Reviews, guides and buying advice for folk and world instruments including banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, sitar, djembe and steel pan for UK players.
- 62 topics
- 275 articles
Inside Folk & World Instruments
All 62 topicsThe 12 most-searched of 62 topics. The full index is at the foot of the page.
Ukulele
Popular portable instrument with a bright sound and several sizes for folk and acoustic playing.
14 topics
Mandolin
Mandolin instruments deliver a bright, ringing tone with strong folk and acoustic appeal across many styles.
2 topics
Harmonica
Harmonicas are compact, expressive instruments ideal for folk, blues and acoustic performance.
Banjo
The banjo offers bright, rhythmic attack and wide stylistic range across folk, bluegrass and traditional acoustic music.
3 topics
Accordion
The accordion is a versatile folk instrument with rich tone, expressive bellows and many layouts for traditional and mod...
2 topics
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are powerful traditional instruments with strong regional identities, used across Scottish, Irish and wider fol...
Sitar
Iconic South Asian plucked instrument with ringing resonance, bends and rich sympathetic strings.
1 topic
Ocarina
Compact vessel flute with a clear, haunting tone and simple, portable appeal.
Didgeridoo
Resonant Australian drone instrument with powerful sustained tone, circular breathing and distinctive rhythmic effects.
1 topic
Erhu
The erhu is a distinctive two-string bowed instrument valued for its lyrical, expressive sound.
Harp
Harps offer resonant, expressive sound for folk, classical and contemporary acoustic playing.
3 topics
Melodica
Melodica instruments are compact keyboard wind instruments with a clear, expressive tone for learning and performance.
2 topicsArticles on Folk & World Instruments
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The Best Finger Picks for the Money
Everything You Need to Know About Luna Ukes Ukulele
Luna instruments blend aesthetic sophistication with genuine playability. Learn what makes these ukuleles stand out in the mid-premium market.
Baritone Ukulele for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A reassuring starting point for anyone taking up the baritone ukulele as a first instrument, no prior experience assumed.
The Best Jaw Harps for the Money
Budget, mid-range, professional and bamboo — specific recommendations at each tier, with honest assessment of what the price difference actually buys.
Koto: A Complete Buyer's Guide
A good koto is judged by its wood, its bridges and how honestly every string responds — here's exactly what to check before you buy.
Harmonica Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The harmonica is a free-reed instrument played in folk, blues, country, and rock. Understanding its main types — diatonic, chromatic, tremolo — and how positions and bending work is the foundation for...
The Ultimate Guide to Hang Drum Musical Instrument
The hang drum instrument is a handcrafted percussion marvel that produces warm, bell-like tones when struck with hands. Created in Switzerland in 2000, it has become beloved by world musicians and med...
Soprano Ukulele for Beginners: A Complete Guide
C, F and G are enough to start playing real songs. Here is a practical beginner's guide to the soprano ukulele — first session, chords and what to do when things don't sound right.
Bass Ukulele: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing the right bass ukulele involves more than comparing specifications. This guide covers the key decisions — acoustic-electric vs solid-body, fretted vs fretless, scale length, string type and b...
Jaw Harp for Beginners: A Complete Guide
An inexpensive instrument that produces results quickly. Here's everything a complete beginner needs — from choosing an instrument to getting your first melody in your first few sessions.
The Best Tabla Drummings for the Money
The shiniest advert rarely matches the drum that actually suits where you are in your playing. Here's an honest tier-by-tier guide.
Mandolin for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Learning the mandolin starts with getting the tuning right, learning a handful of chords and developing a clean pick technique. Here is what the early weeks actually look like.
How to Set Up and Use Mountain Dulcimer
Setting up a mountain dulcimer correctly from the start makes it easier and more enjoyable to learn on. Here's how to tune it, check the action, position it, and play your first notes.
The Ultimate Guide to Hang Music Instrument
The Hang was one Swiss company's own instrument; the handpan is the whole family it inspired. Here's the real history and how it actually works.
Common Cuatro Mistakes to Avoid
None of these mistakes mean you're doing anything wrong — just the quiet, common ways this instrument asks to be understood a little differently.
Makala Ukulele for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The Makala ukulele is a forgiving starting instrument. This beginner's guide covers tuning, holding it correctly, your first chords, and how to practise effectively.
The Best Mountain Dulcimers for the Money
From budget entry-level options to premium luthier builds, here are the best mountain dulcimers at each price point — with honest picks and what makes each one worth considering.
Soprano Ukulele: A Complete Guide
The smallest and most traditional of the ukulele family, the soprano has a bright, quick voice and a history rooted in Hawaiian music. Here is everything you need to know.
Nose Flute: A Complete Buyer's Guide
From budget plastic to traditional bamboo, this buyer's guide tells you exactly what to look for in a nose flute — and what the marketing won't tell you.
Piano Accordion for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The piano accordion can feel overwhelming at first. But it is genuinely learnable, and the rewards are substantial. Here is what you need to know before the first lesson.
Concertina Explained: Features, Types and Tips
From Victorian parlours to Irish session rooms, the concertina has carried centuries of musical expression. Learn how this hexagonal instrument works and why it remains central to folk tradition.
Common Ukulele Mistakes to Avoid
Most problems come down to a handful of correctable habits. Identifying them early makes everything else faster.
The Ultimate Guide to Ukulele Case
Choosing the right ukulele case depends on the type of protection you need, the size of your instrument and how you'll be travelling. This guide covers all three.
The Best Blues Harmonicas for the Money
From the Hohner Special 20 at £30 to the Seydel 1847 Noble at £80, the blues harmonica market has clear winners at each price level. This guide identifies them and explains why they earn their place.
What Folk & World Instruments Covers
This category brings together an extraordinarily diverse range of acoustic and traditional instruments from British roots music and global traditions. From the Irish bouzouki to the West African djembe, this category is home to the instruments that carry the musical identities of cultures across every continent — and it has never been more accessible to UK players wanting to explore beyond the mainstream.
Acoustic Folk Instruments for UK Players
The category includes much-loved British and Celtic staples: the five-string banjo used in clawhammer and bluegrass styles, the mandolin beloved in Irish and Americana sessions, the Greek-rooted bouzouki adopted into Irish traditional music, and the ukulele, whose popularity in the UK has grown steadily for over a decade. Folk guitars — typically steel-string acoustics from brands such as Tanglewood, Alvarez, and Sigma — sit alongside resonator guitars, harmonicas, and fiddles to complete the acoustic picture. Whether you're joining a weekly session at a local pub or exploring American old-time music at home, there is an instrument here to suit every interest.
World Instruments and Global Traditions
Beyond European folk, this section reaches into North Indian classical music with the sitar and tabla, West African percussion with the djembe and kora, and Caribbean rhythms with the steel pan. These instruments introduce entirely different playing approaches, tuning systems, and rhythmic languages. UK buyers should seek out reputable specialist retailers or makers — quality varies widely, and a poorly set-up sitar or an unresponsive djembe head can make learning unnecessarily difficult. Hobgoblin Music and dedicated Indian and world music suppliers are well-regarded starting points.
Getting Started: Beginner Considerations
Choosing your first folk & world instruments entry point starts with identifying the music you love. Budget realistically — a playable banjo from Barnes & Mullins or Ozark costs from around £100 to £300 new, while quality sitars and koras range higher. Prioritise comfortable action and reliable tuning over cosmetics. Ukulele remains the most accessible starting point, while tabla, sitar, and kora benefit from specialist tuition from the outset. Always budget for a case, spare strings or heads, and a clip-on tuner.
Brands and Where to Buy in the UK
The UK market is well-served by specialist retailers alongside the major online players. Brands including Deering, Epiphone, Mahalo, and Ozark cover the folk end of the spectrum, while specialist importers and luthiers handle higher-end world instruments. Buying from a dedicated music retailer — rather than a general marketplace — provides better quality control, proper setup, and access to after-sales support that makes a real difference for beginners and experienced players alike.
