Easy and Cheap Musical Instruments to Learn

Music>Inspiration

March 25, 2022

Listening to music is powerful. It can take us back to a time and place where we were different people. It can invoke old memories forgotten long ago. It can help us connect to each other.

Maybe, like us, you love music, but you’ve never had a chance to create it yourself. Don’t worry, we’re here to help! While some instruments are costly and take years of training, there are also many great options that are easy and affordable to learn.

6 benefits of playing an instrument

Playing music can allow us to express ourselves in a new way. It can challenge our minds and our bodies. It can help us connect to something greater than ourselves – to history, to culture, to people and places around the globe.

But what’s the best age to learn a musical instrument? It’s the age you are at right now, today.

No matter how many or few rotations of the sun you’ve seen, there are many benefits of learning an instrument 1 including:

  1. Having fun
  2. Getting social
  3. Challenging your coordination
  4. Engaging your brain
  5. Relieving stress
  6. Discovering new skills

What are the easiest instrument to learn (and the cheapest instruments)?

So which musical instruments are the easiest to learn and which one is right for you? Here’s our pick of the top 11 easiest instruments to learn. We’ve also included the average costs of beginner-level instruments and the price of per-session-lessons for you to factor into your choice.

  1. Ukulele: Easiest overall instrument to learn

    2. These small guitars are a great choice for just about anyone. Ukuleles have four strings rather than a guitar’s six strings, making them less complicated. The strings are also softer, which is easier on your fingers than a guitar’s strings. Not to mention, they are a fraction of the cost of a guitar.
    • Ukulele Cost: $50 - $150
    • Lesson Cost: $30-$50
    • Time to Learn: 3 to 6 months

  2. Harmonica: Easiest instrument on the ear

    3. It’s hard to make a harmonica sound bad because the chords are built right into the instrument. Harmonicas are a great choice if you’re looking for something both easy to learn and portable. You can slip it into your pocket and practice anywhere.
    • Harmonica Cost: $35-$95
    • Lesson Cost: $30-$50
    • Time to Learn: 3 to 6 months

  3. Acoustic Guitar: Easiest instrument to learn on your own

    4. With so many online videos, tutorials, and guides, you can choose whether to learn guitar yourself or with the help of lessons. There are tons of resources out there to help you learn this popular musical instrument, and beginner models can be very affordable. When you’re ready to take your practice to the next lesson, you can invest in a better instrument.
    • Acoustic Guitar Cost: $100-$500
    • Lesson Cost: $40-$60
    • Time to Learn: At least 6 months

  4. Piano/Keyboard: Easiest instrument to scale

    5. While becoming an expert piano player is difficult, for a motivated learner, it’s a relatively easy instrument to pick up the basics (scales for example). There are lots of simple, easy songs to learn on the piano, but you can also get more complex with the music as your skill grows.
    • Piano Cost: $100-$500
    • Lesson Cost: $40-$60
    • Time to Learn: At least 4 months

  5. Saxophone: Easiest jazz instrument

    6. Saxophone is one of the easiest jazz instruments (compared to say, a trumpet). The fingerings run up and down, are easy to learn. The most difficult part is building the muscles in your mouth to use the reed properly. You’ll also want to make sure you takelessons to learn good habits early on.
    • Saxophone Cost: $200-$500
    • Lesson Cost: $55-$75
    • Time to Learn: At least 6 months

  6. Drums: Easiest instrument for beat masters

    7. If you have a great natural sense of rhythm, you may be a drummer. Percussion instruments like drums are a great way to develop your rhythm. While mastering them takes time and dedication, beginners can knock out basics quickly.
    • Drums Cost: $250-$1000
    • Lesson Cost: $50-$55
    • Time to Learn: At least 3 months

  7. Auxiliary Percussion: Easiest instrument to support a band

    8. Don’t let the name throw you. Auxiliary percussion includes many different types of percussion instruments, including shakers, tambourines, and cowbell. These are easy musical instruments pick up and play with others, or to develop and support a band’s rhythm.
    • Auxiliary Percussion Cost: Under $50
    • Lesson Cost: Free (online tutorials and practice)
    • Time to Learn: As much as you need

  8. Recorder: Easiest wind instrument

    9. While you may associate the recorder with toddlerhood (and its blue plastic counterpart), this is actually a great woodwind option for adults too. The recorder doesn’t require much breath (unlike the saxophone) and they come in a range of pitches (soprano, alto, and tenor). If you learn to play one, you can play them all! Recorders also open the door for many people to playing the flute or saxophone because finger placement is the same.
    • Recorder Cost: Under $50
    • Lesson Cost: $5-$35
    • Time to Learn: At least 3 months

  9. Kalimba: Easiest instrument if you’re all thumbs

    10. This small thumb piano works by plucking at metal tines with your thumbs and fingers. Much like a keyboard or piano, the Kalimba makes the same sound each time you play a tine, which means you don’t have to worry about tuning, breath control, or other variables.
    • Kalimba Cost: $20-$100
    • Lesson Cost: Free (online tutorials and practice)
    • Time to Learn: A few weeks

  10. Bongos: Easiest hands-on instrument

    11. Bongos are a type of drum that you play with your hands. These drums are a great option if you want to get physical while you play and literally make music with your hands. Bongos travel well too, requiring no set up or breakdown compared to other drum kits.
    • Bongos Cost: $50-$100
    • Lesson Cost: $40-$75
    • Time to Learn: At least 2 months

  11. Lap Harp: Easiest instrument to use in your recliner

    12. The stringed instrument isdesigned so that you can place music right under the strings. It’s compact and all right there, meant to be played on your lap. There’s no guessing about which string to pluck, you just follow along with the notes on the page.
    • Lap Harp Cost: $40-$65
    • Lesson Cost: Free (online tutorials and practice)
    • Time to Learn: A few hours (with sheet inserts)

Play now, Pay Over Time

You may be ready for a jam session, but maybe your wallet isn’t. The good news is whether you’re interested in a piano, a drum kit, guitar, or saxophone, you don’t have to wait to play. With financing options from our partners, you can pay overtime with convenient monthly payments.

Learn more about your instrument financing offers with Synchrony partners and how you get playing today.

1 Six reasons to start learning a musical instrument as an adult (ABC)

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