A roundup of recommended instruments to start fresh: instruments I’d love adults to take up as a hobby
If you love music, many of you may be thinking about starting an instrument as a new hobby.
Playing an instrument has great depth; it takes a lot of practice to improve, and once you can play a full piece, it becomes so enjoyable that you’ll find yourself getting more and more absorbed.
In this article, we’ll introduce a range of instruments recommended for starting as a new hobby.
In addition to popular instruments like piano, saxophone, and guitar, we’ve also picked out some slightly unusual ones, including traditional Japanese instruments and folk instruments from around the world.
Please use this as a reference.
A roundup of recommended instruments to start anew. Instruments I’d like adults to take up as a hobby (1–10)
sax
With its sexy, powerful tone, the saxophone is the object of admiration for many music lovers.
Officially called the saxophone, it’s widely known as a woodwind instrument played with a mouthpiece.
While it has a strong association with classical and jazz, you may find it more familiar these days thanks to its role in rock and pop brass sections and to artists who join bands as solo sax players.
It’s a cool instrument we recommend not only for middle and high school students just getting interested in instruments, but also as a hobby for adults.
Guitar
Of course, rock fans know it well, but when people think of instruments in popular music, the first one that comes to mind is the guitar, right? Sometimes it sticks to accompaniment, and other times it pulls off a solo—truly the star of the band.
Because you have to handle six strings, it may seem like a high hurdle for beginners, but once you learn some basic chords, you can already start playing songs, so it’s easy to try.
Once you’re comfortable with chords, you can explore the style you like.
It’s a popular instrument that I highly recommend as a hobby.
ukulele
A stringed instrument that originated in Hawaii after unique refinements based on the Portuguese instrument called the braguinha.
Thanks to its soft and delicate tone, it is loved around the world, including in Japan.
With its small body and just four strings, chords are easy to fret, and many models are available at reasonable prices, making it an accessible choice for beginners.
Although it often has an organic image, there are players who use effects pedals to play rock, showing that the deeper you explore it, the more possibilities you’ll find.
If you’re looking for a musical hobby, why not pick one up and give it a try?
drum
The drum set, with its captivating flair and its role in driving the essential rhythms of any music, is a great choice when starting a new instrument.
Unlike the guitar or bass—which also play vital roles in popular music—the biggest difference is that you can produce sound simply by hitting it.
Of course, if you delve deeper, the subtlety of beats and techniques is just as profound as with any other instrument.
Still, for beginners, one appealing point is that it’s relatively easy to learn parts by ear.
However, since a drum set is far larger than most other instruments, if you don’t have space at home, be sure to practice at a rental studio or similar facility.
Silent ukuleleNEW!
Even if you don’t have a soundproof room or live in a detached house, there are instruments you can enjoy at home.
Those are silent-type instruments.
This silent ukulele is considered a kind of electric ukulele and is known as one of the instruments you can enjoy at home.
Made with a solid body, it produces low acoustic volume, and if it has a built-in amp, you can plug in headphones and play.
While ukuleles are often thought of as small, there are larger sizes designed for performance, so why not try finding a favorite that suits you?
Silent BrassNEW!
When it comes to high school baseball, the cheering draws just as much attention as the players’ dazzling performances.
In particular, brass band cheering has a unique excitement that screams “This is high school baseball!” and feels different from pro baseball.
If you’re thinking, “I want to practice a brass instrument, but there’s no nearby riverbank or spot where I can play casually…,” Yamaha actually sells a product called Silent Brass.
Just attach it to your brass instrument and the sound becomes dramatically quieter; link your earphones and you can practice while hearing a clear tone.
There are multiple types tailored to different instruments—starting with trumpet and trombone models—and the product reviews are excellent.
If you’re struggling to find a place to practice, definitely check it out!
electronic recorderNEW!
When you think of recorders, you probably picture elementary school students, but there are videos of popular songs performed on recorder, and it’s a beloved instrument not only for kids but for adults as well.
With that in mind, I’d like to introduce electronic recorders that are great for practicing at home.
You still play an electronic recorder by blowing into the instrument, but you can freely change the tone and even express vibrato.
Plus, there’s a volume button, so you can turn it down when you’re worried about the noise around you.
There are many different products available, so feel free to check them out.