Discovering new music and sounds is as much fun for kids as it is for adults!
I created this list of musical instruments (A to Z) for our own homeschool learning and wanted to share it with you today.
Music is an essential part of our homeschool these days and I wanted something I could point to and use for discovering new sounds, cultures, and even learning the alphabet and copywork.
This is not a confusing textbook list – just a friendly overview that works for kids and parents.
The list of musical instruments below includes over 100 instruments and is organized in a few helpful ways:
- By instrument family
- By age and learning stage
- By alphabetical order so you can pin, print, and visit again later on
I add free printable music and homeschool resources several times a month, so come back often to download them all 🙂
Whether you’re teaching (or learning!) music at home, helping a child choose their first instrument, or just exploring new sounds with a curious little learner, this guide will walk you through it step by step.
Let’s get started.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I could earn a commission if you make a purchase using them. This comes at no additional cost to you and all opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting our family and helping me to create more homeschool and music education content!
Musical Instrument Families (A Quick Overview)
Most musical instruments are grouped into families based on how they make sound.
Learning these families can help kids understand music more easily from the start and makes memorization easier.
The five main instrument families are:
- String instruments
- Woodwind instruments
- Brass instruments
- Percussion instruments
- Keyboard & electronic instruments
Let’s break down them down now and name a few common instruments in each category.
String Instruments
String instruments make a sound when their strings vibrate.
Some are meant to be plucked, some are meant to be strummed, and others are played with a bow.
Common String Instruments
- Guitar
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Double bass
- Harp
- Ukulele
- Banjo
- Mandolin
Beginner music education tips for your homeschool:
In our house, the ukulele and guitar were the easiest entry points four our kids to start learning stringed instruments.
Smaller size, fewer strings, and quick wins definitely keep kids motivated!
If your child is under 7 years old, I’d recommend starting with a Loog guitar.
You can check out my full Loog guitar review here – we used two different sizes with our daughters.
If he or she is over 7 years old, check out my guide to the best electric guitar for beginners or my best acoustic guitar for beginners (coming soon).
You’ll find recommendations based on your kids’ ages in both posts.
Woodwind Instruments
Woodwind instruments make sound when they’re played by blowing air through a mouthpiece or reed.
Not all of them are actually made of wood anymore but the name stuck anyway.
Common Woodwind Instruments
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Oboe
- Bassoon
- Recorder
- Saxophone
Why homeschoolers love recorders:
Recorders are inexpensive, portable, and perfect for introducing breath control and note reading to young kids.
If you think your child is too young to learn guitar or ukulele, this could be a great entry point and you can still teach basic music theory with it.
This recorder is a great and super affordable option!
Brass Instruments
Brass instruments produce sound through the vibration of the player’s lips on the instrument’s mouthpiece.
Brass instruments tend to be louder and are usually better for older kids!
Common Brass Instruments
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- French horn
- Tuba
- Cornet
- Euphonium
Parent note:
Brass instruments can help build lung strength and discipline but require a lot of patience at the beginning – for both kids and parents!
Percussion Instruments
Percussion instruments make sounds when you strike, shake, or scrape them.
These are usually a favorite with younger kids and yes, they can get loud, haha.
Percussion instruments fall into two categories: Tuned and Untuned.
Tuned percussion instruments can play actual musical notes and melodies.
Untuned percussion instruments focus on rhythm rather than notes – they’re used to keep the beat and add rhythm to music.
Tuned Percussion Instruments
- Xylophone
- Marimba
- Vibraphone
- Glockenspiel
Untuned Percussion Instruments
- Drums
- Tambourine
- Shakers
- Bongos
- Congas
- Triangle
- Cymbals
- Cajon
Homeschool favorites:
A small percussion basket for morning time keeps little hands busy while still learning musical concepts.
Here’s what ours looks like.
If you want to fill your musical morning basket with the same items, here’s a list:
I’ve also got a mini karaoke set in there for the kids!
For Christmas, I bought a cajon drum for my husband and youngest daughter.
She’s expressed a lot of interest in percussion instruments and my husband fell in love with these things after seeing a pastor at our church play one.
Its a fun little drum that kids love sitting and making music on!
This cajon is a great starter drum.
More music tips for you and your family:
- Basic Guitar Chords for Beginners: 7 Must-Know Chords to Start Playing Hundreds of Songs Now
- How to Create a Music Room That Inspires You (Tips for Your Living Room, Basement, and Even Small Bedrooms!)
- Here’s How to Learn Guitar at Any Age: Best Tips for Beginners
Keyboard & Electronic Instruments
These instruments use keys or digital sounds to produce music and are wonderful for learning music theory!
Keyboard Instruments
- Piano
- Keyboard
- Organ
- Harpsichord
Electronic & Modern Instruments
- Synthesizer
- Digital piano
- MIDI controller
I have this mini Midi keyboard (check out this alternative for a great inexpensive beginner option) and attach it to my computer for making digital music.
The kids also love playing on it and seeing what kinds of sounds they can come up with.
Its a really inexpensive little instrument that has endless possibilities!
Piano vs keyboard for beginners:
Wondering what the difference between a keyboard and a piano is?
Keyboards are an affordable and space-saving digital alternative to pianos.
Pianos are a more traditional acoustic instrument that uses weighted keys and offers a more traditional sound and feel for the player.
Pianos are usually much more expensive that keyboards!
So, if you’re not sure you’ll stick with lessons long-term, a keyboard is often the safer (and inexpensive) place to start.
My parents got my oldest daughter this keyboard for Christmas and she can’t get enough of it!
Its even got lighted keys so she can learn new songs by following along with them.
We love that its portable so she can bring it downstairs to our home recording studio when we have our family music nights!
Musical Instruments From Around the World
Exploring instruments from different cultures is a beautiful way to combine music with subjects like geography, sociology, history, and anthropology.
Examples of World Instruments
- Tamburica
- Kaval
- Djembe
- Steel drums
- Kalimba
- Sitar
- Didgeridoo
The A to Z guide near the end of this post includes plenty of interesting world instruments in alphabetical order.
Homeschool connection:
We love pairing instruments with map work and country studies!
It makes lessons feel alive.
We have a tamburica (Croatian lute) and a vintage mandolin that was made in Czechoslovakia during the early 1900’s in our homeschool corner.
It looks neat and reminds us of our Croatian and Slovak heritage daily!
Music is such an amazing way to dive into cultural studies.
Vangoa is another brand that’s usually reasonably priced and makes decent instrument – this mandolin kit is a great option for homeschoolers.
Musical Instruments for Kids (By Age)
Here are the musical instruments we recommend by age group.
Any instruments in younger age categories can be learned by older kids and adults too, of course!
Preschool (Ages 3 to 5)
- Egg Shakers (we have these ones)
- Xylophone
- Electronic drum pad (this is the one that we have)
- Steel tongue drum (we love this one but it comes in other fun colors)
- Boomwhackers
Early Elementary (Ages 5 to 7)
- Recorder
- Ukulele (these ones are super cute and there are a ton of color options)
- Keyboard or Piano (my daughter loves the one she just got for Christmas – this version of the same keyboard is less expensive because it doesn’t have lighted keys)
- Kalimba (this one sounds really pretty!)
- Cajon – this affordable option is really similar to the one we have
Upper Elementary and Up (8+ Years Old)
- Guitar (I can’t recommend this one enough for kids under 7 – for kids older than that, check out with this one. Yamaha is one of the top names in music and that is a very reasonably priced beginner guitar!)
- Violin (this is a fantastic starter kit for the price)
- Flute
- Saxophone (this is a great starter kit – fun fact: I played an alto saxophone in my high school band before switching to the clarinet and then the guitar, haha)
- Clarinet (here’s another great beginner set for those interested in big band instruments)
- Drums (we plan on purchasing this electronic drum kit for my youngest this year! We love the light up zones and the fact it has coaching songs built in. The fact its digital also means we have the option of loud and quiet practice sessions)
Tips to Help Kids Learn Music at Home:
Let kids explore before committing!
Exposure first, lessons second will help your child discover an instrument that’s right for them.
Listen to different styles of music together, ask a musician family member or friend to play for your child, or even attend a local event.
You can explore Amazon for inexpensive instrument options after or head to your local music store for more ideas.
Donner is a fantastic brand you’ll come across on Amazon that offers affordable musical instruments for a fraction of the price of leading brands.
And honestly, its good stuff.
My husband’s first set of guitar pedals were all Donner.
I can’t recommend this brand enough for large homeschooling families that want their kids to experience learning music.
More homeschooling ideas:
- How to Create the Perfect Homeschool Schedule
- 50 Amazing Homeschool Field Trip Ideas Your Kids Will Love!
- The Complete Homeschool Supply Shopping List
Musical Instruments List A to Z
This section is perfect for reference, copywork, or memory games!
Let’s start with A.
Musical Instruments Starting With A
- Accordion
- Acoustic guitar
- Alto saxophone
- Autoharp
- Agogo bells
- Aeolian harp
Musical Instruments That Start With B
- Banjo
- Banjolele
- Bass guitar
- Bassoon
- Bongos
- Bugle
- Baritone horn
- Balalaika
- Bayan
- Boomwhackers
- Bell lyre
Musical Instruments Starting With C
- Cello
- Classical guitar
- Clarinet
- Clavichord
- Congas
- Cornet
- Cowbell
- Castanets
- Cajon
- Chimes
Musical Instruments Starting With D
- Drums (snare, bass, toms)
- Djembe
- Dulcimer
- Didgeridoo
- Darbuka
- Domra
- Drum machine
- Dudy (Czech bagpipes)
Musical Instruments Starting With E
- Effects pedal
- Electric guitar
- Electric bass
- Euphonium
- Electronic keyboard
- English horn
Musical Instruments That Start With F
- Flute
- French horn
- Flugelhorn
- Fiddle
- Frame drum
- Finger cymbals
Musical Instruments That Start With G
- Guitalele
- Guitar
- Glockenspiel
- Gong
- Grand piano
- Guqin
- Guiro
- Gusli
Musical Instruments That Start With H
- Harp
- Harmonica
- Harpsichord
- Handpan
- Horn
- Hurdy-gurdy
Musical Instruments That Start With I
- Irish whistle
- Indian harmonium
- Igil
- Istarski mih (Croatian bagpipe)
Musical Instruments Start With J
- Jaw harp
- Jug
- Jingle bells
- Janggu
Musical Instruments That Start With K
- Kaval
- Keyboard
- Kalimba
- Kettle drum
- Kora
- Kazoo
- Keytar
Musical Instruments That Start With L
- Lute
- Lyre
- Lap steel guitar
- Log drum
- Low whistle
Musical Instruments Starting With M
- Mandolin
- Maracas
- Marimba
- Melodica
- Melodeon
- Mellotron
- Microphone
- MIDI controller
- Mouth harp
Musical Instruments That Start With N
- Nyckelharpa
- Nose flute
- Natural horn
- Naqareh
Musical Instruments Start With O
- Oboe
- Ocarina
- Organ
- Octobass
- Otamatone
- Omnichord
Musical Instruments That Start With P
- Pedal
- Piano
- Piccolo
- Pipe organ
- Pan flute
- Pandeiro
Musical Instruments Starting With Q
- Qin
- Qsiba flute
- Qanun
- Quena
- Qengkari
- Quarter-tone trumpet
Musical Instruments That Start With R
- Rattle
- Recorder
- Resonator Guitar
- Rhythm sticks
- Rainstick
- Rebec
- Rotary drum
Musical Instruments That Start With S
- Saxophone
- Sleigh Bells
- Synthesizer
- Snare drum
- Sitar
- Steel drums
- Steel tongue drums
- Shakers
- Spoons
- Sousaphone
Musical Instruments That Start With T
- Taiko
- Tamburica
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Tuba
- Tambourine
- Triangle
- Timpani
- Theremin
Musical Instruments Starting With U
- Ubah
- Ubo
- Ukulele
- ‘Uli ‘Uli
- Upright bass
- Udu drum
- Universal MIDI controller
Musical Instruments That Start With V
- Verrophone
- Violin
- Viola
- Vibraphone
- Vibraslap
- Vihuela
- Valve trombone
- Volinka
Musical Instruments That Start With W
- Washboard
- Wood block
- Wind chimes
- Whistle
- Wurlitzer electric piano
Musical Instruments Starting With X
- Xylophone
- Xylorimba
- Xalam
- Xiao
- Xun
Musical Instruments That Start With Y
- Yam drum
- Yangqin
- Yaoga
- Yataga
- Yehu
- Yidaki
- Yunluo
Musical Instruments That Start With Z
- Zither
- Zurna
- Zhongruan
- Zills (finger cymbals)
- Zufalo
- Zeruna
Frequently Asked Questions
How many musical instruments are there?
There are hundreds of musical instruments worldwide!
Then consider consider different cultural instruments and variations.
What is the easiest instrument to learn?
The easiest musical instruments for kids to learn are:
- Recorder
- Ukulele
- Keyboard
What instrument should a child start with?
It depends on age, hand size, and interest but exposure should always come first.
Make sure your child is interested in the instrument you start with before investing too much.
What are the main musical instrument families?
Strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and keyboard/electronic instruments.
Final Thoughts on Our A to Z Musical Instruments List
Music doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or even cost a lot of money to get started!
Start with exposure and incorporate the instruments from this list into your daily lesson.
Keep things playful and remember that learning about music is just as valuable as learning to play music.
If you’re building a homeschool music plan, this list can be your foundation – its simple, flexible, and full of possibility.
Happy exploring, friend!
– Nikki
