That’s right, a musical saw! If you were unaware that a saw could be a musical instrument, please read this page to be introduced to it.
The musical saw is played by bending the saw in an S shape, and then using violin or cello bow to vibrate the saw, thus producing sound.
A normal cutting saw can also be used as an instrument, but there are specially designed saws that are ideal for music making (and not getting hurt!)
Click here to read an article about the musical saw!
The musical saw produces a beautiful, and somewhat haunting sound that sounds like a mixture of the human voice and a violin. The instrument is capable of vibrato, dynamics, and musical phrasing.
Watch this video to see a performance of the musical saw:
In a episode of the famous TV Show, Britain’s Got Talent, one contestant played the musical saw for the judges. He hoped to show the world that the musical saw could in fact be a proper musical instrument.
Here is a video of the performance on Britain’s Got Talent:
Notice how even the audience laughs when Austin mentions that he is serious about playing on the saw.
Simon Cowell makes fun of the tone of the instrument. I personally believe this may be due to the poor performance given. In the first video with the Saint Saens Cantabile, the tone is much better than that played by Austin. If Simon heard the recording of the Saint Saens with the musical saw, he may think differently of this instrument.
The musical saw is truly a fine musical instrument, and can be easily learned. Some users say it takes about a week of hard work to start producing a nice sound on the instrument.
Click on this link to go to a website that is dedicated to teaching the musical saw for free.
The musical saws that are commercially available are quite inexpensive. Musical saws such as in the above videos are custom built.
BAHCO 296 Stradivarius Musical Saw
This 30 inch saw blade made by Stradivarius is specially designed for music making.
This saw has teeth, but they are unsharpened.
Users of this instrument praise the range and the sustain that this quality instrument has.
Weighing less than 3 pounds, this saw is also very portable and easy to carry.
Beginning users reported that they were able to play up to three octaves on this instrument.
Don’t forget to buy a violin/cello bow and rosin for this instrument as well!
It is important to introduce your children to the many adventures that life has to offer. Showing your kid a new instrument may seem like a hassle because you will have to pay for an expensive instrument and pay for lessons as well. However, with this post, you will see the best cheap instruments, instruments that are affordable and fun to play and explore on. Your child will be able to play on a instrument on their own, and discover later on if this is something they would like to learn more about in the future. They are definitely the best instruments for children. These best baby instruments can also be used for children at one year of age.
Best Piano for Kids
These best pianos for children are readily affordable. They feature comfortable ranges for children to explore piano, and do not produce so much sound as to be irritating to hear. These best cheap pianos are a great alternative to buying a true piano, as they are cheaper and fun to use. You will find the best beginning instruments here!
Children Wood Toy Grand Piano with Bench Kids Piano 30 Key-(Black)
Have your young one look like a pro as they play on this best miniature grand piano. This instrument is acoustic, so there is no need to plug it into an outlet or use batteries. This is definitely one of the best toddler instruments you can buy.
This piano is recommended for children ages 1-5. It is a best beginning piano especially for younger children.
The piano is 17 inches wide, 20 inches high, and 20 inches in length.
It features 30 keys, or a little more than two octaves. This is a good range for young ones to explore the different sounds and pitches of the piano.
Watch this video to see this awesome piano in action:
Electronic Grand Piano with Detachable Microphone and Electronically Tuned Keys
For those look for the best electric kid piano, this is it! This keyboard, with its realistic piano design, many sound effects, and microphone, is the best electric kid keyboard on the market.
This piano features 37 keys, and since it is electric, there is no need to worry about tuning the instrument.
This keyboard only requires 3 AA batteries to power.
With its adjustable volume knob, the sound of the keyboard can be controlled. Your kid will be able to produce a large amount of sound, or perhaps just a little if desired.
It is recommended that this keyboard is used by children 3 and older.
S88 Professional 88 Keys USB Soft Flexible Electronic Piano Keyboard Flexible Children Practice Musical Instruments
This flat keyboard can be used by both adults and children! It is one of the best musical instruments for children.
Because of its lightweight and portability, it can easily be taken on the go!
With 88 keys, or the full keyboard, the user can have a full keyboard experience.
It contains over 100 sound effect settings, so you will have much fun exploring the different sounds you can make.
The keyboard is an exact model in terms of size with an actual keyboard. This means that the keys and overall with of the keyboard are the same size of an actual piano.
Note: some customer complains include the lack of touch sensitivity, meaning that you cannot change dynamics as you play.
This piano by Fisher Price is the best piano for babies. It has a piano that the baby can reach with their hands, and also a piano that they can play on with their feet. The one will be capable of making music with whatever movement they make.
Being the best baby piano, it is a little pricey, but still very affordable. It is also one of the best baby musical toys.
This product has received awards for being the best toy for 9-12 month old children. Of course, younger children can use this. From the customer reviews, children as young as 3 months are using this product and loving it!
This baby piano requires 3 AA batteries and can last up to 90 hours on battery life.
Having a child learn the drums can be quite annoying for a parent, as they produce so much noise! However, with these best drum sets for children, your children can explore the drums and see if it is something they like without producing a ton of noise and spending so much money.
Fisher-Price Big Bang Drumset with Lights
This drum set by Fisher-Price is one of the best baby drum set.
It features cool light effects that young children love to see when playing the instrument. There is also an electric switch for having cool sound effects. This requires the use of 3 AA batteries.
Note: some customer complaints include that the instrument falls over easily, and that it is not too durable. Overall, it is still a good buy for a first beginning instrument.
This baby drum set is small and very affordable. Weighing less than 2 pounds, it is something that is very portable and light enough for the child to carry.
It does not include a chair or a stand, so this instrument must be placed on a table so that the child can play on it.
It has cool electric sound effects and lights which makes playing more fun!
WolVol Kids Fun Electronic Drum Set with Adjustable Sing-along Microphone and Sitting Stool
Some happy customers mentioned that this instrument is the best gateway instrument to a real drum set.
While this instrument is more expensive than the Fisher Price drum set, it features more positive customer feedback and reviews.
Requiring the use of 3 AA batteries, this instrument features cool light effects when struck and sound effects. It also includes a microphone that the young one can sing into and hear back from.
Drum Set Black Complete Junior Kid’s Children’s Size with Cymbal Stool Sticks
This kid drum set by Gammon Percussion is a top seller. It is a quality drum instrument that is quite affordable. It is a best seller for best kid drum sets.
This drum set comes with a Bass Drum with 6 lugs, 2 Toms, a pedal for the bass drum, l , a symbol, a drum stool, and a drum key and sticks. This is basically everything that you will need to start learning the drums.
This instrument is recommended for those ages 3-8.
It is not recommended for children over the age of 8, as they will grow too big to use the instrument properly.
Mendini 4/4 MV300 Solid Wood Satin Antique Violin with Hard Case, Shoulder Rest, Bow, Rosin and Extra Strings (Full Size)
This best violin for children by Mendini is a best selling acoustic violin.
It is perfect for young school students who want to start learning the violin. It is capable of producing a pretty decent sound and is very affordable.
This product includes the violin, bow, case, shoulder rest, rosin, and even extra strings.
Watch this video for a very in-depth review on the Mendini violin:
Electronic Toy Mini Music Violin Hand Guitar Instrument for Kids Xmas Gift
This best beginning violin is ideal for a youngster who wants to play around with a violin, and have not made a serious decision if they want to learn the instrument. With its cheap pricing, it is the best toy violin you will be able to find!
Children as young as 3 years old can play on this instrument.
This is among the best musical instruments for toddlers!
Electric Wind Instruments, or EWI, goes by many names. There is also wind controller, wind synthesizer, wind synth, and electric saxophone.
These electric wind instruments are the best electric saxophones on the market.
The fingering to the instrument is similar to that of a soprano saxophone or clarinet. Because of the similar fingering and sound effects, these EWI can also be called the best electric clarinet.
Take a look at these pictures to see the similarities between the EWI and Saxophone/Clarinet fingerings:
As you can see from these two images, the EWI fingering interface is very similar to that of an acoustic clarinet. While there are some subtle differences in terms of appearances, the fingering is still the same.
While not as similar as the clarinet and EWI fingering, the saxophone has the same fingering as the EWI. A notable difference is the proximity between each of the keys.
Because of the many features of this awesome instrument, it can be known as the best wind midi, the best wind synth, and the best wind synthesizer.
With the Akai electric wind instrument, the fingering of the instrument can actually be switched to be similar to a trumpet with EVI or Electronic Valve Instrument, which is very handy for brass players. We can also say that the best ewi is the best electric trumpet as well.
Watch this video to see the EWI used as an electric trumpet:
The instrument uses a silicone mouthpiece that can determine the pressure of airflow for dynamics and also can sense vibrato.
This instrument also has features that cannot be done on an acoustic instrument. For example, the instrument is capable of doing pitch bends. In addition, the valves on the instrument do not move, and operate by sensing when they are touched, which enables faster playing. The instrument can also generate many different sounds such as a violin, electric guitar, and organ.
This instrument also must be connected to a sound generating device such as an amplifier to be heard.
Watch this video to see the capabilities of this awesome instrument (You can see the ewi as an electric trumpet as well in this clip):
Note: watch as the performers are playing on the Akai electric wind instrument. They are fully capable of playing expressively without restraints on this instruments.
4 Best Electric Wind Instruments
Roland Aerophone AE-10
A newly released Electronic Wind Instrument made by Roland. The Roland Aerophone AE – 10 is battery powered and has internal speakers, so you can literally play this instrument everywhere!
It contains many sound effects so you can emulate musical instruments such as the saxophone, soprano sax, baritone sax, trumpet, strings, and anything you can think of.
Its sleek design is original and follows the fingering of a standard saxophone or clarinet. While Roland is a newcomer into making EWI instruments, they are known for making high quality digital instruments.
Click here to watch an expert review on this electric wind instrument
Akai Professional EWI5000 | Electronic Wind Instrument with Wireless Audio Receiver & USB MIDI Control
The latest model of EWI made by Akai.
With the SONiVOX Sound library, this instrument is capable of producing a wide variety of interesting sounds.
This instrument is also wireless, so you can play on it without worrying about annoying wires. The battery is capable of lasting for 6 hours of wireless playing. It is also capable of being attached to a USB port, a MIDI output, quarter inch audio output, and a standard headphone jack (unlike the Iphone 7).
Brass players will also be excited to use this instrument, as the fingering settings can be switched to be similar to a trumpet. This is called EVI, or electronic valve instrument.
Watch this video to see the Akai EWI5000 in action by saxophonist Mike Phillips:
While this instrument lacks the EVI (electronic valve instrument) functions that the Akai electronic wind instruments have, this instrument is more affordable.
The fingering systems this instrument is capable of are saxophone and flute. A clarinetist should have no problem playing this instrument either.
Complaints from users of this instrument include awkward placement of the thumb rest and limited fingering settings.
Watch this video as Yamaha expert Avery Burdette speaks about the history of Yamaha developing wind controllers and demonstrating the Yamaha WX5:
Invented by Hohner in the 1950’s, the Melodica is a free reed instrument that works by manually blowing air into the instrument by using a tube or mouthpiece that is attached to it. The player can then manipulate the air flow using the keyboard on the melodica.
A free reed instrument is similar to a woodwind instrument, such as the clarinet or oboe, but instead of blowing air directly to a mouthpiece and reed, the reed is in a fixed position within a frame located inside of the instrument. The reed vibrates from the airflow produced by blowing into the tube. Harmonicas and accordions are two popular examples of a free reed instrument.
The Best Melodica is capable of playing music in any genre. Check out these videos to see the Melodica in action:
Also, watch this video to see how to properly take care and clean the melodica:
HAMMOND PRO-44HP “HAMMOND 44 HYPER”
This is hands down the best melodica on the market. Made by Hammond, the master organ makers, this melodica is masterful as it contains great key action, dynamics, and the ability to bend notes.
This best blow piano, being a digital instrument as well, can also be plugged into an amplifier for more sound. This is superb if you are planning on performing with your melodica in a concert and want to have greater sound. Also, this is great for recording situations as well.
The Hammond melodica also comes with a nifty case to protect the instrument from unwanted damage.
The pricing for this best melodica is quite high. I personally recommend buying a more affordable melodica, such as the Yamaha 37D pianica, the Hohner 37 melodica, or the Hohner 32 key melodica before purchasing the Hammond melodica. You want to make sure that you really enjoy playing the melodica before you purchase this bad boy.
Check out this video to see reviews and demonstration of the Hammond melodica:
This is Suzuki’s recommended melodica for performances.
With a three octave range, you will have a lot of notes to perform on! The key action is also really great, so you will not have to worry about having bad key response.
Weighing at 2.2 pounds, this best melodica can easily be held using the leather holder for the trumpet holding position.
This best melodion also cost half as much as the Hammond melodica. If you wish to purchase a high quality melodica that is not super pricey, then I recommend purchasing this musical instrument.
Some complaints with this Suzuki melodica comes from the sound of the lowest and highest registers. Some users complain that the low register has a strange reverb effect and the high register has a strange metallic sound.
Watch this video to see a review by a Suzuki Professional:
Suzuki recommends this melodica for educational purposes.
However, some users recommend this melodica over the Suzuki Melodion Pro 37, which is Suzuki’s performance model melodica.
This instrument has a range from the F below Middle C (F3) to the F three octaves aboe (F6).
In terms of the pricing, this best melodica produces a very lovely tone that is comparable to the more expensive melodicas.
Check out this video to see how this instruments sounds and works (George Cooligan actually compares it to the Yamaha P 37 D pianica which is the next recommended melodica in this post):
Yamaha is a newcomer with producing melodicas/pianicas, but they do an extraordinary job with producing their quality instrument.
This is an ideal buy for those looking for an inexpensive professional model of a pianica. I personally believe this is the best melodica for beginners, as it is of a decent quality and is quite affordable.
Some complaints from users of this instrument is the pitch of the instruments. All the notes are played slightly sharp. From my personal use of this musical instrument, I too have noticed how some of the notes are slightly out of tune. In the video of my playing, you can notice how some of the notes are quite in tune.
Here is a video of myself playing the Yamaha P37 D. Listen to the phrasing of the melodic line, and how each note has its own contour.
What I enjoy the most about the Yamaha 37D pianica is the warmth and expressive quality you can get from each note. Listen to the High D played in the Chopin Nocturne at 0:28 of the video. I am able to start with low volume and crescendo with the single note, creating a luscious tone. When I tried playing this on the Hohner melodica, I was unable to recreate the same tone.
Here is another video example of the Yamaha P37D pianica:
This is the best professional model for melodicas in terms of pricing. At under 100 bucks, you will have a best cheap melodica that you can play and have fun with. There are even cheaper melodicas than this, but the quality of those other melodicas are so bad that it is not worth the buy.
This best blow-organ contains 37 notes and uses a bronze reed, which helps with retaining pitch and staying in tune. This best melodica for the money stays in tune better than the Yamaha 37D pianica. However, the tone quality is not as great.
From my personal use of using the Hohner Melodica, I really enjoy the lower range of the instrument. The low notes have a rich, deep, and warm sound. It is also easier to play in the lower range as well. The problem lies with the higher register. The tone is not so great up here. Also, trying to play a single note expressively in the higher register is quite difficult. I had much more ease playing the higher register of the melodica with the Yamaha 37D Pianica.
Some complaints from users of this instrument include the extra effort it requires to play chords. It takes extra air to play chords using this instrument in comparison to the melodicas mentioned above.
View this video to see what the Hohner melodica looks like:
These best shoulder keyboards, or better known as the best keytars, are an awesome combination of a keyboard and a guitar. The keyboard can be held using a strap that goes over the shoulders, so that your hands are free to play the instrument. Because of this, keytars are often referred to as shoulder synthesizers.
The earliest keytars were made commercially available in the late 1970’s. Music legends such as Herbie Hancock and George Duke were among the first to use the electric keytar.
Herbie Hancock playing the Keytar:
George Duke with his Keytar:
In today’s time, modern pop artist such as Lady Gaga are known for using the keytar during a musical performance.
Watch this video to see Lady Gage perform using a keytar:
Keytars are very stylish and will give you the appearance of being a very virtuosic musician while playing. While watching Lady Gaga play, she appeared to have great stage presence while playing on her keytar. If you also play on a keytar, you will also acquire great stage presence and impress your audience.
The advantages of playing the Keytar over a keyboard include versatility, being able to move while playing, and ease with using vibrato.
V.J. Manzo, an advanced guitarist, says he likes to play his keytar because it allows the audience to see the notes better when he plays.
5 Best Keytars
Roland Lucina AX-09 Synthesizer – White
The latest model of Keytar by Roland. The keys of the Roland Lucina AX-09 are sensitive and respond well to dynamics and articulations.
The 37 keys on this keytar are not weighted. The 128 polyphony will ensure the best sound.
With 150 sound effects and internal synth, you will have a blast experimented and playing with the many audio selections this wonderful instrument has to offer!
This best shoulder keyboard can be battery powered or plugged in for unlimited usage.
This best keytar has many amazing features such as an electric guitar, harpsichord, electric bass, and organ.
Weighing 13 pounds and having a stylish look, this keytar can be used for performances and just for phone at home.
With the built in audio player, you can literally have an entire band with you as you play with this best keytar.
Watch this cool video to see what this Roland Keytar is like:
The Roland AX-1 Keytar is an earlier model of the Roland Lucina AX-09, which was featured previously. The Roland AX-1 Keytar features more keys and a simpler interface to navigate through the various setting in comparison to its successor, the Lucina AX-09.
With the MIDI, you can plug this best keytar into an amplifier or any other device to create sound. Click on the following link if you wish to read more about the best keyboard amplifiers.
The pitch bend switch located on the neck of the instrument allows for easy use of pitch bending. A sustain lever is also located on the neck. With these two devices on the neck of the keytar, you can easily use the two settings of pitch bend and sustain.
Weighing six pounds and having 45 keys, this keyboard is ideal for playing with a wide range and for long use.
This model is succeeded by the Roland AX-7 keytar.
Watch this video to see how awesome this keytar is in action:
One of the latest models of Keytars that are out is this Korg RK-100S Keytar.
The attractive and simple layout of this Korg keytar is ideal for easily switching between settings.
There are two ribbon controllers located on this instrument. This allows for easy use for this excellent feature.
Lightweight and portable, this keyboard instrument can be powered using 6 AA batteries. Plug into an amplifier or computer, and this best keytar will produce amazing sound.
This instrument features pitch bend, vibrato, sustain, and multiple sound effects.
Watch this video to see an example example of the features of this Korg Keytar:
Yamaha Shs-200 Midi Shoulder Keyboard with Internal Sound
This keytar by Yamaha is the successor of the Yamaha SHS-10. Made two years later, this shoulder keyboard has more features, sound effects, and has internal stereo speakers. It also has more keys, enabling the player to have more range while they are performing.
Watch this video to see a demonstration of the effects of this Yamaha Keytar.
Made in 1986, this keytar is still popular and used in many concerts today. It weighs six pounds, so it does not put too much stress on the body to carry.
It features vibrato, portamento, pitch bend, and sustain effects. It also features many interesting sound effects. There is also an internal speaker so you that you do not have to plug in the instrument into a speaker to hear the sound. This is a very reliable feature that many other keytars do not have.
Watch this video to see an excellent demo of this Yamaha Keytar.
This is the best keytar in terms of affordability. The Alesis Vortex is a very popular keytar because of its low price and high quality functions.
The Alesis Vortex has an incredible MIDI-assignable accelerometer, which can detect your movements over the neck on the keytar to do pitch bends, sustains, vibrato, and many other effects. (Some people complain that the tilting feature is not perfect)
The virtual synth feature “Xpand!2 from AIR” allows you to play with drum, bass, and other band effects as you play on your keytar.
The Alexis Vortex software allows you to edit sounds in detail. You can also edit sound using the functions on the surface of the instrument.
This keytar is solely a controller, so there are not internal sounds. You will have to plug this into a computer or laptop during performances.
This instrument can also be battery powered, so you do not have to worry about annoying cords.
Watch this video to see an expert review on this best keytar:
