An acoustic guitar like the Yamaha FG800 makes a great first instrument for beginners
Choosing a First Instrument
Learning
to play a musical instrument is rewarding in many ways. Through music
kids and adults can learn discipline, express creativity and find a
healthy way to manage stress. For people who stick to it and get good at
it, music might even become a career. But even among those who play
just for fun there are very few who regret bringing music into their
lives.
Every wannabe musician has to start somewhere, and that somewhere isn’t always so easy to figure out. There are so many different instruments out there, each with a strong set of pros and cons. If you don’t know much about music to begin with, how are you supposed to choose?
This article can help. I’ve played guitar and bass for over thirty years, but over my career as a musician I’ve dabbled in many of the instruments listed in this article. Obviously I’ve made my choice, but I also recognize that there are many other options out there for all kinds people.
There are also a few instruments here that I have on my bucket list of things I intend to do in this world before I shuffle off. This brings me to the first of two important points I hope you take away from this article: You are never too old to learn a new musical instrument!
If you are a teenager or adult you might feel like your ship has sailed, but don’t give up so easily! Every second you waste wishing you had decided to take up music sooner is a second wasted where you could be learning music now! So quit whining and get to it!
The second point is that the best beginner instrument for you is the one that inspires you to play! This is not only true for adults, but especially for kids who may not be super-motivated to study. You’ll read a lot of different advice in this article and elsewhere, but above all else it is important to choose an instrument that gets you (or your child) excited about music.
So let’s get to it, and find the perfect first musical instrument for a beginner!
Every wannabe musician has to start somewhere, and that somewhere isn’t always so easy to figure out. There are so many different instruments out there, each with a strong set of pros and cons. If you don’t know much about music to begin with, how are you supposed to choose?
This article can help. I’ve played guitar and bass for over thirty years, but over my career as a musician I’ve dabbled in many of the instruments listed in this article. Obviously I’ve made my choice, but I also recognize that there are many other options out there for all kinds people.
There are also a few instruments here that I have on my bucket list of things I intend to do in this world before I shuffle off. This brings me to the first of two important points I hope you take away from this article: You are never too old to learn a new musical instrument!
If you are a teenager or adult you might feel like your ship has sailed, but don’t give up so easily! Every second you waste wishing you had decided to take up music sooner is a second wasted where you could be learning music now! So quit whining and get to it!
The second point is that the best beginner instrument for you is the one that inspires you to play! This is not only true for adults, but especially for kids who may not be super-motivated to study. You’ll read a lot of different advice in this article and elsewhere, but above all else it is important to choose an instrument that gets you (or your child) excited about music.
So let’s get to it, and find the perfect first musical instrument for a beginner!
Guitar
In
my opinion, guitar is the best musical instrument for most newbies.
Yes, I may be a little biased, but I am prepared to defend my position!
The reason I put guitar number one is because it so accessible and so
easy to get started with.
Starting guitar is very
affordable. You can grab a beginner’s kit for $200 or less, and you
have many, many options to choose from. You can take lessons if you
want, but there are also a wide range of learning methods available
through books, computer software and even online lessons. Finding songs
to learn is super easy, and if you don’t want to learn to read music you
can always depend on tablature to help you along.
You have a broad future ahead of you if you choose guitar. You may go the classical or jazz route and study guitar at a prestigious music school. You may become a rock player and form a cutting-edge band. You may decide to play acoustic guitar and write songs. The sky is the limit, and over your career as a guitar player you may experiment with many ideas.
Should you start with electric or acoustic guitar? There are pros and cons to each. My advice is always to pick whichever most motivates you to play. In a nutshell: Acoustic guitar is generally more affordable to start out on, where electric guitar is a bit easier to play. The choice is yours and there is no wrong answer.
There are some amazing acoustic guitars for beginners on the market today, but tops on my list is the Yamaha FG800. I always suggest the Yamaha FG Series for newbies just getting started with the instrument.
You have a broad future ahead of you if you choose guitar. You may go the classical or jazz route and study guitar at a prestigious music school. You may become a rock player and form a cutting-edge band. You may decide to play acoustic guitar and write songs. The sky is the limit, and over your career as a guitar player you may experiment with many ideas.
Should you start with electric or acoustic guitar? There are pros and cons to each. My advice is always to pick whichever most motivates you to play. In a nutshell: Acoustic guitar is generally more affordable to start out on, where electric guitar is a bit easier to play. The choice is yours and there is no wrong answer.
There are some amazing acoustic guitars for beginners on the market today, but tops on my list is the Yamaha FG800. I always suggest the Yamaha FG Series for newbies just getting started with the instrument.
I
highly recommend the Yamaha FG800 as a first acoustic guitar for
beginners. It is an affordable, high-quality instrument that will last a
newbie a long while.
This guitar is a upgrade from the FG700S, which has attained somewhat legendary status as a beginner gutiar.
Also
look for the FS800, which is a similar instrument with a slightly
smaller concert-style body. If you choose to start out on acoustic
guitar either is a great choice!
Piano or Keyboard
Piano
is next on my list, This is actually the first instrument I learned to
play as a kid, and even today I mess around with it a bit. While I’ve
obviously gravitated to guitar, I recognize the major advantage of my
early days learning piano
Yamaha PSR-E453
Learning this
instrument is nowhere near as convenient as guitar. A piano is expensive
and takes up a big chunk of space in your home. You usually can’t tune
it yourself, and you’re probably going to need a few formal lessons to
learn to play the thing. Getting good at it requires developing some
serious coordination.
The major upside to learning piano is that you get such a strong background in music theory, one that’s translatable to almost any other instrument. With a piano, all of the notes are right in a row, and it’s easy to see the theory behind musical concepts like chords and scales. If you later decide to take up guitar or another stringed instrument where the relationships between notes are not nearly as clear, you’ll have a major advantage.
You can make learning piano more accessible by choosing a keyboard instead. Keyboards are electronic instruments capable of a wide range of sounds, where pianos are acoustic instruments with one distinctive sound. Keyboards are easily portable, take up less space, and in general they are much less expensive.
Pro-level keyboards usually require a separate amp, but mid-range models often come with their own speakers. There are even electric pianos out there with weighted keys, to give you the sound and feel of the real thing.
The major upside to learning piano is that you get such a strong background in music theory, one that’s translatable to almost any other instrument. With a piano, all of the notes are right in a row, and it’s easy to see the theory behind musical concepts like chords and scales. If you later decide to take up guitar or another stringed instrument where the relationships between notes are not nearly as clear, you’ll have a major advantage.
You can make learning piano more accessible by choosing a keyboard instead. Keyboards are electronic instruments capable of a wide range of sounds, where pianos are acoustic instruments with one distinctive sound. Keyboards are easily portable, take up less space, and in general they are much less expensive.
Pro-level keyboards usually require a separate amp, but mid-range models often come with their own speakers. There are even electric pianos out there with weighted keys, to give you the sound and feel of the real thing.
If you haven't the room or budget for a piano, consider an affordable starter keyboard like the Yamaha PSRE453
Bass Guitar
Even
though an electric bass looks like a big guitar with fewer strings it
is a distinctly different instrument requiring a very different mindset.
Still, many of the same reasons you might start out on guitar also
apply to bass.
Beginner bass guitars
are super affordable, lessons are cheap and abundant online and
elsewhere, and finding music is very easy. If you prefer bass over
guitar it is every bit as valid a choice.
I have a whole article dedicated to how to choose between bass and guitar, so I’m only going to touch on that a bit here. There are certainly a few things beginners should consider when deciding if bass is the perfect first instrument for them.
Firstly, bass is not necessarily easier than guitar. So if you have the idea that you’ll start on bass because it seems simpler and then move to guitar, you’ve got things a little backwards. Both require practice and both can be as challenging or simple as you wish to make them.
A bass is not a dumbed-down guitar. It is more accurate to say bass and guitar are highly related instruments, each requiring a specialized set of skills. Bassists are typically more rhythm oriented, and work with the drummer to form the backbone of the music.
So why learn bass instead of guitar? If you decide the bass moves you and you love the sound it is a solid alternative to learning traditional guitar. You don’t have to learn guitar first. If you like bass, learn bass!
I have a whole article dedicated to how to choose between bass and guitar, so I’m only going to touch on that a bit here. There are certainly a few things beginners should consider when deciding if bass is the perfect first instrument for them.
Firstly, bass is not necessarily easier than guitar. So if you have the idea that you’ll start on bass because it seems simpler and then move to guitar, you’ve got things a little backwards. Both require practice and both can be as challenging or simple as you wish to make them.
A bass is not a dumbed-down guitar. It is more accurate to say bass and guitar are highly related instruments, each requiring a specialized set of skills. Bassists are typically more rhythm oriented, and work with the drummer to form the backbone of the music.
So why learn bass instead of guitar? If you decide the bass moves you and you love the sound it is a solid alternative to learning traditional guitar. You don’t have to learn guitar first. If you like bass, learn bass!
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