Thomas Walker
Thomas grew up on the folk and roots music of the North East, where the tradition of Northumbrian tunes runs deep, and has been playing and writing about acoustic music for most of his life. He's drawn to instruments with history and craft. He covers folk, acoustic and traditional music.
Articles by Thomas Walker
The Ultimate Guide to Yanagisawa Alto Saxophone
Yanagisawa has built premium saxophones since 1963, trusted by jazz professionals worldwide. Discover why Yanagisawa offers exceptional tone at accessible prices.
Bass Ukulele Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A compact instrument with a big musical role — this guide covers everything you need to know about the bass ukulele, from its origins and types to strings, amplification and whether it suits your play...
Common Ukulele Lessons Mistakes to Avoid
Most ukulele students make at least two or three of the same mistakes. Identifying them early makes a significant difference to the speed and enjoyment of progress.
Saxophone Reeds for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A practical beginner's guide to saxophone reeds — how to choose your first strength, fit the reed correctly, care for cane and know when it's time to move on.
Common Saxophone Stand Mistakes to Avoid
There are real mistakes saxophonists make with stands — from buying too cheaply to ignoring deteriorating padding. This guide covers what to avoid and why it matters.
The Best Autoharps for the Money
There's no single best autoharp, only the right one for the music you want to make. Here's an honest tier-by-tier map of the market instead of a fake top-five list.
Baritone Saxophone: A Complete Buyer's Guide
What genuinely matters when you're buying a baritone saxophone — from choosing a tier to inspecting a secondhand horn before you pay.
Common Makala Ukulele Mistakes to Avoid
The Makala ukulele is forgiving, but consistent mistakes slow progress and make the instrument harder than it needs to be. Here is what to watch for and how to correct it.
How to Set Up and Use Banjo Strings
Fitting banjo strings properly is a fifteen-minute job done patiently. Here's the right order of operations, from the packet to the final tuning check.
Beginner Ukulele: A Complete Buyer's Guide
The ukulele market has improved considerably — the challenge now is knowing which qualities actually matter and which are marketing noise.
Common Blues Harmonica Mistakes to Avoid
A handful of persistent habits hold most blues harmonica players back early on. This guide identifies the most common mistakes — from using too much air pressure to ignoring cross harp — and explains...
Choosing a Student Flute: Specification, Materials and Brands
A student flute is a silver-plated concert flute designed for beginners, with closed-hole keys, an offset G and a C footjoint. Reliability matters more than prestige.
Chromatic Harmonica for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The chromatic harmonica rewards a methodical start. Here is what to practise, in what order, and what to expect in your first few weeks.
Zoom Recorder Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A pocket-sized field recorder that changed how musicians and filmmakers capture sound. Here's what the range actually covers.
A Beginner's Guide to Folk Music
Not one sound but a way music moves through a community. Here's what genuinely makes folk music folk, and a quick sweep through its history.
The Complete Guide to Usb Recorder Player
USB recorder players blend traditional acoustic instruments with modern digital connectivity. Explore recording capabilities, educational applications, and how to integrate USB recorders into music le...
The Best Tenor Banjos for the Money
No single tenor banjo suits every player — this guide maps the market honestly by tradition, budget and use so you can make the right choice for your situation.
Tuning Five String Banjo: A Complete Guide
The five string banjo is central to American folk and bluegrass music. Discover the instrument's unique design, playing techniques and how to start learning.
Autoharp Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A full chord with no fretting hand in sight — the autoharp looks simple but hides genuinely clever mechanics. Here's how it works, where it came from, and the types you'll meet.
The Best Electric Mandolins for the Money
The Rogue suits beginners, the Eastman MD604 is the mid-range benchmark, and the Peerless Tuxedo is the professional standard for jazz players.
The Ultimate Guide to Saxophone Neck Straps
A quality saxophone neck strap distributes instrument weight comfortably, supporting proper posture and preventing neck fatigue during practice and performance.
Bass Clarinet Clarinets: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Range, materials, keywork and reeds — here's what genuinely matters before buying a bass clarinet, and what to check on a used one.
Soprano Saxophone for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Not the easiest place to begin, and that's all right — a patient, honest guide to your first weeks with a soprano saxophone.
What Thomas Walker covers
Bassoon
Expressive and distinctive, the bassoon is a vital orchestral double-reed instrument with depth, agility and character.
2 topics
Clarinet
The clarinet is a versatile woodwind, widely used in UK orchestras, bands, jazz and chamber music.
3 topics
Fiddle
Choose a fiddle for folk, traditional and acoustic playing, with lively response and comfortable handling.
3 topics
Flute
Browse flutes for orchestral, chamber and folk playing, with clear tone, quick response and reliable playability for UK...
3 topics
Folk & World Instruments
Reviews, guides and buying advice for folk and world instruments including banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, sitar, djembe and...
62 topics
Kalimba
Kalimba instruments are compact thumb pianos with a soft, melodic tone, ideal for beginners and atmospheric playing.
2 topics
Piccolo Instrument
Choose a piccolo instrument for a bright, agile sound that works well in orchestral, band and solo settings.
Woodwind Instruments
Woodwind instruments span flutes, clarinets, saxophones and more, serving players from beginner to professional.
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Index- Guitars 1,525
- Pianos & Keyboards 491
- Drums & Percussion 278
- Orchestral Strings 76
- Wind & Woodwind 97
- Brass Instruments 70
- Folk & World Instruments 108
- Studio Recording 484
- Music Software & DAWs 250
- DJ & Electronic Production 199
- Live Sound & PA 143
- Music Accessories 165
- Sheet Music & Learning 63
- Music Genres 285
- Music News & Industry 246
- Hi-Fi & Home Audio 64
- Artists & Bands 39