Brands/Manufacturers

The xylophone is a popular tuned percussion instrument commonly used in solo performances, orchestras, marching bands, jazz bands and more. Well-known around the world, there is an assortment of xylophone makers and brands to choose from. With such a wide variety of xylophones on the market, knowing the top brands is useful. Of course, the…

Accordions are fascinating box-shaped free-reed aerophone musical instruments. These instruments are used around the world in folk and pop music genres. When choosing the best accordion, there are plenty of options for beginner, intermediate and professional accordionists. In this article, we’ll consider the top 11 best accordion brands in the world today. Though obviously subjective and…

The piccolo is a popular woodwind instrument designed, essentially, as a half-sized flute. Thanks to its higher register, It has become a mainstay in concert bands and orchestras. Since piccolo is so widely accepted, there are plenty of options for student, intermediate and professional piccolo players. This isn’t only true of individual instruments but also…

The marimba is a popular tuned percussion instrument commonly used in solo performances, orchestras, marching bands, jazz bands and more. Being such a beloved and accepted instrument, there are now a variety of marimba makers and brands to choose from. With such a wide variety of marimbas on the market, knowing the top brands is…

Timpani are percussion instruments common in concert bands, marching bands, orchestras, and select pop and rock ensembles. Though there are different types of timpano, the common type is the pedal timpano, which can be tuned to the appropriate note by way of a foot pedal. Because timpanists generally play multiple timpano, the plural term “timpani” is typically…

The harmonica (also referred to as the French harp or mouth organ) is a popular free-reed wind instrument used in numerous musical genres. In addition to its wide acceptance in music, there are also several types of harmonica worth noting, including diatonic, chromatic, tremolo, octave, orchestral, and bass types. Because the harmonica is such a common (and…

The oboe is a popular double-reed woodwind instrument, commonly designed to play in the treble or soprano range (though other members of the oboe family cover other ranges). The instrument is commonly used in orchestra and chamber music ensembles or as a solo instrument. There are plenty of options for the student, intermediate and professional…

The French horn (more often referred to simply as the “horn”) is a mainstay brass instrument of orchestral and chamber music and even sees use in jazz and other genres. Due to its popularity, there are plenty of options for the student, intermediate and professional horn players. This isn’t only true of individual instruments but…

From the church to the home to the stage with pop, rock and jazz bands, the electric organ is a remarkably versatile instrument. The styles and sounds of electric organs range from classic pipe organ emulation to the versatile, often distorted and borderline psychedelic tones of Hammond-style organs to the expansive palette of digital organs. Since the electric…

The flute is a popular reedless woodwind instrument. It is a mainstay in concert bands, orchestras, and musical ensembles from around the world. Since the flutes of the flute family are such widely accepted instruments, there are plenty of options for student, intermediate and professional flautists. This isn’t only true of individual instruments but also…

The saxophone is somewhat of an outlier when it comes to woodwind instruments, though it’s certainly one of the more commonly used. Saxophones are popular in various music formats, including concert bands, chamber music ensembles, solo instruments, marching and military bands, jazz and rock bands and modern pop recordings. There are a variety of different…

The trumpet is one of the brass instruments used in a great variety of musical genres. From orchestras and chamber music ensembles to big bands, jazz, funk, rock and more, the trumpet can play a supporting role or be a lead, depending on the situation. Due to its popularity and versatility, there are plenty of…