More often than not, people who love music also have some musical inclination. It could come in the form of having great taste in music or being able to create music in some way. While some people can’t carry a tune in a bucket, most people can at least keep a beat or carry a melody. Music is a fantastic way to decompress and process emotions. Just because you bombed your 1st-grade piano lessons doesn’t mean that music isn’t for you!
If you love making music but aren’t sure where to start, here are five basic instrument groups you can explore to find your musical home.
1. Drums
At first, playing drums might seem easy or rudimentary. But it would be a mistake to gloss over the drum family for being too “basic.” We know what you’re thinking, “just hit the big circles with sticks, duh….” In fact, playing drums is intricate and takes an insane level of coordination and rhythm. There’s way more to it than just smacking around some wooden sticks. If rhythm is something that moves you and you think you can hold a beat pretty well, your next step is to get a practice kit and take some lessons!
Drum stores like the Drum Center of Portsmouth will be able to tell you precisely what you need to get started and point out all the equipment you’ll need to buy. You can also try to find some of these things second-hand at pawn shops or online.
2. Singing
If you already have a banger voice, you probably don’t need to read this article. But surprisingly, many people have great voices and don’t even know it! They can go a long way with just a little coaching!
If you can’t help but sing along with the radio or songs in movies, you may have a secret vocal power waiting to be coaxed out by a trained vocal coach.
3. Piano
Taking piano lessons at a young age is almost a rite of passage (are you an adult if your parents didn’t force you through excruciating lessons, playing endless scales?). But as much of a trope as it is, playing the piano has tremendous benefits for the brain.
Using both hands simultaneously while playing and building up complex chords of up to 10 notes takes a lot of upper-level processing, which is excellent for cognitive function.
4. Violin (and Other Strings)
The violin is an elegant but complex instrument. It can take years to learn the basics and even longer to master them. Go to your nearest music store and pick up a violin. See how it feels in your hand and how it feels to grip the bow. Try to play one of the strings.
If you can get a clean tone, and if it feels somewhat natural to you, then the violin may be your home!
5. Flute (and Woodwinds)
The flute is the easiest of the woodwind instruments to pick up (besides the recorder) because it doesn’t have a wooden reed. You will need a strong diaphragm for the constant air pushing, so if you get dizzy or short of breath quickly, woodwinds may not be for you.
But if you can build up your lung capacity, the flute is an excellent instrument to learn. The flute is perfectly compact, allowing you to practice anywhere, any time!
Play Away
Many other instruments haven’t even made it in our mentions here, but this list should help you get started on the search to find an outlet for your musical soul!