Are you looking for calm music instruments to learn how to play, for relaxing, meditation, and get rid of stress and anxiety?
Soft Sounds will Feel Calmer
You want to get instruments that sound softer, meaning lower in volume, but also soft in character without any “sharp edges” to the sounds.
You want to avoid piercing sounds, screechy sounds, squeaky notes, or anything that makes you cringe or frustrated.
Instruments in the lower range of music generally sound softer and more mellow, but there are also several mid and high range instruments than have a very magical, shimmering and soft character.
Simple and Minimal is the Way
Overall you want to remove any technical barriers and frustrations between yourself and the instrument, so you can simply become one with the music, without thinking or analysing.
You want to be able to play the instruments, and not play that many notes, but instead put emotion, expression and your soul into each one. Long sustaining notes work best for a calming and peaceful atmosphere.
Calm Music Instruments -Top List
1 – Harp
The harp, regardless of size, has been proven in experiments to provide stress relief and have a calming effect on the people listening to it. If you get a diatonic harp or lyre harp (tuned to one scale), it makes it more simple to improvise as you play.
2 – Native American Flute
Playing the pentatonic minor scale on this instrument is incredibly relaxing, and expressive with a huge dynamic range for a flute. Especially the bigger and deeper flutes are amazing for spirit music, healing music and calming your mind and soul.
3 – Kalimba
This tiny little instrument is super easy to play, and has a very light, soft, quiet and magical sounding sustain when you pluck the tines.
It is called a thumb piano, because you play it with your thumbs, and it is also diatonic which means it is very easy to learn how to play it as it is tuned to one key.
4 – Tongue Drum
Hand pans and tongue drums are incredible for those meditative and magical bell-like tones. It feels especially calming if you have a bigger one that you can play with your hands.
5 – Singing Bowl
Have you ever tried running your finger around the edge of a crystal wine glass? That haunting sound you get can be very meditative.
There are versions of metal like Tibetan singing bowls, as well as bigger crystal singing bowls, that you can use with a special club that you run slowly around the edge until it starts to self-oscillate (sing).
6 – Ukulele
Most people think of the ukulele as an upbeat and energetic rhythm and chord instrument that you strum while singing. But if you learn how to finger pick arpeggios, and play melodies, it is actually a very calm and relaxing instrument.
It is both very quiet, and has a soft sound due to the nylon strings, like a classical guitar…but much simpler to learn how to play.
7 – Low Flutes
Just like the low range Native American flutes, any low and deep sounding side-blown flute will have a very soft and calm tone and relaxing vibe.
For example, the biggest bansuri flutes are amazing for this. Or if you can afford a concert bass flute, but those are very expensive.