Reviews, guides and buying advice for folk and world instruments including banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, sitar, djembe and steel pan for UK players.
- 62 topics
- 256 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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Banjo Ukulele for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Whether you're new to stringed instruments or transferring skills from ukulele, the learning curve here is modest. Here's what to know before you start.
Hang Music Instrument for Beginners: A Complete Guide
No wrong notes, no exam to pass — just a calm, unhurried way to begin your first handpan, touch before rhythm, one small step at a time.
Melodica: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Colour and case design tell you nothing about how a melodica actually plays. Here's what genuinely matters before you buy, and what to skip.
Common Celtic Harp Mistakes to Avoid
Most harp mistakes are not about music. They are about technique, maintenance and expectations — and they are easiest to fix before they become habits.
Nose Flute for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The nose flute is one of the most accessible wind instruments to start on — this beginner's guide takes you from your very first tone to playing simple tunes, with no prior experience needed.
Bagpipes Explained: Features, Types and Tips
From the Great Highland pipes to the uilleann and the Galician gaita, bagpipes are a far richer family than most people realise. Here is a patient guide to the instrument in all its forms.
Mountain Dulcimer: A Complete Guide
The mountain dulcimer is one of the most beginner-friendly folk instruments. Here's what it is, how the diatonic fret system works, the main tunings, and the different playing styles you'll encounter.
Kala Ukulele Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Kala makes ukuleles across a wide range of sizes, materials and budgets — this guide explains the features that matter and how to read the catalogue.
Concert Lighting for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A calm, encouraging first step into concert lighting: the three fixtures to learn first, a gentle intro to DMX, and your first session at the desk.
The Best Ukulele Strings for the Money
The best ukulele strings are not one product—they depend on your instrument, playing style and what you are chasing in tone. Here is what works for each path.
Bouzouki: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Decoration tells you nothing about how a bouzouki plays. Here's what to check before you buy one, from tuning system to scale length.
How to Set Up and Use Didgeridoo
Getting started on the didgeridoo is about relaxing, not tensing. Here's how to set up the instrument and produce your first sustained drone.
A Guide to Concert Lighting
The quiet craft behind every gig: what concert lighting actually is, who builds it, and how fixtures, colour and control come together.
How to Set Up and Use Accordion
Correct strap fitting, even bellows movement and clean key placement are the three foundations of good technique — this guide walks through each from the beginning.
Guitar Ukulele Strings for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Nodded along when someone said 'guitar ukulele strings' and had no idea what they meant? Completely fine. Let's take it slowly, one question at a time.
Ukulele for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Getting the fundamentals right from the start makes progress faster and avoids habits that are harder to correct later. Here's what to focus on first.
Tenor Ukulele for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Getting started on the ukulele is easier than most instruments — here is everything a new player needs to know in one practical guide.
A Guide to Electric Mandolin
Solid body, floating pickup, or electrified acoustic — here's what distinguishes different electric mandolin formats and where each suits different playing contexts.
Melodica Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The melodica looks like a toy, but there's more going on inside it than most people realise. Here's what it is, how it works, and how its types differ.
Kalimba for Beginners: A Complete Guide
No music reading, no calluses, no rush. Here's a gentle, structured way into the kalimba for anyone starting from absolute zero.
Soprano Ukulele: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Budget entry points, solid wood construction, koa premiums and what to check before you buy — a practical guide to choosing the right soprano ukulele.
Oud Instrument Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A deep, pear-shaped body, a fretless neck and not a fret in sight, the instrument at the heart of Arabic, Turkish and Persian music, explained properly.
Hang Music Instrument: A Complete Buyer's Guide
No shop full of handpans to try here — just patience, provenance and the right questions. Here's what actually matters before you buy one.
Shamisen Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Three strings, no frets and a sharp percussive attack — here's what a shamisen actually is, and how its three neck types differ.
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.
