How to Choose an Instrument

Ever wanted to play an instrument? Well, how do you know which one? That's just it - you don't. If you don't know what you want to play, as long as it's music, the possibilities are infinite.
Steps
Look into your possibilities. If you're starting out in a school band, check and see what instruments the band includes. Most concert bands in schools have clarinets, flutes, saxophones,tubas/baritones, trombones, trumpets, and percussion as starter instruments, and let you advance to other instruments like oboe, bassoon, and french horn/mellophone later on. You can begin making your decision from the instruments that are available. You can also ask the director which instruments they are short of - he or she will be very grateful if you can fill an empty spot.Many instruments are very similar, and especially if you are starting in middle/high school, you will probably end up moving around at least between different instruments with different ranges but the same general concept. If you get your heart set on the baritone saxophone, realize that you may have to first start on the clarinet, then move up to alto sax, and finally switch to bari.
Think about what music you like to listen to; what instruments you enjoy the sound of. This might be your calling.
Research it a little bit online. Get the general idea of what some of the instruments are "all about".
If you still aren't sure, expand your horizons; look into music you don't usually listen to: jazz, rock, country, classical, whatever. There are many instruments hidden in those genres.
Ask people who play music about what instruments they like; also ask them how they like the one they play.
Consider your prior music experience, if you have any. For example, if you played the recorder in elementary school, a good instrument might be the clarinet. If you've played a bugle at camp before, consider the trumpet or another brass instrument.
If you find an opportunity, go and try some instruments out for yourself. You may be able to do this at a music store, or your band director may let you try some.
Take your age and size into consideration. For instance, if you're younger or still losing teeth, you may find it hard to play some brass instruments because your teeth aren't very strong yet. If you are quite a small person, don't opt for the tuba because it will be too heavy and big. If you have small hands/fingers, the bassoon may not be for you, although there are bassoons made for beginners with some keys for small hands. If you have short arms, you may want to avoid the trombone.


Instruments to look Into
Strings
Acoustic Guitar
Electric Guitar
Cello
Violin
Viola
Bass
Banjo
Mandolin
Stand up Bass
Electric Bass
Piano
Harp
Erhu (Chinese two-stringed fiddle)
Guqin (Chinese stringed instrument)
Sitar
Dulcimer
Koto (Japanese harp)
Ukulele

Woodwind
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Flute
Piccolo
Oboe
English Horn
Bb Clarinet (the most common type of clarinet)
Clarinets in other tunings, though these are rare (ex. Eb, A, C)
Bass Clarinet
Contra-Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Contra-Bassoon
Pan flute/Panpipes
Bagpipes
Ocarina
Recorder
Tin whistle
Fife
Harmonica
Melodica
Quena

Brass
Trumpet /Cornet
Baritone
Euphonium (like a baritone, but with a mellower sound)
Trombone
Tuba
Sousaphone (marching version of the tuba)
French Horn
Mellophone (a marching version of a French Horn)
Altohorn
Bugle
Piccolo Trumpet
Trigger Trombone (F Attachment)
Valved Trombone
Bass Trombone

Percussion
Marimba
Steel Drums
Drum set
Bells
Xylophone
Triangle
Cleaves
Cowbell
Hammered Dulcimer
Pipe Organ
Harpsichord
Metalaphone
Tambourine
Vibraphone


Tips
It's a good idea to pick instruments where you can branch out into all kinds of music . A flute or guitar has endless possibilities while the bagpipes are rather limited. Likewise, choosing an instrument such as a saxophone or trumpet will let you easily branch out into other instruments; for example, it is much easier for saxophonists to pick up other reed instruments, such as clarinet, or much easier for a trumpet player to pick up a french horn or other brass instrument.
Before even starting, learn about your chosen instrument as much as possible to make sure that you want to play it.
Consider your local resources; get into contact with local teachers and try to find a way to buy an instrument.
Choose a rare instrument . A lot of people know how to play the piano, guitar and drums, so to shine playing those instruments, you need to be really good, but if you choose a strange non-common instrument, even if you're the worst player you'll find a job teaching or playing.
Consider your personality ...compare yourself to an actor. Do you need to be the leading lady? Choose an instrument that carries melodies and is selected often for solos like the flute, trumpet, clarinet, violin. More the supporting actress type? If you are in your element when working collectively as a group to create beautiful harmonious undertones, then a bass instrument like the tuba, baritone, bari-sax or string bass might be perfect.
If the instrument you want to play is expensive, see if you can rent/borrow one for a while.
Note that many schools consider "percussion" to be one instrument, meaning, don't get your heart set on just the snare drum or trapset, because you'll probably have to learn and play everything in the percussion section.
If your not sure you really want to play the instrument you have chosen, rent one, and if you like it, you can buy one. If you don't, you can still pick another instrument.


Warnings
Don't let people tell you what instruments are "cool" or "hot" to play. Playing an instrument shouldn't be something you learn just to be able to say that you can do it.
Don't give into gender stereotypes. Some amazing guitar players and drummers are girls, and the most brilliant flute and clarinet players may be guys.
Don't pick an instrument just because it's flashy. Being a tuba player in an orchestra or a bass player in a rock band can be just as rewarding as being a soloist. Either way, solo material exists for almost all instruments so odds of being stuck with a boring bass line forever on your instrument are small.
Don't see certain instruments as "limited" in terms of what you can play on it. Any instrument has, literally, infinite possibilities. You can never stop getting better and doing cooler stuff with it. For instance, an electric bass may have 2 strings less than an electric guitar, but this does not mean it's more limited or inferior.


Things You'll Need
Patience
Will
An instrument
A teacher


Related wikiHows
How to Learn to Play an Instrument
How to Play the Saxophone
How to Clean and Take Care of Your Clarinet
How to Play the Flute
How to Play the Oboe
How to Change Guitar Strings
How to Buy a Violin
How to Find a Good Sized Violin


Sources and Citations
Some videos to get you thinking:
Bass Guitar, 11-string
Saxophone Quartet
Electric Guitar, Wah Pedal
Percussion
String Ensemble, Electric
Steel Drums
Didgeridoo
Bagpipes and Drums
Trumpet
Banjo



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