Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on Aug 11, 2026
Table of contents:
There are thousands of musical instruments. Some are easy to learn to play, while others require a great deal of time and patience. Every instrument has its own unique characteristics, 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 sounds that create music (classical, jazz, pop, rock, techno, metal, etc.). An encyclopedia titled Instruments of the World lists more than 200 musical instruments from around the globe, organized into different families:
1. String instruments, the best-known of which are the piano, violin, and guitar.
They are also called chordophones. Their strings are made to vibrate with a bow or the fingers to produce notes. Bowed string instruments include the violin, cello, and double bass. Next are plucked string instruments. As the name suggests, these instruments are played by plucking their strings. This category includes the guitar, harp, and harpsichord. Finally, there are struck string instruments, such as the piano, which produces sound when its keys are pressed.
It’s worth noting that the violin is one of the most widely played string instruments, particularly because it lends music a certain distinction, elegance, and prestige.
2. Wind instruments
These instruments are also called aerophones because they use a column of air to produce sound through the player’s breath. They are divided into different families. The woodwind family, often featured in classical music, includes the recorder, clarinet, flute, and saxophone. Next is the brass family. These musical instruments have a mouthpiece and produce sound through the vibration of the player’s lips and breath. This group includes the trombone, trumpet, organ, and even the tuba.
3. Percussion instruments
Percussion instruments produce rhythm when struck, such as a drum set or xylophone.
Why is the guitar the most widely played musical instrument?
It is the most popular and most widely played instrument in the world for the reasons outlined below:
- An affordable, accessible price
Guitars are fairly affordable, with some models starting at $250. There are also many resources available for learning to play this instrument, including books, educational materials, and online resources.
- Easy to learn
Playing the guitar requires learning music theory, but some people manage to play by ear without studying it. In fact, reproducing notes and songs on the guitar is fairly simple. It is also easy to compose your own songs with this instrument.
- A practical instrument
Unlike a piano, for example, a guitar is very easy to take with you wherever you go, allowing you to play it anywhere.
- An instrument that’s good for memory
Several studies have shown that playing the guitar helps develop concentration skills. In fact, practicing chords, memorizing and reproducing songs, and playing scales promote brain development.
- A versatile instrument for songwriting
The guitar’s tone suits most musical styles (rock, jazz, funk, etc.). A guitar can produce multiple sounds at once and be used to play harmonies. This makes it a polyphonic instrument.
- The image associated with the guitar
When people think about learning to play the guitar, musicians such as Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones immediately come to mind. Some people pick up the guitar to emulate these famous stars or project a fun, cool, or rock-and-roll image.
If you choose the piano as your instrument of choice, you should consider taking lessons to learn how to master this fabulous form of entertainment.
