not suitable for them. If you still feel like playing bass, consider a tuba or a baritone.

Yes! They have the same strings (CGDA), just that the viola is one octave higher, and the finger placements used are slightly different. The only other difference is that the viola involves placing the instrument on your shoulder whereas for cello, you will sit and play it. It should definitely be easier to pick up viola if you already know how to play the cello.

You don't need particularly strong lungs to play a brass instrument, with the exception of the tuba.

You might try playing a larger stringed instrument to give more bass, and probably a clarinet for a woodwind option, or a trumpet to give you a brass section.

Percussion may look easy, but it's not. If your problem with flute is remembering notes, then percussion may be for you. If the problem is playing rhythms in the music, you may have a hard time with percussion. However, all instruments are hard at first. You won't get good until you've put in a lot of time and effort practicing.

Any instrument you are passionate about learning is ideal, and age is irrelevant.

The synthesizer is very forgiving compared with the violin. You would likely need fewer lessons.

Having previous knowledge of playing piano will make playing violin easier, since you will already know how to read treble clef. As for persuading you parents, think of all the reasons you want to start playing violin. Be sure to bring these up. Also, if you want to start with your school, they will most likely provide rentals that are cheaper than the music stores. Be sure to share this information with them as well.

If she won't let you get a full drum set, go with some bongos or other smaller hand drums. Show her that you are responsible and that you are really interested in the drums.

It may be a bit harder, but it is possible.

Trumpet by far. It's easy to start off on the trumpet, and it is probably one of the more versatile brass instruments. While the saxophone's keys look daunting, it becomes more familiar as you play it. With practice, neither will be hard.

Larger instruments such as double bass or tuba can be harder for people with smaller hands to play, and easier for you to try.

I'd definitely recommend you start with piano. Then you can go learn any treble or bass clef instrument with knowledge of notes, chord progressions, and harmony.

The guitar is more versatile and there always seems to be someone who has a guitar lying around. It gives you a chance to practice playing with other musicians. Also, a violin and a guitar follow the same principles, so once you have learned the guitar, you can attempt the violin. The key is to have chances to play, and with a guitar you can attempt more music styles, as well as a lower initial investment on an instrument.

One of the best instruments to learn first is the piano, but you can easily catch up on flute or harmonica as well. Although harmonica is smaller and may look easier to play, you might only want to play it if you are a perfectionist or are very detailed. The flute is one of the easiest band instruments to play, so I would recommend flute.

Whichever one you like. If your hands are large, consider the viola. If you like a challenge, go for the violin.

Yes; it is essentially playing the piano, which is pretty simple. I would recommend that instead of a button accordion for a beginner, especially if you're familiar with playing the piano at all.

Go to a music store, most will let you try out the instruments. You will just have to pick what you enjoy the most. You can always change your mind at a later date.

It will be fairly easy, as you already play a wind instrument. It will still be difficult though, because it is a new instrument.

All of them will be essentially completely different from guitar. You could try picking whichever range you think sounds the nicest.

Flip a coin. Then, if whichever result you get makes you feel immediately sad, pick the other one!

If you want to be an expert instrumentalist, playing only one instrument is best rather than trying to learn more than one. To answer the question, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to learn to play another instrument.

Finger size doesn't affect your performance that much. Of course, if you have really short fingers, try the ukulele, smaller classical chord instruments (violin and viola), some thinner necked guitars, such as the Les Paul, or even mandolins and banjos. The strength of the finger is way more important. Go to a music store and experiment with all the different instruments and see what's best for you.

Of course! You can start playing pretty much any instrument with zero knowledge of music, and the banjo is a perfectly fine option for a beginner.

If you want to switch, go for it! I've tried the trumpet and my main instrument is the clarinet. The techniques for playing are pretty different. My friend who plays the trumpet tried my clarinet and it was hard for him, but if you want to make the switch, you should!