Creative musical juices flowing but you can’t quite master the strings on a harp or a violin? Read on…

Learning a musical instrument is a rewarding hobby, offering personal satisfaction whilst opening up social opportunities. The good news for beginners is that many are actually easy to start playing!

Ukulele

With beginner models costing as little as £20, the ukulele is a great instrument for wannabe strummers.

After all, boasting just four strings, it’s less daunting than its big brother, the guitar, and the basic chords are easy to learn. What’s more, many chart songs use three or four simple chord shapes, so you’ll be knocking out top 5 hits within a few short weeks!

Although its small fretboard may feel a bit fiddly at first, it’s enjoyable to play. ‘The Ukulele Teacher’ and ‘Bernadette Teaches Music,’ are good tutorial channels on YouTube, while many community centres offer beginner-friendly groups.

Keyboard

You can pick up a basic keyboard for well under a hundred pounds, and more than any other, this is a great instrument for learning theory basics, such as reading sheet music and understanding chords.

Although coordinating both hands may be challenging initially, the popularity of the piano means there are lots of practice guides, and even a beginner will marvel at the ability to find notes and make up melodies.

Drums

Entry-level kits range from around £100-£300, with silent drumkits (electronic-sensored pads linked to headphones) suddenly taking this instrument from the ‘noisy neighbour’ realm to something that barely makes a sound.

Energetic, enjoyable and infinitely cool, drummers are often heralded for stamina, rhythm and dexterity, and if you like percussion, you’ll quickly up techniques and tricks with the online world offering countless guides and tutorials.

Harmonica

It’s small, but it packs a punch, and for little more than a tenner, you can start your bluesy journey, as the next Bob Dylan or Stevie Wonder, with a harmonica.

A clichéd instrument perhaps, you can always be ready to be whip one out at a campfire setting, even if this is an instrument that takes skills and flexibility.

That said, the limited range of notes mean it’s quick to learn, and with the help of some brilliant YouTube tutorials, you’ll be bending sounds and improvising riffs quickly.

Today, some bum notes in your bedroom – tomorrow, the O2 Arena, and beyond!