If you are looking to make a surprise to a friend and you have searched far and wide for different gifts for musicians, or you are looking to add some more equipment to your collection of music gadgets, we have created a small list of items that should make your search easier. The products present here range from string instruments to percussion or keyboard instruments and they suit both beginners and more experienced players.
Cordoba Guitars U100CM
This ukulele can be considered suitable for an entry-level musician. It sounds great and should last for years. Every string instrument must be able to keep its tune, and this ukulele does an excellent job at this. It has a solid construction, although it is plywood and it lacks some fancy ornamental touches.
The distance between the cords and the neck is not too big so the instrument is easy to play and not much force is required to create the sounds you want. It conveniently also comes with a gig bag that also has a pocket.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($62.47)
RockJam 100300
Bongos are known for being portable and accessible to all age groups and whether you have plenty of experience on how to make a great bit or you’re just a learner trying to find the right sound, the bongos will help.
This set is light, and it’s made for taking it with you in situations in which you wouldn’t carry other instruments; to the beach for example. Beginners will enjoy it more, but they will need the help of a more experienced player to tune the set right. The edge and tightening screws can cause problems to the hands of experienced drummers that like to use the margins more.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($36.99)
Midiplus AKM320
Anyone who ever wanted to turn a small room into a recording studio, or to become a composer, has undoubtedly searched for a MIDI keyboard. This model from Midiplus comes with 32 mini keys that are velocity sensitive, and it has pitch, volume and modulation controllers and other adjusters that will help create the desired sound.
It also comes with a USB MIDI out port so that you can take it everywhere, plug it in and without needing to install additional software, you can start enjoying the music you produce. If your hands happen to be on the bigger side, these small keys might not be for you, however.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($34.88)
Mendini MPT-N
Unlike the usual trumpet, the pocket trumpet can be carried around more efficiently, as the name of this product suggests. This model from Mendini comes with all the little things a player needs: a tuner, a small case, a bottle of valve oil accompanied by soft polishing cloth and a pair of gloves. It even comes with a foldable stand.
Because of all the curvatures, this pocket trumpet will not be able to produce the same volume as a classic one, and some intricate notes may be harder to reach, but according to the manufacturer, it is ideal for beginners or student musicians.
Click to see the price on Amazon!
Fender Acoustic Guitar
Guitar bundles are a right way for learners to get all the things they need to start practicing. This Fender package consists of a standard sized guitar, the all needed tuner, an extra set of strings, the picks, the bag and of course, an instructional DVD.
As implied, it is a good set for beginners and should provide the aspiring guitar player with a beautiful sound when it is tuned right. Also with regard to tuning, it sometimes tends to lose its tune if played too hard, so that is where the tuner will undoubtedly come in handy.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($189.99)
How to find a cool musical instrument
The market is packed with cool music instruments, some of which are uniquely designed while others are downright bizarre. Many of the alternatives that you are likely to come across are typically developed kids as they help them build their sound response and they are fun to utilize.
If you are searching for gifts for musicians, perhaps you should keep in mind that they already master one or several instruments. The person you are getting the present for might not appreciate a cheaply made guitar if he or she is an expert and has been using high-end models for some time. However, it goes without saying that an original Fender or Gretsch guitar will surely make an impression.
The same applies to pianists, who would probably frown upon getting a present such as a xylophone, albeit being fun. The point that we are trying to make is that, if you know little to nothing about the musical individual you are trying to impress, it’s better to stick to something safe such as a piece of music artwork.
Nonetheless, if you have taken the time to sift through the best musical instruments reviews and have come up empty-handed, perhaps you should take a peek at our guide below.
How we chose the coolest musical instruments
To save you some time, we did an extensive research on the most innovative musical instruments that you could find nowadays. To cut things short, we suggest you have a look at this short guide as it can take you through the factors you ought to bear in mind if you’re trying to find something unique and imaginative in this line.
Are you getting it for yourself or for a friend?
It stands to reason that if you are on the lookout for a new musical instrument to try out, you can spend dozens of hours researching your options. What’s more, you probably know what instrument you are interested in learning how to play.
Things aren’t as easy if you are trying to get a present for one of your acquaintances, buddies, or a member of your family. Unless you are aware of that person’s knowledge of music in general and musicology, in particular, we suggest you steer clear of instruments. As mentioned above, an expensive guitar or any other instrument made from the best materials and by one of the world-known manufacturers can surely make an impression with any of your musical friends.
How about the age?
Getting such a product for a child is somewhat easy compared to purchasing one for an adult. For one, the little one might have no idea what he or she likes as they might not have tried playing anything before. You also have to take into account the child’s parents. Some adults might work from home, for example, and might be bothered by the sound made by a violin all day long.
Some musical toys come in sets, which is to say that you could get both a saxophone and a trumpet horn for under thirty. Of course, these two aren’t as good as those destined for adults who want to learn how to play the trumpet or the saxophone, but they do come with the right buttons in all the right places. So, they might be a good starting point.
Moreover, you need to make sure that the musical instrument for children you are trying to purchase is not made from toxic materials nor does it come with parts that can be swallowed, thus posing a risk to the health of the kid.
On the other hand, if you are buying the product for a teenager, things are far simpler. You can have a talk with him or her and find out what he or she likes.
Ease of use and convenience
A tambourine requires little to no effort in terms of the hours that someone might spend learning how to use it. That same rule does not apply in the case of a real guitar, however. There are scales that need to be practiced time, and again, so the whole process is time-consuming and requires quite a bit of commitment.
However, if the person you are purchasing the musical instrument for already has a firm grasp on music, in general, it wouldn’t hurt if you incentivized them to learn another instrument. For example, pianists can learn how to play the guitar and the other way around, at least on what people usually say in this sense.
Gadgets all the way
If you’re keen on learning as much as you can about technology and science, there’s nothing stopping you from giving a shot to an innovative instrument. For instance, the Stylophone went out of style and production about three decades ago, but it has made a comeback recently.
The Pocket Operator is a compact synthesizer that can allow you to create sounds of drums and bass with little to no effort. Obviously, many recent developments in this sense are rather useless or just look good and fun to use. This might be the case of the 12-neck guitar developed by Japanese artist Yoshihiko Satoh. Surely guitar players won’t be able to use such an instrument at one of their gigs.
Budget limitations
With the vast array of choices available for sale, it goes without saying that you might end up feeling a bit confused as to which one works best for what you have in mind. Since sometimes, it all boils down to the pennies you will spend, it is a good idea to make a budget and understand your limitations on this account.
While most musical instruments created with toddlers in mind are budget-friendly and can cost under fifty dollars, full-size alternatives made from quality materials could end up costing a fortune. Sometimes, it’s better to stick to things that you know or that resemble well-known instruments. That would be the case of the contrabass balalaika, which looks like a guitar but it has a triangular body and is outfitted with extension legs so that it can sit on the floor.
