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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Common Autoharp Mistakes to Avoid
The autoharp is a forgiving instrument, but forgiving isn't foolproof. Here are the small, ordinary mistakes almost every owner makes, and the easy fixes for each.
The Best Concert Lightings for the Money
There's no single best rig, only the right one for your venue and budget — here's how concert lighting setups break down by scale, from pub gig to arena tour.
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.
Mandolin: A Complete Buyer's Guide
The mandolin market runs from laminate-topped learner instruments to hand-carved professional pieces. Knowing where you are in that range is how you avoid buying the wrong one.
The Best Harps for the Money
No fake benchmarks here — just an honest, tier-by-tier look at which harps genuinely suit which player, and where your money is best spent at each level.
Button Accordion for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Lap Harp: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Common Shamisen Mistakes to Avoid
Most shamisen trouble isn't about talent — it's a handful of quiet assumptions. Here are the mistakes that come up again and again.
Kala Ukulele for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Starting from scratch with a Kala ukulele is straightforward when you know the right sequence — this guide covers tuning, technique, the first chords and how to build a practice habit.
A Guide to Ukulele String
The four strings of a ukulele carry far more complexity than they first appear. Understanding size, tuning, material and gauge is the key to finding your instrument's true voice.
Common Tabla Drumming Mistakes to Avoid
Small, repeated habits, not dramatic errors. Here's what quietly works against a beginner, and against the instrument itself.
Blues Harmonica Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The blues harmonica is one of the most expressive instruments in music. This guide explains how it works — from bending and cross harp to the different types and the makers who built the sound.
The Ultimate Guide to Banjo
The banjo's true history, the difference between five-string and tenor, open-back and resonator, and how to choose your first instrument by the music you want to play.
Tabla: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing a tabla means more than picking a price point — shell wood, puri craftsmanship and bayan material all determine whether your new drum will actually sing.
Everything You Need to Know About Hang Drum
Singing Bowl Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A simple shape, a genuinely rich sound, and more marketing myth than most instruments. Here's what a singing bowl actually is.
Common Melodica Music Instrument Mistakes to Avoid
A forgiving instrument, but a few habits still slow players down or damage it early. Here are the common melodica mistakes, and the simple fix for each.
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.
Common Piano Accordion Mistakes to Avoid
Certain mistakes are common enough in learning piano accordion that a little forewarning saves a lot of frustration. Here is a plain account of what to watch for and what to do instead.
Bouzouki for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The bouzouki looks daunting at first. Here's a calm, step-by-step path through your first instrument, tuning and practice habits.
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.
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.
