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 quiet instruments you can play at home. Silent instruments you can play at home.
- For adult women: solo activities you can enjoy, and a chance to discover new hobbies
- [For Men] A Collection of Hobby Ideas You Can Get Absorbed in on Your Own
- What does the word “repezen” used by rappers mean?
- [For Adults] Recommended Craft Kits
- [For Middle School Students] Recommended Ways to Spend Your Free Time
- What Is This? A Collection of Rare and Unique Musical Instruments from Around the World
- Handmade instruments with plastic bottles: try making flutes, percussion, and traditional ethnic instruments.
- What does the “a.k.a.” you often see in artist names mean?
- Christmas crafts for adults: stylish project ideas you'll want to display
- [Rock] Easy Band-Style Vocaloid Songs for Beginners [Simple]
- [Easy] Practical craft ideas. Great for beginners too!
- [For Adults] Fun Activities and Hobby Ideas for Rainy Days
Recommended instruments to start anew: Instruments I hope adults will take up as a hobby (11–20)
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.
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.
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.
mandolin
The mandolin has a cute, small, rounded shape.
It has eight strings, but since they’re tuned in pairs to the same pitch, you can play it like a four-string instrument, similar to a violin or ukulele.
Because its sustain—especially in the higher register—is limited, it characteristically uses tremolo when holding notes.
You can also play chords on a mandolin, so it works for singing while playing.
There are electric mandolins as well, letting you enjoy a wide range of genres from rock to classical.
It’s a recommended instrument for anyone looking to start a new string instrument.
shakuhachi
The shakuhachi has been played in Japan since long ago.
There are different schools and traditions, so it can seem intimidating, but because it’s a bamboo instrument, there are options that are more affordable and easier to obtain than you might expect.
If you don’t have time to take lessons, learning through videos is also a good choice.
While the embouchure is unique, the fingerings are similar to a recorder, so it’s one of the instruments you can start without much resistance.
Getting familiar with a traditional instrument can open up a whole new world.
And although it’s an ancient Japanese instrument, once you learn the fingerings you can also play pop or jazz.
clarinet
The clarinet is a famous woodwind instrument that many people likely first heard in nursery rhymes during childhood.
While it’s strongly associated with classical music and wind ensembles, did you know it’s also commonly used in jazz? Its soft, warm tone is soothing both to play and to listen to, making it a perfect choice for those starting music as a hobby.
It’s relatively approachable for beginners, so it’s popular not only among students but also as an instrument to start learning in adulthood.
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.
DJ
DJs have a cool image, but unlike practicing an instrument over and over, what matters more is what tracks you choose, what music you want to introduce, and other kinds of knowledge that differ from traditional instruments.
There are many types of DJs—like hip-hop DJs known for techniques such as scratching, and club DJs—so it’s best to figure out what you’re aiming for and choose accordingly.
Rather than sticking to a single genre, exposing yourself to a wide range of sources will help you grow as a DJ.
ocarina
The ocarina, whose name means “little goose” in Italian, is appealing for its warm tone.
It’s mainly made of ceramic, though affordable plastic versions are also available.
While its shape is different, its mechanism is similar to that of the recorder, so if you’ve played the recorder before, you should be able to start without much resistance.
These days, besides classes, there are many videos that provide explanations, so beginners can feel at ease.
And if you get tired of playing alone, why not join an ocarina club where you can enjoy ensemble playing?
shamisen
The Tsugaru shamisen, which spread in the Tsugaru region of Aomori Prefecture, is a familiar instrument there, with live performances held in various places such as folk-song taverns.
Thanks to artists like Hiromitsu Agatsuma, interest among younger people who want to play it has likely increased.
Changing the tuning depending on the piece is a feature not often seen in Western instruments.
Because it can also be used to accompany folk songs, you can sing and play the shamisen in a singer-songwriter style.
While the instrument isn’t exactly cheap, there are reasonably priced options such as those with synthetic leather.
In conclusion
We’ve put together a comprehensive introduction to instruments we recommend starting as a new hobby. In addition to classics like guitar, drums, piano, and saxophone, we’ve also covered some rarer Japanese traditional instruments, electronic instruments, and even folk instruments from around the world. Some of these can be played at home at a volume that won’t bother your neighbors, so if any instrument catches your interest, give it a try!