Are you thinking about learning a musical instrument from scratch? In this article, we introduce beginner-friendly instruments ranked by difficulty level, with a special focus on instruments that are easy to start on your own.

We’ll go over each instrument’s characteristics, ease of practice at home, price range, and learning curve—followed by an overall ranking.
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🎤 Vocal (Singing)

Difficulty

• Instrument Cost: ★☆☆☆☆

• Practice Space: ★★☆☆☆

• Playing Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆

Singing is arguably the easiest way to start making music. It requires no instrument purchase, and many people already enjoy singing casually—whether at karaoke or while doing housework or showering.

Of course, becoming a lead vocalist in a band or part of a choir requires more than just singing freely. But as a starting point, singing is the most accessible musical activity and one that we all naturally engage in from a young age.

The main challenge is finding a place to practice. You’ll likely need to visit karaoke booths or rent a rehearsal studio, which costs a few hundred to a few thousand yen each time. Some may practice outdoors in parks or on the street, but for most, karaoke rooms are the go-to.

No equipment is needed to begin—just your voice. While professional vocalists may eventually invest in personal microphones, most venues or studios already provide them for free.

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🎸 Guitar (Electric, Acoustic, Classical)

Difficulty

• Instrument Cost: ★★☆☆☆

• Practice Space: ★☆☆☆☆

• Playing Difficulty: ★★★☆☆

The guitar is a very approachable instrument for beginners. One major advantage is that you can practice at home any time. With electric guitars, you can use headphones to play even at night. Acoustic and classical guitars, on the other hand, produce sound directly and may be better suited to daytime practice.

Beginner guitar sets often cost around 100 to 200 dollars and include everything you need: amp, cable, pick, tuner, and strap. While high-end guitars can cost hundreds of thousands of yen, there’s no need to start at the top.

However, many beginners underestimate how difficult it is to produce clean chords. Learning to press multiple strings at once, stretch your fingers, and keep proper hand posture can be frustrating. Even playing single-note solos may be harder than expected. Seeing professionals play effortlessly can lead to the false impression that you’ll be able to play full songs right away—but it takes time and dedication.

Still, the guitar covers both rhythm and lead parts, making it fun and musically satisfying to play even solo.

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🎸 Bass Guitar

Difficulty

• Instrument Cost: ★★☆☆☆

• Practice Space: ★☆☆☆☆

• Playing Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆

Bass is often the most beginner-friendly instrument in terms of playing difficulty. While mastering it requires dedication like any other instrument, the learning curve to get stage-ready is relatively short.

That’s because bass primarily plays single-note lines, often just the root notes of chords. Unlike guitar or ukulele, chord playing is rare. This makes it easier for beginners to get started and play along with songs relatively quickly.

Prices are similar to guitars, and home practice is usually possible.

The downside? Bass rarely stands alone. It shines when played with other instruments, especially in a band. On its own, it might feel less satisfying at first. While advanced techniques allow for solo bass performances, these are much more difficult and suited to advanced players.

That said, bass is perfect for people who enjoy playing a supportive role in a group, and still want a manageable instrument to begin with.

Note: Upright (acoustic) basses differ significantly in cost and space requirements.

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🎹 Piano

Difficulty

• Instrument Cost: ★★★★☆

• Practice Space: ★★★☆☆

• Playing Difficulty: ★★★★☆

The piano, often called the “King of Instruments,” is a powerful but high-barrier instrument to begin.

While digital pianos start at a few tens of thousands of yen, upright pianos cost several hundred thousand, and grand pianos can cost millions. Their size also makes them hard to place in most homes.

Because you can’t carry it around, practice is limited to places where a piano is available. While some studios have pianos, noise and vibration remain concerns.

The piano is also difficult to learn. Unlike guitar, it’s hard to progress through self-teaching alone. Most students follow a structured curriculum over several years, starting with basics like Beyer, Burgmüller, and Sonatina before tackling classical repertoire.

Still, the piano covers melody, harmony, accompaniment, and even bass lines—offering a full musical experience in one instrument. That’s why it remains a beloved choice worldwide despite its difficulty.

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🥁 Drums

Difficulty

• Instrument Cost: ★★★★★

• Practice Space: ★★★★★

• Playing Difficulty: ★★★☆☆

Drums are perhaps the hardest instrument to start due to logistical challenges. Whether acoustic or electronic, drum kits are expensive (tens of thousands of yen) and require significant space.

Worst of all is the noise. Even electronic kits produce striking sounds that travel through floors and walls. Many apartment dwellers find it impossible to practice at home—even with headphones.

Renting a studio is often the only practical option. Fortunately, private practice costs only ¥500–¥800/hour, making it more affordable in the long run than buying a full setup and soundproofing your home.

While basic rhythms can be learned in a few days, mastering complex techniques takes just as much effort as any other instrument.

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🎶 Ukulele

Difficulty

• Instrument Cost: ★☆☆☆☆

• Practice Space: ★☆☆☆☆

• Playing Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆

The ukulele is one of the easiest instruments to start. It’s small, affordable (some models under ¥10,000), and easy to store or carry.

It’s also quiet enough to practice at home without disturbing neighbors.

Though similar to guitar in technique, the ukulele has fewer strings and a narrower neck, making it easier to play chords. Some people who struggle with guitar find ukulele much more manageable.

With a bit of practice, you’ll be strumming and singing your favorite tunes in no time.

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🎻 Violin

Difficulty

• Instrument Cost: ★★★★★

• Practice Space: ★★★★★

• Playing Difficulty: ★★★★★

Violin is one of the most difficult instruments to start, especially alone. Prices range from hundreds of thousands to millions of yen. While beginners can start with cheaper options, even entry-level violins are costly.

Children also need to upgrade sizes as they grow, which adds to the expense.

It’s notoriously hard to play at first. Producing a clean tone takes time, and beginners often make screeching, unpleasant sounds. The anime “Doraemon” famously depicts this when the character Shizuka plays her violin.

Violin is also loud, and practicing at home is almost impossible unless you live in a large, detached house. Silent violins exist but still produce sound, so practice often requires professional studios.

Despite the high bar for entry, many pursue the violin for its elegance and prestige. With dedication and resources, it’s a deeply rewarding instrument.

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🎷 Wind Instruments (Trumpet, Saxophone, etc.)

Difficulty

• Instrument Cost: ★★★★☆

• Practice Space: ★★★★☆

• Playing Difficulty: ★★★★☆

Brass and woodwind instruments like the trumpet, saxophone, trombone, and horn are also challenging to begin solo.

They’re expensive (usually several hundred thousand yen), and affordable models often come with quality concerns. They’re also loud—second only to drums in volume—and require soundproofing to avoid neighbor complaints.

More importantly, many beginners struggle to make any sound at all. These instruments rely on controlling breath, embouchure, and airflow—making the learning curve steeper than piano or guitar.

Another barrier: wind instruments often lack solo settings. They’re typically part of bands or ensembles, and without group involvement, it’s hard to find opportunities to perform or practice meaningfully.

However, joining an ensemble and contributing as a key member can be a deeply fulfilling musical experience.

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🏆 Ranking: Easiest Instruments for Beginners to Start Solo

1. Vocal (Singing)

2. Ukulele

3. Bass Guitar

4. Guitar

5. Piano

6. Drums

7. Wind Instruments (Trumpet, Saxophone, etc.)

8. Violin

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