Recorder or harmonica

nardd

nardd

So I go to this folk festival every summer. My girlfriend's brother in law has his guitar thing going on as well as a few drums here and there, and the songs we play I tend to not know very well lyric-wise. What I'm hoping to do is pick up an instrument to help contribute to the whole music experience.

i have access to a semi decent recorder and a harmonica isn't too hard to come by, but which one would be easier to pick up and learn how to improv enough to some chords/songs?

I do have a fair amount of music training: I've got some piano, tuba, and voice under my belt, but none of those (barring voice of course) are reasonably camping capable :] I'm pretty sure I could work out some kind of instrument, but I'd rather not go out and buy a trumpet or anything too expensive.

So recorder or harmonica? or another instrument?
 
Recorders are easy to learn but are boring to play/listen to. Harmonica's are way cooler. I love the sound it gives off.
 
id say recorder is easier to learn, harmonicas seem to be pretty hard cause its much easier to make mistakes.
 
Atlas said:
id say recorder is easier to learn, harmonicas seem to be pretty hard cause its much easier to make mistakes.
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Harmonica is definitely harder, but in the end it's a lot better sounding. Recorder is high pitched and irritating (but maybe I just think that because my younger brother plays it a lot around the house) whereas a good harmonica part sounds great.
 
Harmonica hands down. The Recorder is an easy instrument and an easy "starter" instrument but in the end it really falls short of what the Harmonica could produce.
 
I'm also looking at craigslist and am seeing a bunch of used trumpets/trombones that I could invest in and adapt my previous brass experience to.

seems either this or the harmonica
 
Harmonicas sound great and the basics are easy to pick up. That being said, there are many kinds of harmonicas. The kind most people are familiar with are called diatonic harmonicas, which come in specific keys. If most of the songs you play are in a specific key, grab that type of harmonica, otherwise a C or A harp is good. I've found that the cheapo $10 harmonicas are just fine for starting out with, no need to spend more than that.
 
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