Easiest musical instruments to learn

[Anonymous]

F&*% marching band, buy the girl a bass guitar.

(Said the bass guitarist in a rock and roll band.....)

But listen, seriously, let your daughter show you the way. How old is she? If she's interested in playing a musical instrument of any kind, celebrate it. Many if not most kids don't care these days, they only want to play rock band. Your daughter may never become Iztak Perlman or Yo Yo Man, but she just may find some joy in playing an instrument that neither you (nor she) were aware of as being a good fit for her. Talent is mostly a misnomer. Of course, if you can't sing on key, you shouldn't front a band nor set your sights on serious opera. But most of what seems like "talent" is just an inclination and the result of lots of practice (or of being a hipster and having access to garage band, but don't get me started on that).

Of course you want to avoid frustration. Oboes, French Horns, etc, all of these instruments are like taking upper level courses in college. They are not good first instruments. But, if your daughter is dying to play oboe, have her try out a clarinet and aspire to it. If she wants the french horn, buy the girl a damn trumpet and let her have at it. No rhythm? Buy her drums and a metronome. (BTW, In my band, I've never once played with a drummer who wouldn't have benefitted from a metronome, though very few drummers ever admit to the possibility that they could use one).

Like I said, talent is only part of the equation, and it's not a large part. Let your daughter pick the instrument. If she's playing what she wants to play, then chances are better that she will practice more often. Make playing the instrument something that's fun. I've never been as good at guitar as I am at other instruments, but when I was single, I'd spend HOURS on the TV picking at the guitar absent-mindedly while watching TV or even chatting on the phone. I never thought of this as practice. They call it "playing" for a reason! Now, while I'm not what I'd call "great" at guitar, I'm okay. So even though I don't have a natural aptitude, I can play well enough to amuse myself and to be honest, probably better than half the bands out there today.... (NOT THAT I'M BITTER OR ANYTHING).

Let your daughter pick. Band, orchestra, a metal band, whatever she wants. Girls rock!

[Anonymous]

trumpe i think............

[Anonymous]

If your daughter is considering marching band, I wouldn't do flute. Holding the flute out to the side gets old fast. It is an unnatural position and can be very uncomfortable.

Saxophone.

[Anonymous]

And for the poster who suggested cymbals as being the easiest, you are mistaken.

Try playing the cymbal part in the national anthem. It is the most recognized instrument in the piece and believe me, everyone knows when you screw it up.

[Anonymous]

I totally agree about letting her lead the way! Sometimes the heart is better to follow than the mind! Also, she is only 10, so how old was she when she tried to learn music when she was younger? She may likely have just been developmentally or cognitively not ready at that age. Now may be totally different. And tone-deaf singing means nothing. Even if she wanted to become a singer, why not let her get voice lessons? You never know. Don't hold her back. It's good to research and try to steer her toward the easier things, but don't control her ship. It won't work out in the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:F&*% marching band, buy the girl a bass guitar.

(Said the bass guitarist in a rock and roll band.....)

But listen, seriously, let your daughter show you the way. How old is she? If she's interested in playing a musical instrument of any kind, celebrate it. Many if not most kids don't care these days, they only want to play rock band. Your daughter may never become Iztak Perlman or Yo Yo Man, but she just may find some joy in playing an instrument that neither you (nor she) were aware of as being a good fit for her. Talent is mostly a misnomer. Of course, if you can't sing on key, you shouldn't front a band nor set your sights on serious opera. But most of what seems like "talent" is just an inclination and the result of lots of practice (or of being a hipster and having access to garage band, but don't get me started on that).

Of course you want to avoid frustration. Oboes, French Horns, etc, all of these instruments are like taking upper level courses in college. They are not good first instruments. But, if your daughter is dying to play oboe, have her try out a clarinet and aspire to it. If she wants the french horn, buy the girl a damn trumpet and let her have at it. No rhythm? Buy her drums and a metronome. (BTW, In my band, I've never once played with a drummer who wouldn't have benefitted from a metronome, though very few drummers ever admit to the possibility that they could use one).

Like I said, talent is only part of the equation, and it's not a large part. Let your daughter pick the instrument. If she's playing what she wants to play, then chances are better that she will practice more often. Make playing the instrument something that's fun. I've never been as good at guitar as I am at other instruments, but when I was single, I'd spend HOURS on the TV picking at the guitar absent-mindedly while watching TV or even chatting on the phone. I never thought of this as practice. They call it "playing" for a reason! Now, while I'm not what I'd call "great" at guitar, I'm okay. So even though I don't have a natural aptitude, I can play well enough to amuse myself and to be honest, probably better than half the bands out there today.... (NOT THAT I'M BITTER OR ANYTHING).

Let your daughter pick. Band, orchestra, a metal band, whatever she wants. Girls rock!

That's what I was thinking too! Another bass player here who really enjoys playing the guitar, just not as well.

OP, you can take your DD to a music store and let her try out a bunch of instruments if she's not sure what she wants to play. I also agree with pp not to rule out the drums. Let her just enjoy the process of making music (or noise!).

[Anonymous]

I do believe the triangle is the easiest to learn.

[Anonymous]

I played flute, piano, and saxophone and I think saxophone was the easiest of the three. I would try either saxophone or clarinet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:F&*% marching band, buy the girl a bass guitar.

(Said the bass guitarist in a rock and roll band.....)

But listen, seriously, let your daughter show you the way. How old is she? If she's interested in playing a musical instrument of any kind, celebrate it. Many if not most kids don't care these days, they only want to play rock band. Your daughter may never become Iztak Perlman or Yo Yo Man, but she just may find some joy in playing an instrument that neither you (nor she) were aware of as being a good fit for her. Talent is mostly a misnomer. Of course, if you can't sing on key, you shouldn't front a band nor set your sights on serious opera. But most of what seems like "talent" is just an inclination and the result of lots of practice (or of being a hipster and having access to garage band, but don't get me started on that).

Of course you want to avoid frustration. Oboes, French Horns, etc, all of these instruments are like taking upper level courses in college. They are not good first instruments. But, if your daughter is dying to play oboe, have her try out a clarinet and aspire to it. If she wants the french horn, buy the girl a damn trumpet and let her have at it. No rhythm? Buy her drums and a metronome. (BTW, In my band, I've never once played with a drummer who wouldn't have benefitted from a metronome, though very few drummers ever admit to the possibility that they could use one).

Like I said, talent is only part of the equation, and it's not a large part. Let your daughter pick the instrument. If she's playing what she wants to play, then chances are better that she will practice more often. Make playing the instrument something that's fun. I've never been as good at guitar as I am at other instruments, but when I was single, I'd spend HOURS on the TV picking at the guitar absent-mindedly while watching TV or even chatting on the phone. I never thought of this as practice. They call it "playing" for a reason! Now, while I'm not what I'd call "great" at guitar, I'm okay. So even though I don't have a natural aptitude, I can play well enough to amuse myself and to be honest, probably better than half the bands out there today.... (NOT THAT I'M BITTER OR ANYTHING).

Let your daughter pick. Band, orchestra, a metal band, whatever she wants. Girls rock!

[Anonymous]

NP here. This thread is interesting! I played several instruments growing up and I thought clarinet was the easiest, certainly easier than flute. With a flute you have to move your mouth different ways for different notes/sounds, whereas with clarinet that's not really true. It also takes a while on flute before you learn how to get a pretty tone as opposed to just sound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your daughter is considering marching band, I wouldn't do flute. Holding the flute out to the side gets old fast. It is an unnatural position and can be very uncomfortable.

Saxophone.

But if you play flute, you can switch to piccolo in the marching band. Lightest instrument in the band-- easy for marching!

I agree that sax is the easiest. I teach in a middle school and we have a jazz band. The teacher takes all comers-- even kids who have no experience with instruments whatsoever. These are the kids he has play the sax. He can get them playing some basics pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

The flute. Really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:F&*% marching band, buy the girl a bass guitar.

(Said the bass guitarist in a rock and roll band.....)

But listen, seriously, let your daughter show you the way. How old is she? If she's interested in playing a musical instrument of any kind, celebrate it. Many if not most kids don't care these days, they only want to play rock band. Your daughter may never become Iztak Perlman or Yo Yo Man, but she just may find some joy in playing an instrument that neither you (nor she) were aware of as being a good fit for her. Talent is mostly a misnomer. Of course, if you can't sing on key, you shouldn't front a band nor set your sights on serious opera. But most of what seems like "talent" is just an inclination and the result of lots of practice (or of being a hipster and having access to garage band, but don't get me started on that).

Of course you want to avoid frustration. Oboes, French Horns, etc, all of these instruments are like taking upper level courses in college. They are not good first instruments. But, if your daughter is dying to play oboe, have her try out a clarinet and aspire to it. If she wants the french horn, buy the girl a damn trumpet and let her have at it. No rhythm? Buy her drums and a metronome. (BTW, In my band, I've never once played with a drummer who wouldn't have benefitted from a metronome, though very few drummers ever admit to the possibility that they could use one).

Like I said, talent is only part of the equation, and it's not a large part. Let your daughter pick the instrument. If she's playing what she wants to play, then chances are better that she will practice more often. Make playing the instrument something that's fun. I've never been as good at guitar as I am at other instruments, but when I was single, I'd spend HOURS on the TV picking at the guitar absent-mindedly while watching TV or even chatting on the phone. I never thought of this as practice. They call it "playing" for a reason! Now, while I'm not what I'd call "great" at guitar, I'm okay. So even though I don't have a natural aptitude, I can play well enough to amuse myself and to be honest, probably better than half the bands out there today.... (NOT THAT I'M BITTER OR ANYTHING).

Let your daughter pick. Band, orchestra, a metal band, whatever she wants. Girls rock!

Can we be friends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The flute. Really.

Hmm, I don't agree. Flute sounds screechy until someone learns to play it well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The flute. Really.

Hmm, I don't agree. Flute sounds screechy until someone learns to play it well.

They all sound terrible until you learn to play them well. I started clarinet at 9 and it took probably a good 2-3 months of daily practice before I could make a sound without squeaking. I went on to be pretty good, but it was definitely a frustrating beginning. Lots of crying and gnashing of teeth.

She should just pick what she likes and give it at least a year of solid practice. As in at least 30 mins every day, preferably 60. I agree with those who say the brass instruments may not be best for a kid who is not musically inclined, but there's no reason why, even if she isn't particularly talented, she shouldn't be able to master the basics of whatever she picks and play decently in the orchestra. She won't get the solo parts but that's ok. And you never know, if she works hard she may pick up some musicality, even if she never sings on key. At the least it will be a good experience for her.