There is a wide variety of instruments to choose from, from the Bassoon and French Horn to the Harp and Violin. You know you like music, but what kind of instrument should you pick? Do you even have the skills to play the harp? Will your fingers be able to dance over the piano’s keys?

The fact of the matter is, when you choose an instrument, you need to make sure it’s the right one. Because, musical instruments are expensive and spending time and money into purchasing one and going for drum lessons when you should’ve actually started guitar lessons or piano lessons can be a big waste of time and finances.

Here are a few questions you should answer before deciding on which instrument to start playing.

1. Genre

Decide what genre of music you like, the most! Do you like the bluesy sound of Jazz? Or do you fancy the rhythmic beat of Hip-Hop? What about the angelic sound of an orchestra or the raspy sounds of a Rock and Roll band?

Once you’ve decided which genre you like, investigate what kind of instruments are played in these musical genres.

2. Sound

So, you’ve picked your favourite genre of music and studied the different musical instruments involved. What instrument’s sound do you like most? In a Jazz band, do you like the way the piano sounds or the saxophone? Do you see yourself as the drummer in a Rock and Roll band or the guitarist in a pop band?

From these questions, you should be able to have a clearer idea of what instruments you prefer and have them jotted down. Narrow it down to at least two or three instruments.

3. Experiment

It’s time to test it out. Go to a big music store and hold the instruments in your hands. Beat on the drums, strum the guitar’s strings and play the piano.

Which one feels more natural and fun? If you know someone who plays one of these instruments, let them play something for you or teach you a very simple and basic song. Do you have a natural feel for it or does it seem impossible?

4. Go for trial classes

You could start by signing up for a few trial classes first. If piano happens to appeal to you, then you’re in for a treat! Many places offer piano lessons in Singapore so you can expect yourself to be hitting the notes marvellously in no time.

If you feel energized, excited and amped up after your first class, you’ve discovered the right instrument for you!

Remember to start cheap, buy a second-hand guitar or rent a piano. You can invest in good quality instruments that are worthy of recording once you’ve spent a lot of time on it.

The baseline is, you need an instrument that speaks to you, that feels natural in your hands and one that you love the sound of. If you love the sound it makes, you will most probably experiment and practice a lot to try and make those sounds.