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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Shamisen: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Neck width, skin type and repertoire all pull in different directions when buying a shamisen — here's what actually matters.
The Ultimate Guide to Piano Accordions
The piano accordion is one of the most complete self-contained instruments available. Here is a full account of how it works, what distinguishes different types and why it matters.
Blues Harmonica for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The blues harmonica is one of the most approachable instruments to start. This beginner's guide covers holding technique, single notes, blow and draw, your first blues pattern, and when to attempt ben...
Balalaika Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The triangular Russian lute is more than a souvenir shop curiosity. Here is what a balalaika actually is, how its family of sizes works, and why it never quite lets a note ring.
Melodica Music Instrument for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A calm, encouraging start for anyone new to the melodica: your first breath, your first note, a simple scale, and why the early wobbles are perfectly normal.
How to Set Up and Use Ukulele
A few basic checks before playing make the instrument noticeably easier to use. Here's how to go through them in order.
Darbuka: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Egyptian or Turkish, ceramic or metal, natural skin or synthetic — here's how to actually choose a darbuka rather than buying by looks alone.
Oud Instrument for Beginners: A Complete Guide
No frets, a deep bowl-shaped body and a plectrum instead of bare fingers, broken down into steps that actually make sense for a complete beginner.
The Best Kotos for the Money
A beginner's koto, a student's koto and a performer's koto are solving different problems — here's how value actually breaks down by tier.
Electro Acoustic Ukulele: A Complete Guide
An electro-acoustic ukulele amplifies your natural tone for busking, performing and recording. Transparent electronics let your ukulele's character shine, just louder.
Common Tenor Banjo Mistakes to Avoid
The tenor banjo exposes errors clearly, which makes it an honest teacher — here are the mistakes that trip up most beginners and how to address each one before they become habits.
Celtic Harp: A Complete Buyer's Guide
From string count to lever quality, here is what actually matters when choosing a lever harp for folk and traditional music.
Common Kalimba Mistakes to Avoid
A kalimba is a forgiving instrument, which is exactly why a few quiet habits can go unnoticed for months. Here's what to watch for.
Melodica for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Your first melodica doesn't need to be intimidating. Here's a calm, step-by-step start for absolute beginners, from your first note onwards.
Common Mandolin Mistakes to Avoid
Most problems players encounter with a new mandolin come from setup issues, worn strings or technique habits formed early and never corrected. Here is what to watch for.
Bass Ukulele for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Everything a newcomer needs to start playing confidently — from understanding the strings and tuning to fretting position, muting technique and how to use amplification effectively.
Balalaika for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Sore fingertips, thin strums, notes that fade fast — all completely normal. Here's a patient, encouraging first-steps guide to picking up the balalaika.
The Best Balalaikas for the Money
From a first entry-level prima to a bespoke concert instrument, here's what each balalaika price tier honestly delivers and who it actually suits.
Guzheng for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Twenty-one strings and unfamiliar technique, broken down into steps that actually make sense for a complete beginner.
The Best Singing Bowls for the Money
The right singing bowl for a quiet bedroom practice isn't the right one for a full sound bath. Here's how the market actually splits by tier.
Piano Accordion: A Complete Buyer's Guide
These instruments last for decades and the difference between a well-chosen one and a wrong one affects every practice session. Here is what you actually need to know before buying.
The Best Erhus for the Money
There's no single best erhu — only the right tier for where you are. Here's what actually changes between student, mid-range and professional instruments.
Everything You Need to Know About Jaws Harp
One of the world's oldest instruments, found in musical traditions across Asia, Europe and the Americas. Here's what it is, how it works and where it appears.
The Best Melodica Music Instruments for the Money
Beginner, home player, two-handed keyboardist or dub enthusiast: here is the right category of melodica for each, and what value actually means at every tier.
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.
