Celtic folk instruments
What the main instruments do in the music, which ones suit a beginner, and where to go next.
Traditional music in the Celtic regions is mostly melody music. Several players share the same tune, while accompanying instruments add rhythm and harmony. When choosing an instrument, first work out whether you want to carry the tune or support it.
Our full guides
We've started with two instruments that many beginners pick first, because they're affordable, portable and welcome at most Irish-style sessions.
Tin whistle
Six holes, two octaves and a bright, carrying tone. It's the cheapest serious way into the tune repertoire.
Tin whistle guide →Bodhrán
A goatskin frame drum played with a tipper. It's quick to start, but it depends on knowing the tunes you accompany.
Bodhrán guide →Beginner buying guides
These guides compare widely available beginner options and explain the tradeoffs. We have not tested the products ourselves. Each guide explains how the picks were chosen.
- How to choose a first tin whistle: key, bore, air requirement and tuning.
- How to choose a first bodhrán: size, depth, crossbars, tuning, tippers and cases.
Other instruments you'll hear
We don't have full guides for these yet. Here's a short overview of each, so you know what you're hearing on the recordings in our listening guide.
| Instrument | Role | Where it's prominent | Beginner notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiddle | Melody | Every region; regional styles differ, such as Donegal, Sliabh Luachra, Shetland and Cape Breton | Very versatile, but slow to sound good. Lessons help a great deal. |
| Wooden flute | Melody | Irish music especially | Many players start on whistle first, because the fingering is closely related. |
| Uilleann pipes | Melody, with drones and regulators | Ireland | Bellows-blown and complex. A practice set and a teacher are usually recommended. |
| Great Highland bagpipe | Melody, with drones | Scotland | Learners normally start on a practice chanter, often through a pipe band. |
| Bombarde and biniou kozh | Melody, played as a pair | Brittany | A loud double-reed shawm and a small bagpipe, traditionally played together for dances. |
| Harp | Melody and harmony | Wales (the triple harp), Ireland, Scotland and Brittany | Lever harps are the usual starting point, and they're a larger investment. |
| Button accordion and concertina | Melody | Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall, Isle of Man | System and key matter. Check which type your local players use. |
| Guitar, bouzouki | Chordal accompaniment | Widely used since the 1960s–70s folk revival | Good if you already play. Modal tunes often suit open tunings such as DADGAD. |
How to choose your first instrument
- Start from the music you love. If a particular recording draws you in, notice which instrument you keep listening for.
- Consider where you'll play. Sessions welcome melody players who know the tunes. A room usually has space for only one or two drummers.
- Be honest about practice time. Whistle and bodhrán reward short daily practice. Fiddle and pipes need more time before they sound pleasant.
- Ask local players. A session, a Comhaltas branch, a fèis or a folk club can tell you which instruments and keys are common near you.
Ready to start? Our learning path sets out a realistic first year.