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
Choosing a Kids Ukulele: Size, Setup and Tuning
A good kids ukulele opens doors to music quickly. Discover what size suits your child, what to look for when buying, and how to support their first chords.
The Best 5 String Banjos for the Money
The Deering Goodtime leads a short list of instruments that actually live up to their price. Here is what to buy at every budget level, and why.
Common Didgeridoo Mistakes to Avoid
Most didgeridoo problems come from a short list of common errors. Recognise them early and progress accelerates significantly.
The Best Guitar Ukulele Strings for the Money
There's no single 'best' set for everyone. Here's how to match your budget tier to your ukulele, rather than overpaying for features you won't use.
Darbuka Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A hollow goblet, one stretched skin, and a genuinely wide range of tone — here's what a darbuka is and how to get more out of it.
Kalimba Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A kalimba looks simple and sounds anything but. Here's what's really going on under your thumbs, and the types you'll come across along the way.
Common Baritone Ukulele Mistakes to Avoid
The small, easily-fixed misunderstandings that trip up an awful lot of new baritone ukulele players, said gently but plainly.
The Best Shamisens for the Money
There's no single best shamisen — only the right one for your repertoire, climate and stage of learning. Here's how the categories break down.
A Guide to Tabla Drumming
The first time you hear it played properly, tabla drumming stops sounding like percussion and starts sounding like speech. Here's why.
Balalaika: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Not every triangular instrument on sale is built to be played. Here's how to check a balalaika's neck, bridge and strings before you buy, and where your money is best spent.
Ocarina Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A pocket-sized clay egg that sings a full melody — here's how the ocarina actually works, the types worth knowing, and the history behind it.
Common Fender Ukulele Mistakes to Avoid
Most ukulele frustrations come from a handful of the same avoidable mistakes. Here's what they are and how to correct them.
Common Button Accordion Mistakes to Avoid
Ukulele Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Understanding the four sizes, tuning and material differences makes it much easier to choose the right instrument and set realistic expectations for learning.
Concert Ukulele: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Laminate, solid top or fully solid? Spruce or mahogany? Here is what each choice means for a concert ukulele in practice.
How to Set Up and Use Guitar Ukulele Strings
The old strings are off and the new set is sitting there. Here's exactly how to fit guitar ukulele strings properly, one string at a time.
Banjo Ukulele Explained: Features, Types and Tips
It plays like a ukulele and looks like a banjo — and that combination produces something quite distinct. Here's what the instrument is, how it works and whether it might suit you.
Harmonica for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The harmonica produces a sound immediately, but learning to play musically takes structured practice. Here is how to approach holding, single notes, air control, and first melodies correctly from the...
Ukulele Tuning for Guitar Players
Standard ukulele tuning is G, C, E, A, and every one of those notes can be found on a guitar. A practical guide to getting a ukulele in tune and keeping it there.
Kalimba: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Key counts, body materials and price tags can make buying a kalimba feel confusing. Here's what genuinely matters, in the order to think about it.
Cuatro for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Every cuatro once belonged to someone who'd never held one before. Here's a gentle, honest guide to your first weeks with one.
Ukulele Strings for Beginners: A Complete Guide
If you are holding a ukulele for the first time, you do not need to understand all the technical details. Start simple, enjoy the instrument, and learn as you go.
How to Set Up and Use Kalimba
Ten minutes of proper setup is the difference between a kalimba that sounds right from day one and weeks of wondering why a few notes are off.
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.
