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
All news
5 String Banjo for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The 5-string banjo's two main playing styles — clawhammer and Scruggs-style three-finger picking — both reward patient, consistent practice. Here is where to begin.
Ukulele Case for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Getting a case right from the start prevents damage and builds good instrument care habits. Here's what every beginner should know.
Harp Explained: Features, Types and Tips
From the chordophone basics to Sébastien Érard's 1810 pedal mechanism, here's what actually separates a lever harp from a pedal harp — and where each one turns up in music.
Common Dulcimer Mistakes to Avoid
Most dulcimer trouble isn't about talent. Here are the small, easily avoided missteps that trip up new players most often.
Oud Instrument: A Complete Buyer's Guide
What actually matters when choosing an oud, from body construction and bridge placement to the tradition it's genuinely built for.
Guitar Ukulele Strings Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Wondering if you can put guitar strings on a ukulele? It's a genuine question. Here's what actually works, and what risks damaging your instrument.
How to Set Up and Use Baritone Ukulele
The full walk-through for getting a baritone ukulele properly strung, tuned and ready to play, one careful step at a time.
Ukulele Strings: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying strings is more than walking in and picking a set. The right choice depends on your instrument size, playing style and budget. This guide cuts through the noise to show what actually matters.
The Best Button Accordions for the Money
The Ultimate Guide to Sitar
There's far more to the sitar than its famous drone. A grounded guide to how India's great long-necked lute makes its sound, where it comes from, and how to start.
Didgeridoo: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing a didgeridoo means matching the material, key and bore to your playing stage. This guide covers what matters and what to ignore.
Harmonica: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying the right harmonica from the start prevents the frustration of a poor instrument slowing progress. Here is what type, key, brand, and price each mean in practice.
The Best Concertinas for the Money
The best concertina depends on your budget and commitment level. This guide reveals which instruments punch above their weight at every price tier, from GBP 500 to GBP 5000+.
Dulcimer Explained: Features, Types and Tips
One name, two instruments. Here is what actually separates the mountain dulcimer from the hammered dulcimer, and how each one works.
Tenor Banjo for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The tenor banjo is genuinely accessible for beginners with some musical background — this guide helps you choose your tuning tradition, get your first sounds and build a practice approach that works.
The Best Darbukas for the Money
Aluminium, ceramic, Turkish or Egyptian — here's which darbuka actually suits your playing, budget and lifestyle.
Everything You Need to Know About Cordoba 15cm Ukulele
Cordoba ukuleles bring serious craftsmanship to an often-overlooked instrument category. Learn why these guitar-inspired instruments deserve consideration for fingerstyle players and musicians seeking...
Accordion for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Self-contained melody and accompaniment make this instrument uniquely rewarding — this guide covers the first instrument, basic technique, resources and realistic progress expectations.
Erhu for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Balanced on one knee, two strings, no fingerboard — here's exactly what to do in your first erhu sessions, one clear step at a time.
Common Hang Music Instrument Mistakes to Avoid
Small, ordinary decisions cause most handpan disappointment. Here are the mistakes I hear about most often, and the gentle fix for each.
The Best Cuatros for the Money
There's no single best cuatro — only the build that matches your commitment. Here's where the real value sits, tier by tier.
Guitar Ukulele Strings: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Already own a drawer of classical guitar strings and eyeing a baritone uke? Here's how to work out if that's genuinely a good idea, before you spend.
Common Ukulele Strings Mistakes to Avoid
Small mistakes when buying or changing strings can cost you time, money and the pleasure of playing. Here are the pitfalls to sidestep and why they matter.
Tenor Banjo: A Complete Guide
Four strings, two tuning traditions and a history that spans jazz, Dixieland and Irish sessions — the tenor banjo is one of the most versatile and distinctive instruments in folk and traditional music...
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.
