Learning a musical instrument can be fun and rewarding, but perfecting your technique can take years of practice. Although you won’t be able to become a virtuoso overnight, there are several instruments you can pick up in just a few months.
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December 28th, 2018
1. SNARE DRUM
If you eventually want to play a drum set, you should start with the snare drum. A favorite of marching bands and orchestras around the world, the snare drum is essential to keeping time.
2. GLOCKENSPIEL
A smaller, more portable version of a xylophone, the glockenspiel consists of metal plates that you strike with a mallet. You can hear the glockenspiel’s vibrant, high-pitched notes in everything from rock to classical music.
3. RECORDER
Before you laugh at the idea of playing that plastic recorder you last saw in grammar school, think again. Thanks to its design, this woodwind instrument is much easier to play than a flute or clarinet, and if you find you enjoy it, you can always advance to one of its more complex cousins.
4. UKULELE
Your summer travel plans might not include a trip to Hawaii, but learning to play the ukulele can help you feel the island life no matter where you are.
5. CAJON
This Peruvian percussion instrument looks like a simple box, but it’s so much more. By slapping the box’s sides or striking them with sticks, you can create a rich, expressive sound that can function as both a bass and snare drum.
6. HARMONICA
Harmonicas are small enough to fit in your pocket but powerful enough to create some serious melody.
7. TABLA
Think of the tabla as the Indian version of bongos. The instrument consists of two small drums (one is slightly bigger than the other) that you slap with your fingers and palms.
8. SAXOPHONE
Spending a summer learning the saxophone won’t turn you into a superstar, but you can pick up the basics in just a couple of months. Before trying to play the sax, learn how to assemble it and insert the reed into the mouthpiece.
9. CLAVES
Claves are the cowbell’s less intrusive cousins. Popular in Afro-Cuban and Latin-American music, this percussion instrument consists of two thick wooden or plastic dowels less than one foot long.
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This article is a re-post, with small modifications, of “9 Musical Instruments You Can Learn Quickly” an article published on mentalfloss.com
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