What’s the Most Popular Instrument?

There are thousands of musical instruments. Some are easy to pick up, while others take a lot of time and patience. Every instrument has its own unique character, but do you know which one is played the most worldwide?

What is a musical instrument?

A musical instrument is an object used to produce sound, which in turn creates music (classical, jazz, pop, rock, techno, metal, etc.). An encyclopaedia called Instruments of the World brings together more than 200 musical instruments from around the globe, classified into different families, namely:

1. String instruments, the best known of which are the piano, violin, and guitar.

They are also called chordophones. Sound is produced by making a string vibrate—either by bowing it or using your fingers. These are known as bowed string instruments, such as the violin, cello, and double bass. Next come plucked string instruments, which, as the name suggests, are played by plucking the strings—like the guitar, harp, and harpsichord. Finally, struck string instruments produce sound when keys are pressed, as with the piano.

It’s worth noting that the violin is one of the most widely played string instruments, often associated with elegance and prestige in music.

2. Wind instruments

These instruments are also called aerophones because they produce sound using a vibrating column of air, powered by your breath. They’re grouped into families. The woodwinds, often featured in classical music, include the recorder, clarinet, flute, and saxophone. Then there’s the brass family. These instruments use a mouthpiece, with sound created by the vibration of the lips and the player’s breath. In this family, you’ll find the trombone, trumpet, organ, and even the tuba.

3. Percussion

Percussion instruments create rhythm through being struck, such as a drum kit or a xylophone, for example.

Why is the guitar the most widely played musical instrument?

It’s the most popular and most played instrument in the world, for the reasons outlined below:

• A reasonable, accessible price

Guitars are fairly affordable (starting at NZ$390 depending on the model). Plus, there are lots of learning resources available (books, educational materials on websites, and more).

• Easy to learn

To play the guitar, learning music theory helps, but some people manage to play without it, simply by learning by ear. It’s relatively easy to reproduce notes and songs on guitar, and it’s also a great instrument for writing your own songs.

• Portability

Unlike a piano, for example, the guitar is easy to take with you, so you can play just about anywhere.

• An instrument that’s good for your memory

Several studies have shown that playing guitar helps develop concentration. Your brain benefits from working on chords, memorising and replaying songs, practising scales, and more.

• A flexible instrument for composition

A guitar’s tone works with most musical styles (rock, jazz, funk, etc.). It can produce several notes at once and be used to play harmonies—this is what makes it a polyphonic instrument.

• The image associated with the guitar

When people decide to start playing guitar, they often think of musicians such as Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, and Keith Richards (the Rolling Stones). Some pick up the guitar to emulate these famous stars or to project a fun, cool, rock image.

If you choose the piano as your instrument of choice, it’s well worth taking lessons to learn how to truly master this wonderful form of entertainment.