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What are the important features you should look for when you’re buying an electric guitar, especially one that is not so expensive? There is actually one to always remember: the pickup is the soul of the guitar, and that is where you should look first. The volume and the tone controls are important, too. There are guitars that provide great versatility with the new generation of controls that they are including in their models; take advantage of that.

And what you should not care too much about when you’re in a budget? It’s the brand name. Paying for a git just because it has a popular brand name when you can get the same quality from another brand is just plain ridiculous. So, to help you decide, here are some of our favorites.

Best Rated Mid-Range Electric Guitar

The Schecter Omen Extreme 6 is a very attractive guitar with its double-cutaway body painted with different styles (the picture shown on the right is in “sunburst”). It comes with 6 strings that can create a variety of sounds. The body is entirely made out of mahogany with quilted maple, which gives it an elegant look and feel. The fingerboard is made out of rosewood attached to a maple neck.

Its electronics is not something to ignore. In fact, it can create a variety of sounds that can be used in all sorts of music genres, from heavy metal to blues. This can be done using the three-way toggle switch that is included in the model and a modified push/pull coil-splitting, which can adjust the tone and the master volume. As for the bridge, it is a Tune-O-Matic, and its design comes with a string-through that adds extra sustain.The sound the guitar creates is wonderful and can be a feast for the ear. Although it has been designed to play a certain type of music, you can definitely play around it for more.

Best Attractive Electric Guitar

The Danelectro DC 59 Modified takes its name after Jimmy Page, the leader of the popular rock band Led Zeppelin. When he used it in one of the band’s videos, it became an instant bestseller. It is not hard to see why Page would go and use it and consciously or unconsciously advertised it. The body of the guitar is made out of rosewood and its unique design is one of the first things you would notice. The saddle bridge is also made out of rosewood. The main color it comes in is black, and because of the materials used, the guitar is fairly light compared to other models. This makes it easier for you to play on it.

When it comes to sound quality, it is at par with its price. The guitar has inline geared tuners and comes with 0’s strings, which usually have to be modified, but the sound the guitar will create after the modifications are complete will be worth it. This model is perfect for heavy metal enthusiasts and can become a great item of sentimental value. Additionally, playing this guitar feels amazing, as other customers have reiterated time and again.

Best Value Electric Guitar

The Ibanez S521 S Series is undeniably gorgeous! It really does adhere to the same level of charm and innovative progression the brand employs in all other instruments they create.It features a gorgeous Blackberry Sunburst body and finish, and comes packed with diversified hi-quality components that make it stand out from the rest of the competition in its price range.

The instrument’s attractive body is made of mahogany. Its rosewood fingerboard has a 15.75” radius, and it is equipped with 24 jumbo frets and offset white dot inlays. Its electronics doesn’t come as a big surprise in quality, featuring the Infinity technology – a preferred pick for the brand in all their models, ensuring best of the best sound quality. It does make it good in all genres, namely: blues, rock, metal, jazz – from chilling lows to dangerous highs that can get out of control, it will be a beast every single time.

Several years ago, a $500 in your pocket would only afford you a second-hand electric guitar  that you could only hope to still have a few of its best qualities. But things have changed over the course of time, and technology has played a big part of it. Yes, it has even in the music industry, particularly the instruments we use today.

As more competitors are entering in the guitar market, everyone becomes competitive. This is a good news for buyers as this would mean that they are willing to shred off some bucks on the price tag. Now, with a $500 in your pocket, you can already own a brand new high-quality electric guitar. So, if you’re in the hunt for one, consider the ones we have recommended below.

Best Rated Electric Guitar

The Fender Mexican Standard Telecaster has a six-saddle string-through body that is made of Alder and protected by a white parchment pick guard. It also boasts an extended gorgeous C-shaped maple neck that enables swift movement and bending of your strings with ease. Its fingerboard has a 9.5” radius, and it is equipped with 21 medium jumbo frets. And it does look gorgeous indeed. Its rounded top has a 70s vintage headstock featuring the brand’s stylish logo, and it’s equipped with modern adjustable tuners.

Besides the hardware, a guitar’s electronics plays a big part on how it sounds as well. This guitar’s electronics is sure to provide quality sound. In fact, the guitar offers a fantastic range of low to mid gain tonal capabilities, perfect for Country, Blues and Rock. Fender guitars have grown over time to a synonym for quality, and this splendid classic is no different.

Best Electric Guitar for the Money

The Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Telecaster is staying true to its name: it has that classic vibes of the ’50s. One of the features that define it, compared to other types of guitar, is its C-shape neck, which is really distinguishable in a crowd. Its body, on one hand, is made out of pine and is finished with a butterscotch blonde look, which, together with the vintage tint C shaped neck, creates a head-turning design. Additionally, its neck is designed with a 21 medium sized jumbo frets and a 9.5’’ fret board radius, giving it a kick of that modern look.

The classic Vibe comes with two custom, but also vintage like, pickups, Single Coil Tele, and six vintage style strings thru-body with three barrel saddles made of brass. It also has a master volume and controls for the tone, which allows you to create quality sound when you set it up properly. All in all, with its design, this guitar is perfect for rock, pop, rock and roll, and anything else that comes to mind.

Best Electric Guitar for Beginners

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard may have been advertised as the perfect instrument for complete beginners, but that doesn’t mean the advanced players cannot take advantage of its quality. But why is this a great choice of an electric guitar? For one, it is based on a 50-year evergreen that lasted throughout all these years. More than that, it is still one of the bestsellers on the market. And most of all, it is designed by the legendary guitarist, Les Paul. This what makes this classic guitar awesome for beginners, casual musicians, and even semi-pro artists that are performing on stage.

This Les Paul Standard guitar is made from mahogany for its body and quality maple for its top. This combo helps the guitar achieve the sustain and the tone that made this brand so popular among so much world famous guitarists. The rosewood fretboard attached to a mahogany neck makes it look very desirable for guitarists of all levels. Additionally, its hardware is within the high standards that made Les Paul famous. You can auto lock the bridge and tailpiece without having to rely on any tools. The quality of the materials used in the body will provide you with superb sound. Epiphone have been designing instruments for almost 150 years, and you can trust on that almost two centuries of quality instruments.

Best Electric Guitar Money can Buy

The last but not definitely the least in our list is the Fender Standard Stratocaster. It boasts the ability to be played for almost any type of genre from blues and jazz to metal. Moreover, it is playable right out of the box and does not require any type of modifications, which is much appreciated by everyone who had spend their money for this beast.

The body of the guitar is made out of maple and the colors used give it a beautiful elegant look, like a fading wine that finishes to a flame maple neck or the all-white color shown in the picture. Its neck, which is made out of maple, has 21 frets.The pickups are made out of ceramics. The bridge of this model is well built and, therefore, very durable. Finally, it tends to stay perfectly in tune and is great for blues.

Every seasoned guitar player must own at least one guitar he can take when he travels for gigs, musical festivals, and whatnot. And this type of guitar isn’t just your regular guitar, which you use for practice and performing on stage.

When you are looking for your own travel guitar, think of the scuffs, scratches and other rough things your guitar has to go through on the road. Constant changes in humidity are tough on your guitar’s finish, tonewoods and electronics. So, which are the ones that can survive all these without sacrificing sound quality? Check out our recommendations below.

Best Beginner Travel Guitar

The Yamaha FG JR1 may be advertised as a guitar primarily designed for players who are still learning to play the instrument, but many experts also recommend it as a travel guitar. Yamaha, after all, is known for manufacturing instruments that are not too expensive but still offer great value. The series where this guitar belongs to is already a success, so you are rest assured of this intrument’s quality meeting such high-level of standard.

The JR1 is aimed for people who feel more comfortable with smaller sized bodies, or for musicians that are looking for another travel guitar that does not cost a whole wallet of cash. Its body features a spruce top and meranti back and sides. The reduced length of the scale stops at 21 3/4″ with a nato neck and a rosewood fingerboard on with premium frets separated by silver dot inlays. In terms of sound quality, this affordable guitar has bright tone and satisfactory bass. The vinal verdict: this is a great companion for traveling, especially for kids going camping.

Best Premium Travel Guitar

The Martin LXK2 is your best choice if you want a premium guitar. Experts would tell you that the best options available in the travel niche are split between Taylor and Martin. But here’s why we love the Martin guitar. For one, it comes with original dreadnought body with high pressure laminated Koa top, back and sides. And since this is laminated, expect it to be durable enough to survive whatever condition it finds itself on the road.

The bridge and the fretboard of this guitar are made from rosewood and the neck is carved from stratabond. And it is such a bonus that it is made from the highest standard of materials. This will make not worry anymore about scratches, additional damage, or bad and crappy sound coming out of it. It is low on bass, but you get clear, bright sound and a warm tone that is aimed to entertain.

Best Reputable Travel Guitar

A lot of guitarists want to own a Taylor or a Martin guitar, as these two brands have the highest reputation in the music industry. If you’re frequently on the road, then the Taylor BT2 is the perfect Taylor companion. For starter, this 3/4 sized guitar has a dreadnought body  with a real tropical American mahogany top and laminated sapele back and sides.The varnish finish will protect your instrument well and gives it a classic old school vintage look.

Thanks to the mahogany top, you get a very responsive guitar rich in tone. If you are ready to thrown in at least $300, then this guitar is the right one to get. The quality that separates this one from the other travel competitors is the same as the one that separates a full sized Taylor from the rest.

Best Budget Travel Guitar

The Hohner HC03 is a reliable instrument that won’t easily break when you take it with you when you go camping. It comes with a stable classical body, 23.22″ long scale, durable spruce top and nato (the cheap, eastern version of mahogany) back and sides. The neck is also made of Hato. Moreover, it is constructed with a fingerboard with 18 frets attached to it.

The sound of this guitar is very far from a full sized Hohner, but that is expected from a guitar that is less than a hundred dollars. For the price that it comes in, the output is more than okay. It is also pretty easy to tune and will hold it for quite a while. So, if you want a great value for every penny you spend, this budget travel guitar is worth considering.

Do you really need to buy expensive instruments just so you can say you’re a true musician? If you think you do, get that thought out of your head. Many successful musicians had come from humble beginnings, and there is no reason why you shouldn’t have the chance to be successful, too, even when you have to own the cheapest instrument out there.

Luckily, companies nowadays have realized that there are a lot of starving musicians out there who are desperate to own a guitar amplifier. This is the reason they now offer a wide range of decent guitar amps that won’t cost you over a hundred dollars.

Best Rated Guitar Amplifier

If you’re in need of a budget solution for, say a small jam session or just a practice in your own garage, then the Line 6 Spider IV 15 is a great choice. This amp gives you access to a variety of tones. With one small 8-inch speaker and 15 watts of power, it is just the right size for a room practice.

The Line 6 Spider IV is a modeling amp, which means that it uses digital technology to amplify sound. There are six different preset effects for you to play with, and you can save up to four of your own settings to quickly switch to when you’re tired of the preset effects. Additionally, you get ree access to Spider Online, a unique online resource offering over 500 guitar lessons, amp tones, jam tracks and more. Lessons cover all genres and styles and include tabs, audio samples and tones.

Best Guitar Combo Amp

The Marshall MG15CF MG Series is a bit flashier than the Line 6, but is still under a hundred dollars. It is a combo amp; this means that it uses both tube and analog technology to amplify sound. Because of this, you can expect the amp to hold up for quite a while with absolutely no maintenance. And this also means you need to sacrifice custom effects to make way for a slightly superior sound quality and overall durability.

It is powered by 15-watt motor and a one 8-inch speaker. Although this is enough for practicing alone or a small gathering or jamming session, it is not something you want to bring to a large venue. Finally, it is designed as two-channel amp with MP3 input.

Best Guitar Amp for the Money

Gain, volume, treble/mid/bass, FX select, and FX volume — these are what you get from the Fender Champion 20. What’s great about this amp is how user-friendly it is. You can easily configure it even if it is your first time to ever use a guitar amp.

Another great feature of this amp is its AUX support. You can plug in your phone, play some music, and jam out to the songs as if you were in the actual band. This is something you rarely find in an affordable amp. Finally, the Fender Champion 20 can get really loud without even sacrifing sound quality. This is highly recommended if you want an amp that is ready to take on your practice right out of the box.

The type of flute you play should be determined by the level of your music ability. If you have never played a flute before, the most logical thing to do is to consult a professional first before you spend your hard-earned money for one. On the other hand, if you’re moving up the ladder, you will find out that you’ll need a piece with the ability to deliver fullness of sound,variation in tone color, and speed of response.

There are many different makes and models out there that provide different levels of quality. While you can always go for popular bands, sometimes they are not within the reach of your budget. To help you out, here are few of the best high-quality flutes on the market today.

Best High-Quality Midrange Flute

The Azumi AZ3 Flute is from one of the mos trusted music brands, Altus. It is one of their most impressive offerings yet. And its price point says a lot about the amount of attention to detail to its construction. It has very advanced features, such as a split E mechanism, the option to have the in-line or offset G and the C# trill key. Even at first glance, you can see how it is very well constructed.

Made of sterling silver from its headjoint to the body combined with silver-plated keys, it can produce very high quality sound appropriate for intermediate players who are to perform on stage and who want their instruments to have the ability to keep up with the demand of their advanced practices. Another great highlight of this flute is the Z-cut headjoint. It is easy to get a good sound out of this instrument, no matter which of its three registers you’re playing in. The Azumi AZ3 comes with the option to have the trill key or not and to have the in-line or offset G key. Whichever option you choose, you can be certain that you are getting exactly what you want from a flute. Included in the package is a case and cleaning products to keep the instrument at its best condition.

Best Flute for Intermediate Players

If you talk about quality flutes, Yamaha is always on the list. One of our favorites in their lineup is the Yamaha YFL-461 Series, which is primarily designed for advanced players. It features solid silver head, body, and foot joints, allowing it to produce warm and rich tone. Additionally, it boasts an undercut embouchure, which makes the instrument very responsive to different styles of play.

Yamaha has a manufacturing technique for their adjustment hardware. The screws are designed in a way that you can adjust them easily and precisely. And once they’re in place, they are not going to rotate out of place on their own. It also helps that the headjoint, body, foot joint and lip plate are all made out of sterling silver. Sterling silver has great tonal characteristics. This high-quality features come with a price, though, so get your pockets ready for it.

Best High-Quality Flute for the Money

If you’re ready to move up from beginner level, then consider the Pearl 665 Quantz.  Pearl has a great reputation for producing quality instruments for beginner students, but their intermediate flutes deserve some praises as well. This particular model is constructed with the advanced student in mind. It has  French pointed arms, which are typically only seen on higher end flutes, but which are made available on this flute to students who are just starting on their way to becoming truly advanced. Moreover, it comes standard with a B footjoint and an optional off-set G key and split E mechanism. The flute also include key hole inserts to aid students transitioning from a closed-hole flute.

You need not to worry about quality with this flute even when it is one of the most affordable in its class. Upgrading won’t be necessary for a long time and, in some cases, it may not even be necessary until you reach the level of a true concert performer and need a professional quality instrument. Lastly, let’s consider yet another great feature that makes it stand out: it has a one-piece, core bar construction and a pinless mechanism. Both of these things considerably increase the quality of the instrument overall and make it easier to play. The construction is very durable, but also offers efficiency and reliability. The pinless mechanism is smooth, easy to play and very responsive.

High-quality accordions aren’t just available in the higher price range; the fact is that they can be anywhere in the price spectrum, whether at a premium or affordable price. But before you buy one, you have to assess what your level in playing is. Make sure that the manufacturer has built it for advanced beginners, if you belong in this age group.

Another factor you have to consider when buying an accordion is its musicality. You want to make sure that you’ll get a good sound out of it and that it won’t be too hard to play. Finally, you have to consider durability as this will determine how long you can have it. With these in mind, here are some of our recommended accordions.

Best Accordion for the Money

The Hohner Panther Accordion is one of the best-selling accordions on the market today, and it’s not hard to see why. Its external design alone makes you want to grab it from the shelf. It has a very strong built, so you are rest assured it is going to take some abuse.

When it comes to sound production, this accordion model does not disappoint. The tone is crystal clear and there is so much detail in it. Moreover, the instrument is ultra lightweight, which makes it easy to play for hours. The fan opens easily, and the straps that come with it are padded for comfort. Overall, this is an accordion that is perfect for advanced beginners.

Best Affordable Accordion

The Trinity College AP-20 Anglo Concertina is a decently priced accordion that delivers satisfactory sound. It is one beautiful instrument that you can play with several music styles, such as Celtic and Cajun. Additionally, it is ideal for any player of any age. So, if you have a teenager who would want to try it, he can certainly use this as learning piece.

Take note, though, that this is a concertina. You may be wondering what the difference is between an accordion and a concertina. Both instruments belong to the same family. Both have bellows which the player must operate and buttons that the player must push. The main difference between a concertina and an accordion is that the concertina does not have chord buttons. Musicians create harmony on a concertina by pushing more than one button at a time. This gives you the freedom to create your own chords — a perfect feature for advanced beginners.

Best Accordion for Kid Advanced Beginners

The D’Luca Kids Piano Accordion may be marketed as an accordion ofr kids, but it is actually suitable for adults, too. It offers 8 bass chord buttons and a chromatic keyboard with 17 notes, making it the budget-priced accordion for young advanced beginners. You are not limited to one or two diatonic keys when you play songs on this model. You can play songs that have sharps, flats, and key signatures that modulate in the middle of the piece.

If you have played piano before, you would appreciate that the D’Luca features a piano keyboard.  Learning a new task is always easier if you can relate it to past experiences, and in the case of the D’Luca, piano players enjoy that advantage. Overall, this accordion  will give you a good sound and a great learning experience. It more closely resembles the musicality and function of a full-fledged accordion than any other budget-friendly models.

A trombone is a brass instrument that fill the range between a trumpet and a tuba. It has three common types, namely: straight tenor, trigger-type tenor (also referred to as F-rotor or F-attachment), and bass trombones. Additionally, there are different finishes you can see on different brands and models, and the most common is the lacquer. Plated finishes are regarded as higher-quality finishes because they have less dampening effect on vibration. Most consider silver-plated horns to be flashier, but they require more maintenance because they are prone to tarnish. And though a snazzier-looking horn may not sound significantly better than another, good looks can encourage a player to devote time and practice on playing the instrument.

As with buying any kind of instrument, beginners tend to start with the small or student model. But with the trombone, there’s not much difference between the beginner models and the intermediate ones. Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first trombone or an advanced player ready to upgrade, you’ll surely find one that’s suited for you from the list we have below.

Best Rated Tenor Trombone

When you’re ready to advance your trombone playing, then you have to start using an F trigger with a Bb slide. One of the most trusted model is the Mendini MTB-31 Intermediate B Flat Tenor Trombone. Besides being lightweight and having the great sound quality, it is also affordable.

It has a bore that measures 8.5 inches, allowing the instrument to produce great projection you’d usually here in an orchestra. Moreover, the bore provides enough resonance for a fuller, brighter and warmer tone. Its slide is nickel-plated, which is a good material to make any instrument durable and safe from dent. The whole package comes with Cecilio 92-D chromatic tuner, pro-deluxe durable hard case, a pair of white gloves, and a cleaning cloth.

Best Rated Contrabass Trombone

Contrabass trombone is typically a large trombone in F, usually having two triggers, and to an instrument in BBb having a double slide (four tubes on the slide, rather than the standard two). It has a very deep voice that will blend beautifully in an orchestra.

One of the highly rated contrabass trombones is the Miraphone MI57F because of its excellent sound in the lower register. It is in the key of F, which most trombone are. It is quite long and a little awkward to hold for the inexperienced player. It is also constructed with two valves: one is in the key of C, and other one is in the key of C-sharp. Together, they give that nice sound at major arpeggio in the first position.

Best Rated Student Trombone

The Etude ETB-100 Series Student Trombone features a .495″ bore designed for easy tone production and projection. Additionally, it has a brass outer handslide and crook plus a chrome inner handslide for enhanced durability, which is a great value for students who would need to put some abuse into the instrument.

The ETB-100 displays a great design and reflects Etude’s commitment to outstanding construction, resulting in an instrument that will give you years of musical enjoyment and give youevery chance to develop a lifelong association with the love of music. Included in the package is a case and a mouthpiece.

After months (or maybe years) of learning and practicing playing the flute, you finally get the chance to perform on stage. Can you use the same flute you did when you’re still a student? Well, moost experts would tell you this is a bad idea, and we totally agree. There are features in your tudent flute that aren’t suitable for live performances. Moreover, a student flute give you limited choice when it comes to tune and audio quality.

This is where a concert flute comes in really handy. However, choosing which to buy can be a daunting task, because there are a lot of brands and models to choose from. To help you with that, here are a few recommendations.

Best Flute for Advanced Players

If you’re an advanced player, a silver-plated flute is the best choice. This is because it has more brilliance in its sound compared to one constructed from nickel. Silver tends to be richer in tone and has better response. And you can expect all these from the Jupiter Plateau Offset G Silver-Plated Flute 511S. Surprisingly, this model is very lightweight, making it easy to hold and does not strain the hands for a long period of playing. This is why it is a recommended model for a flutist getting his/her first time stage performance. There is also no denying that it does look and feel expensive! And the official logo of Jupiter on the instrument is a nice touch.

Best Alto Flute for Performances

Alto flute is a type of flute featured in many orchestral performances. Its low timbre adds that mellow and sweet sound in an orchestra. It sounds a 4th lower than the standard C flute and plays in the key of G, but they are the same when it comes to fingering.

One of the few recommended alto flutes is the Allora AAAF-302 Alto Flute. It has a beautiful tonal response, enabling it to deliver that warm and inviting sound professionals expect frm an alto flute that’s made of sterling/solid silver. It comes with straight and curved headjoints, giving you the flexibility you need when playing. The curved headjoint is particularly helpful for players to have better reach on the keys.

Best Concert Flute for the Money

The Pearl 795 Elegante Coda Flute is one of the many flutes categorized as the main instruments in the flute family. A concert flute is the primary instrument not only for advanced flutists but also for beginning students. In fact, learning to play a concert flute is a very critical phase for a student before he/she can specialize in other kinds of flutes, such as the alto and the bass.

The Pearl model here is one of the most recommended ones for beginning and advanced students alike. It is handcrafted in sterling silver and has a Forza headjoint with gold lip plate. The construction, especially that of the headjoint, allows the instrument to deliver pure and sweet tone that is highly expected from a quality concert flute. The workmanship is very impressive that it is nothing short when it comes t sound performance.

Are you’re ready to take your flute-playing to the next level? If so, then it is time to upgrade your flute. But shopping for a professional flute can be daunting. Of course, you would want to go with a trusted brand. However, brand name mustn’t only be your qualifying factor. What you need is an instrument that won’t hold you back technically, because you want as much as versatility in it as your performance requires.

Professional flutes tend to be a lot pricier than beginner flutes. Moreover, the price tends to increase as the amount of solid silver increases. We hope that you find exatcly what you need and the one that your budget would allow with the list we have below.

Best High-End Flute for Young Professionals

Manufacturers understand that most young professional flutists would want a high-caliber flute without necessarily breaking the bank. After all, these flutists may not be earning that much money. This is exactly what Yamaha has to offer when they released the Yamaha Professional 777H Flute. From its sterling silver headjoint, body, and keys, this instrument is sure to deliver he warmth and expressive colors that only the finest silver flutes can provide. The headjoint, body and footjoint are all heat treated with Yamaha’s proprietary acoustic annealing process to provide an impressive evenness of tone and response throughout all registers.

Its sterling silver headjoint is hand-finished, assuring buyers that it has gone through rigorous test of hands. The specially designed cut of this headjoint offers incredible response and an impressive dynamic range. The 700 series where the 777H belongs to boast a 0.43mm wall thickness which, when combined with the hand-finished sterling silver headjoint, provides a remarkably warm and rich tone. Moreover, all the models from the said series come standard with Straubinger Phoenix Pads for a more precise and consistent seal. Straubinger Phoenix Pads allow you to play with a lighter touch and quicker action.

Best Standard Professional Flute

Standard professional flutes are considered the creme de la creme of flute, as  they feature the finest materials and highest craftsmanship. And that comes with a price. Solid silver is standard throughout professional flutes and most are available with a variety of precious metal upgrades.  These can include the use of a variety of types of gold and even platinum. One of our favorite standard flute is the Pearl Maesta Professional Flute. The Maesta Series is known as the “jewel in their crown” of this brand.

As with other Pearl professional flutes, this model is equipped with the company’s patented Pinless construction, which eliminates the problems of protruding needles and corrosion and binding that affect the keys. Added to this is the additional bridge mechanisms that add strength to the entire mechanism and the socket-head screws are inserted from the underside of the key work, preventing the entry of perspiration into the mechanism. Its headjoint is one to be impressed about as well. It is ery responsive, and produces a dark centered tone. A wide dynamic range is ensured throughout the entire registers. Indeed, this flute gives justice to its high price.

Best Wooden Flute for Professional Flutists

Wood is a preferred material when it comes to most musical instruments, and flutes are not an exception. A wooden flute gives richer, more solid and powerful tone compared to those made of metal. However, it requires tighter and more work on the lips for the blowing style. This is why wooden flutes aren’t usually recommended for students; they can be easily tired out with this type of flute.

Our best pick of wooden flute is the Carrotmusic Model CD301 Alto C Professional Level Dizi Bamboo Flute. The main body of the instrument is made of bamboo with thread wraps around it between holes. There’s also an engraved calligraphy near the head of the flute, a nice additional touch for how gorgeous it already is! The flute has a range of about two octaves. This instrument is tuned to the diatonic western scale with a good full sound in the lower register and a bright upper register.

Best Rated Piccolo Flute

Piccolo is the smallest type of flute, sounding an entire octave above the standard C flute. Since piccolos are much more difficult to play than the C flute, beginners are encouraged to try their hands first on the latter. Though, there are piccolos now that are designed for beginning students.

If you are an advanced student or ready to step up into the professional level, one of the best to buy is the Yamaha YPC-82 Professional Piccolo. It looks so gorgeous, and the craftmanship is obviously high-quality! It’s not doubtful at all that this instrument has been handcrafted by accomplished artisans. It has a body top-grade grenadilla wood, which gives it that stable and full sound. It also features a sterling silver headjoint. Ask any piccolo experts, and they would tell you it’s worth the price especially when you’re moving up into the musical ladder.

Buying your first flute can be overwhelming and confusing. There are just so many names, so many brands, and so many types to choose from. And then you consider the different prices, there are just too many information to absorb. There are, of course, ways to make things a bit easier. The most obvious step is to do your research beforehand. Secondly, be careful of flutes that look too cheap. You don’t want to get one from this bunch, as they tend to be more costly in the long run than that of good-branded flutes.

Since you are still a beginner student, avoid flutes that are not designed to suit your level. A good quality beginner flute will be easy to play, light to hold, and should withstand the knocks you’re going to give it. On the other hand, professional flutes tend to be heavier, offer the fuller sound and increased projection that an advanced player needs. Without further ado, here are our most recommended flutes for beginner students.

Best Student Flute for the Money

The Yamaha YFL-221 Student Flute is made from durable nickle-silver, so it can withstand the rigors of any starting player who needs a lot of practice. This is one favorite of most flute teachers because of its playability, thanks to its CY headjoint with specially designed embouchure hole. This headjoint tends to be more restrictive — which means there’s a little control as to its dynamics and expressions — without taking away the ease of playing. The restrictiveness of the instrument isn’t much of a concern to beginning students; they are more focused on being able to make the flute sound.

If you’re ready to step to the next level of playing a flute, you won’t need to throw the entire flute into the garbage. Since 70-90% of a flute’s sound quality comes from its headjoint, you would only need to upgrade this particular part to get into the next level.

Best Rated Flute for Beginners

The Gemeinhardt 2SP Flute is a silver-plated student flute that is regarded for its excellent tonal qualities. It is also built tough to take a bit of abuse of practice. And you’d be glad of its delivery; you will be able to get a lot of color out of your tone with this instrument.

For the best tonal quality out of a flute, silver is always the primary choice. But for beginner students, a silver-plated one is good enough, and since the Gemeinhardt 2SP is  triple coated silver plated finish, it can impressively deliver what is expected out of it. It also has that superior tonal quality to it over nickel-plating. Included with the flute itself are pad cups, power coined keys and other enhancements that make their instruments serious enough for students who want to advance. This particualr model is notable because of the way it balances out its capability for subtlety.

Best Open-Holed Student Flute

The Jupiter 511 Series Student Flute is an open-holed flute that boasts a silver-plated body, keys, and headjoint. Attributes include an in-line G, gizmo keys and a B foot that not only extends the lower range, but also allows the higher octaves to play more in tune, and improves the flute’s overall projection. The 511 series utilizes a ribbed construction and a high nickel content to produce excellent sound quality.

This particular model has been regarded for its durablity. It has power-forged keys that provide strength and durability. It also features hidden adjustment screws, which prevent tampering and reduce the need for repairs. Moreover, it features offset finger buttons on keys that educe the stretch required for small hands to play the standard tone hole spacing of the modern Boehm flute. This one is an expensive flute yet it has a lot of advanced features suited to both beginner and advanced students.