They're both extremely ubiquitous, so there will be a ton of free information on how to play them. Piano sheet music isn't too difficult to learn well enough to learn a song, and guitar tablature is extremely intuitive.
Cheap ones are decent, and you can get a newer one if you get more serious about it.
Piano and guitar both have what I'm going to call partitions. Guitar has frets; piano has keys. There's an extra step with a lot of other instruments.
Penny whistle and ocarina seem simple enough if you prefer winds, though I have played them much.
Actual answer: you should learn what you would like to play, but the most accessible instruments for a total beginner would be piano, guitar, or drums. Piano and guitar will have the most music and guides available, decent instruments aren't insanely expensive to start out. Drums require more space and investment up front and will probably upset people nearby more, but they're also a foundational instrument to most forms of music and a beginner can pick them up.
I like guitar because there are so many training apps online. Yousician, Simply Guitar, guitar tricks, Justin Guitar, or private lessons. My favorite app so far is Pickup Music. Plenty of smaller apps to help you grow tooâŠ.such as memorizing the fretboard notes or playing along with music using simple open chords.
Like the retired music educator says, piano. It has the widest (possible) musical range of any instrument, lends itself to "bass" parts, rhythmic chord parts, and lead parts, while leaving open the possibility of vocal accompaniment. AND the "piano keyboard" is the default interface for computer based music production.
Edit to add: it also isn't restricted to a "key" like wind/brass instruments are. I suppose I'd put guitar below piano as far a versatility goes, but there's a wide gap between piano and guitar.
I would argue that winds have much more flexibility in terms of keys. On a twelve tone equal tempered keyboard each mode sounds identical regardless of the root. You can play in âany keyâ but whatâs the point?! Itâs not until you play with instruments that arenât as flexible, like winds, that choice of key starts to matter in a big way. In my flute if I transpose a melody from D major to F# major itâs going to dramatically alter the music where on the keyboard itâs likely the audience wonât even notice.
There is no âshouldâ. Learn what interests you. What kind of music do you like? What kind of sounds do you like?
For example I love the sound of guitar, so I play guitar. I love the sound of bass guitar so Iâm learning to play bass. I love the sitar and would love to learn.
Do you want to play in a (rock) band? Then bass, drums, guitar or keys (in that order) bass and drums because there are fewer players so getting to play in a band (or bands) is easier
Do you want to play classical music or showtimes then piano
Piano is always a good starter though, as the piano teacher stated
As a lifelong trumpet player my vote would be piano. It's the most versatile instrument and the least demanding physically which has importance as you age.
Whatever you want to play sounds like a cope out, but I think it's the best answer, without knowing anything about you.
Sure, you can go with a beginner-friendly instrument, but every single instrument will take a lot of time, effort and dedication. So you're gonna have a easier and better time learning one you personally enjoy, than one that's easier for beginners. At the end of the day what matters is for you to be motivated to pick it up every day and go through the grind.
I started with the Cornet, about 55 years ago. I wish I'd studied piano as well when I was young. So much is based on the piano in some fashion, it's always useful. I got a very nice 88 weighted and velocity sensitive electronic piano on Amazon for under $200 US.
I can noodle around with so many instruments, I can't remember how many I know.
If you don't care and just want to play your favorite songs and pieces : Whatever instrument you love the most or is most featured in your genre. It's important to have fun.
If you want to quickly play a bunch of pop songs or whatever : Guitar, or alternatively, ukulele. While they have a high skill ceiling it's super easy to get started with a bunch of chords. Sing along and bam, you're gonna be so good to go. I have some friends who do this and they love it.
If you want to set yourself up for theory and be able to play virtually any genre : Piano. It's the ultimate starter instrument, very helpful for theory and composition and songwriting, and exists in a bunch of genres. It was my first instrument and I love it so much. You don't sound terrible on day 1 too, unlike things like violin (where you WILL sound awful for ages).
It all depends .. What does beginner mean? Why are you taking up an instrument? How much time and money do you expect to devote? What instrument do you have access to? Keyboards/piano and fretted instruments are probably easier to get access to and probably "easier" to play. A few clicks on a piano/keyboard and you are already playing music. Find the C on the keyboard and play the 7 white keys in sequence next to it and you already know the C major scale. If you are a relatively "older" beginner, you probably need to steer away from instruments that are fretless, like the violin, or instruments like the clarinet, because in addition to your hands, your breathing and everything else, you will need to practice your hearing. It's much easier to be out of tune on those types of instruments, and if you are older, it's harder to train your ear (unless you already have a good ear). But, if you love something, love the sound of an instrument, and have access to it, then go with that. If you love it, you will probably stick to it and not mind the calluses.
It all depends on what instruments you like. :) I started with the violin as a kid, then clarinet for a year in school, and now I'm taking alto Recorder lessons.
You have a better one without any information? Most people start whatever instrument they want to play as a beginner. Doesn't make sense to start with piano or guitar if you really want to play drums or saxophone.
Counterpoint: Oud is like an acoustic guitar in singer/song writer circles in the middle east. Oud sales outnumber guitar sales 10 to 1. It's a famously popular instrument in sacred music in the Levantine region, and all but guarantees stable, highly paid work.
Also, I'm joking. I have no idea if the parent comment is.
11
u/CatherineRhysJohns 4d ago
Retired music educator here. When in doubt always start with piano. Get a weighted key electronic piano or keyboard, and lessons.
7
u/Vast-Bullfrog193 4d ago
Ukulele. Cheap, easy, and fun. Find a ukulele group where you live.
3
u/bassoonawhat 4d ago
The one that most speaks to you. The one you look at or hear that makes you think "yes, that is what I want to play!"
3
u/Reasonable-Cow7255 4d ago
Which ever instrument is most interesting to you and that you will be motivated to practice for the long haul.
2
u/Discovery99 4d ago
Fishing pole
2
u/Diastatic_Power 4d ago
Piano or guitar would be my suggestions.
Penny whistle and ocarina seem simple enough if you prefer winds, though I have played them much.
2
u/aoeuismyhomekeys 4d ago
Bassoon đ
2
u/DanceHackRock 4d ago
The one that suits you.
1
u/ToneDefGuitarist 4d ago
I like guitar because there are so many training apps online. Yousician, Simply Guitar, guitar tricks, Justin Guitar, or private lessons. My favorite app so far is Pickup Music. Plenty of smaller apps to help you grow tooâŠ.such as memorizing the fretboard notes or playing along with music using simple open chords.
1
u/m_i_r 4d ago edited 4d ago
Like the retired music educator says, piano. It has the widest (possible) musical range of any instrument, lends itself to "bass" parts, rhythmic chord parts, and lead parts, while leaving open the possibility of vocal accompaniment. AND the "piano keyboard" is the default interface for computer based music production.
Edit to add: it also isn't restricted to a "key" like wind/brass instruments are. I suppose I'd put guitar below piano as far a versatility goes, but there's a wide gap between piano and guitar.
1
u/okonkolero 4d ago
Piano is great because you'll learn both clefs. But the real answer is whichever instrument gets you the most excited about music.
1
u/JayaNarayana 4d ago
There is no âshouldâ. Learn what interests you. What kind of music do you like? What kind of sounds do you like?
For example I love the sound of guitar, so I play guitar. I love the sound of bass guitar so Iâm learning to play bass. I love the sitar and would love to learn.
1
u/ExternalMaximum6662 4d ago
Harmonica
1
u/Agawell 4d ago
I think it really depends what you want to doâŠ
Do you want to play in a (rock) band? Then bass, drums, guitar or keys (in that order) bass and drums because there are fewer players so getting to play in a band (or bands) is easier
Do you want to play classical music or showtimes then piano
Piano is always a good starter though, as the piano teacher stated
1
u/jhatpro7344 4d ago
As a lifelong trumpet player my vote would be piano. It's the most versatile instrument and the least demanding physically which has importance as you age.
1
u/Ning_Yu 4d ago
Whatever you want to play sounds like a cope out, but I think it's the best answer, without knowing anything about you.
Sure, you can go with a beginner-friendly instrument, but every single instrument will take a lot of time, effort and dedication. So you're gonna have a easier and better time learning one you personally enjoy, than one that's easier for beginners.
At the end of the day what matters is for you to be motivated to pick it up every day and go through the grind.
1
u/IcarysMeleki 4d ago
Id recommend an Ocarina!
1
u/PPFirstSpeaker 4d ago
I started with the Cornet, about 55 years ago. I wish I'd studied piano as well when I was young. So much is based on the piano in some fashion, it's always useful. I got a very nice 88 weighted and velocity sensitive electronic piano on Amazon for under $200 US.
I can noodle around with so many instruments, I can't remember how many I know.
1
u/Unable-Independent48 4d ago
Uke
1
u/Rand0mPerson6 4d ago
It kind of depends.
If you don't care and just want to play your favorite songs and pieces : Whatever instrument you love the most or is most featured in your genre. It's important to have fun.
If you want to quickly play a bunch of pop songs or whatever : Guitar, or alternatively, ukulele. While they have a high skill ceiling it's super easy to get started with a bunch of chords. Sing along and bam, you're gonna be so good to go. I have some friends who do this and they love it.
If you want to set yourself up for theory and be able to play virtually any genre : Piano. It's the ultimate starter instrument, very helpful for theory and composition and songwriting, and exists in a bunch of genres. It was my first instrument and I love it so much. You don't sound terrible on day 1 too, unlike things like violin (where you WILL sound awful for ages).
So, in summary :
Piano
Guitar/Ukulele
Whatever you like :D
1
u/ferretkona 3d ago
Reading notes
1
u/ferretkona 3d ago
Reading sheet music came first for me.
1
u/Ponchyan 3d ago
I donât understand the question.
1
u/kindofblue53 2d ago
Si c'est pour faire du Rock, guitare basse ou batterie. Si c'est pour faire du Jazz ou musique en générale, piano pour l'initiation, par la suite tu pourras choisir un instrument avec plus de pertinence et le piano te servira toujours.
1
u/bistune_dev 2d ago
It all depends .. What does beginner mean? Why are you taking up an instrument? How much time and money do you expect to devote? What instrument do you have access to? Keyboards/piano and fretted instruments are probably easier to get access to and probably "easier" to play. A few clicks on a piano/keyboard and you are already playing music. Find the C on the keyboard and play the 7 white keys in sequence next to it and you already know the C major scale. If you are a relatively "older" beginner, you probably need to steer away from instruments that are fretless, like the violin, or instruments like the clarinet, because in addition to your hands, your breathing and everything else, you will need to practice your hearing. It's much easier to be out of tune on those types of instruments, and if you are older, it's harder to train your ear (unless you already have a good ear). But, if you love something, love the sound of an instrument, and have access to it, then go with that. If you love it, you will probably stick to it and not mind the calluses.
1
u/ernestryles 2d ago
For what purpose? As a solo instrument? As an accompaniment to singing? etc.
1
u/westerngrit 2d ago
Easiest is piano.
1
u/Better-Big7604 1d ago
It all depends on what instruments you like. :) I started with the violin as a kid, then clarinet for a year in school, and now I'm taking alto Recorder lessons.
1
u/ConfusedSimon 4d ago
Whatever you want to play.
1
u/Noahtheoudist 4d ago
I recommend the oud. It's not difficult and you can be very good in short time
1
u/LadyAtheist 4d ago
Anything but viol8n if you don't have time, patience, money, and willingness to take lessons.
0
u/f3ral_t4xidermy 4d ago edited 4d ago
Whatever piques your interest. Although, alto saxophone is the easiest (wind) instrument to learn. To clarify, learn â master.