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.
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A roundup of recommended instruments to start anew. Instruments I’d like adults to take up as a hobby (1–10)
piano
The piano is known as a highly versatile instrument because, by its very design, a single player can cover both accompaniment and melody, and it boasts a range even wider than that of a full orchestra.
In recent years, it has been attracting renewed attention, exemplified by YouTuber Harami-chan successfully holding a solo piano concert at the Budokan—the first by a female pianist in 15 years.
While it may seem difficult since your hands must move independently and you also operate the sustain pedal with your foot, beginners can certainly learn to play by practicing gradually, such as working with one hand at a time.
Unlike other instruments, the piano alone can complete and fully realize a piece of music, making it a perfect instrument to pursue as a hobby.
base
The bass, which handles the low end and is a crucial element in constructing music, is an instrument that becomes more captivating the more you learn about its depth.
Many people start it with reasons like “It has fewer strings than a guitar, so it seems easier,” but especially in today’s popular music, the importance of the bass is being reevaluated, standing as an instrument no less vital than the guitar.
In genres like jazz and R&B, the bass melody often stands out more than the guitar’s, and once you can play, you’ll be able to perform across a wide range of styles.
Start by practicing basic root notes, and gradually immerse yourself in the world of bass.
button accordion
Unlike the accordion most people imagine, a button accordion has buttons on both the right and left sides.
The buttons on the right hand correspond to the black and white keys of a piano, while each button on the left is designed to produce an entire chord.
The layout of the buttons may feel complicated to beginners, but because commonly used notes are grouped close together, it becomes easier to play once you get used to it—even for novices.
With its distinctive, mellow tone that adds color to your leisure time, it’s an ideal instrument for those who want to learn something unique and different from what others play.
Recommended instruments to start anew: Instruments I hope adults will take up as a hobby (11–20)
cajón
A box-shaped instrument known for the way you straddle it and strike the playing surface and its edges with your bare hands.
In addition to the Peruvian style of cajón that most people imagine, there’s also a Cuban style played between the knees like a conga, and in flamenco accompaniment you’ll even find versions with strings or jingles installed behind the front panel—one of the pleasures of such a simple construction is the variety of creative tweaks.
Even on the same playing surface, different spots produce low or high tones, so one advantage is that even beginners can enjoy making music just by playing with enthusiasm.
Of course, the deeper you go, the more complex techniques you’ll discover, so start by giving it a try—and if it grabs you, dive in further.
harmonica
When it comes to harmonicas, many people have probably tried playing one at least once.
It’s a familiar and approachable instrument.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of harmonicas: the diatonic harmonica—represented by the blues harp—which can play the notes of a major scale, and the chromatic harmonica, which has a slide lever that allows you to play semitones as well.
Choose one that suits the songs you want to play.
If you can play the harmonica, you can even accompany yourself by playing the guitar while blowing the harmonica.
djembe
This is a percussion instrument from West Africa that has been gaining recognition in Japan.
Its appearance clearly gives off a traditional ethnic vibe, and even if you don’t end up playing it well, it seems like it would make a great decorative piece.
The body is made of wood, and the striking surface is said to be covered with goat skin.
Since you play it with your hands, the vibrations transmit directly through your body, letting you feel the heartbeat of the earth.
It’s a loud percussion instrument, so practicing outdoors on your days off—by a riverbank, lakeshore, beach, or in a park while feeling the natural breeze—sounds like it would be a lot of fun.
flute
Among the many wind instruments, the flute is especially prominent and carries an elegant image.
Unlike other wind instruments, it doesn’t use a reed, which allows for great flexibility in tonguing, and its agility makes it well-suited to technical playing—truly a star instrument.
Because it stands out across a wide range of genres, from classical to jazz to rock, it’s a great recommendation no matter what kind of music you like.
It’s a quintessential woodwind that everyone admires, and if you take it up as a hobby, you’re sure to earn the respect of those around you.