There is really nothing in the world like music. There have been studies to
show the amazing effect that is has on the human brain, such as the link
between music and spatial intelligence. The only thing that can compare with
listening to music is the ability to make our own music.
Not everyone is as gifted as the rest when it comes to playing music. Not
all of us have the time, or want to invest the time in learning to play a
complicated instrument such as the piano. That does not mean that we don’t all
want to be able to play an instrument. There are easy musical instruments that
you can learn to play quickly. Here are 7:
1. Drums. If you have a pretty good sense of rhythm, drums are a fairly
easy musical instrument that you can learn to play quickly. You won't be
great, but you can sure have fun. There are many kinds of drums, from the
congo drum to the high hat to the bass drum to the snare drum. Drums, along
with the tambourine, belong to the percussion family. Which means “the hitting
of one body against another,” the drum is also played with the hands or a
person can use one to two sticks. It is just a matter of counting beats as you
play.
2. Tambourines. This easy musical instrument is made up of a shallow hand
held drum, usually made from a circular piece of wood and calf skin or plastic
that is stretched across the top. You play it with your hands, stroking or
shaking the jingle or rubbing, shaking or striking the drum head with your
knuckles. Play what feels good.
3. Bongos. Another percussion instrument that is easy to learn to play are
the bongos. Bongos are a type of drum made up of two sections, one of which is
larger then the other. The drums are attached to one another. Played by
placing the bongos between the knees, they produce a high pitched sound. When
the bongos are placed between the knees correctly, the larger drum will be to
the right. Traditionally, they are played by striking the tops with your
fingers and palms. There are times when the bongos are played with sticks and
brushes. It is possible to alter the sound from the bongos by placing one hand
on the top of the drum and then beat it with the other hand.
4. Comb buzzer. We can look at a couple “wind instruments” that are also
easy musical instruments that you can learn to play quickly. One of my
favorites would be the comb buzzer. This instrument is truly one anyone that
can breathe can play. It is not only easy; you can make it at home. You take a
pocket comb and tissue paper. Hold the tissue paper against the comb and hum
through the tissue paper. This produces a buzzing sound and it tickles the
lips.
5. Kazoo. If you are having fun with the comb buzzer, then try the kazoo.
The kazoo is also a fun instrument that is played by “humming”. The kazoo adds
a humming noise. People play the kazoo by closing your lips around the kazoo
and singing into it. Most people that try to hum into the kazoo are not very
successful. But if you “sing” into it, for example, repeating the word “do,
do, do, do” in to the kazoo you get that wonderful humming sound.
6. Recorder. The next step up from the kazoo, is the recorder. It is a fun
and easy to learn instrument that you can learn to play quickly. To play the
recorder, you hold it outward from your lips, unlike the traditional flute
that is held sideways. You then blow or breath, really, into the recorder, and
the pitch or note that is played varies by the open finger holes. You can use
all parts of your mouth to manipulate the sound from the recorder. In
particular, use the tongue and the diaphragm to help control air flow, hence
lengthening the time a note is held and how many different notes are played on
a breath. Quality recorders come in many sizes and are made of wood. There are
also plastic recorders, used widely in schools, and sometimes also known as a
"tonette". Tin whistles and ocarinas are similar types of recorders.
7. Xylophone. Often used in the orchestra as a serious instrument, the
xylophone is a like a piano keyboard that you strike with mallets. With the
larger, lower-sounding bars on the left, the notes of the xylophone are laid
out much like a piano keyboard. Striking the bars with hard mallets produces a
bright, sharp sound. Xylophones made of wood can be very expensive, but for
fun and quick learning, a small xylophone made of metal or metal and plastic
is ideal, and are used in many schools.
8. Autoharp. The autoharp is a musical instrument having a series of chord
bars attached to dampers which, when depressed, mute all the strings other
than those that form the chord you want to play. The autoharp is not really a
harp at all, but in reality is a zither.
As you can see, just because you are limited on time or possibly, ability
does not mean that you can not play an instrument. There are easy musical
instruments that you can learn to play quickly. Percussion instruments and
“wind instruments” make for easy learning and quick fun. Enjoy the benefits of
making music and find a new talent.
