Perhaps you’ve been inspired by a song you heard on the radio, or you’ve been playing an instrument for years and want to pick up a new one. You want to learn an instrument, but first you need to choose one. There are dozens of instruments out there and it can be hard to choose. I’ll give you some basic guidelines that will help.

First, there it the cost of the instrument. Most woodwind instruments (like clarinets) require you to buy reeds every couple of weeks and string instruments (violins and such) need to have the hair on their bows replaced. Although this factor won’t matter to some, to others it might be important to consider. Another question to ask yourself is what type of music do you want to play? If the answer is pop or rock, then you might want to try guitar or piano. Classical? Instruments in the string family are a popular choice, violin, viola, or cello to name a few. Really love songs from movies? Maybe you want to try a band instrument, like flute or trumpet. Saxophone or clarinet is a popular choice for jazz lovers.

Regardless of what you choose, be prepared to work hard and practice often. However, once you master your instrument it might be the most enjoyable part of your day!