After deciding to take the plunge and learn an instrument, you are immediately faced with a sea of options and a medium-sized lake of decisions. As a songwriter, you'll want to pick an instrument that leaves your mouth free to sing, so put away that bassoon fantasy for a minute and think about a more realistic choice.

The Most Obvious Options

Acoustic guitars and electronic keyboards are by far the most popular instruments for songwriters. Why? Because they're versatile, relatively affordable, and used in most kinds of music today. Keyboards offer maximum versatility. A good electronic keyboard can have thousands of different sounds, from pianos to cellos to elephant noises, and can act as a workstation for arranging and sequencing.

An acoustic guitar is tops for portability. It's easy to throw in the car for a co-writing venture, party, campfire, or solo writing session by the lake, and you don't need electricity to use one. Guitar is the instrument most likely to be easily borrowed at an open mike, writer's night, or party. Most publishers have an acoustic guitar right there in the office.

Of course, there's nothing stopping you from deciding to take up the mandolin, banjo, cello, accordion, or any other instrument to augment your songwriting. Still, guitar and keyboards are the easiest to get lessons for and work well in more genres than most other instruments. Eventually, you may decide to expand and add more instruments, get an electric guitar, or buy a piano to augment your songwriting and instrumental studies. This is a fine idea. For now, though, it'll be cheaper, easier, and more productive to start with the basic keyboard or acoustic guitar.