Top 10 Most Underrated Musical Instruments

Accordion

Accordions are a family of box-shaped musical instruments of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone type, colloquially referred to as a squeezebox. They are used in various musical genres worldwide, including folk, classical, and popular music. The instrument produces sound by pushing air through reeds... read more

Cello

The cello, or violoncello, is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family and is larger than the viola and violin but smaller than the double bass. The cello is widely used in classical music, both in orchestras and chamber ensembles, and is... read more

Cello needs to be as popular as guitar or piano. It's so beautiful and unbelievably versatile!

It might be big to lug around, but it makes a beautiful sound.

Cello is one of the best string instruments.

Bouzouki

Flute

The flute is a family of musical instruments in the woodwind group. Unlike other woodwind instruments that use reeds, a flute produces sound by directing air across an opening. It is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, with examples dating back thousands of years.

I play the flute and I am a witness that the flute is one of the most underrated instruments.

Definitely underrated. There are some bands that use flutes, but those bands are very few.

Saxophone

The saxophone is a family of woodwind instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. They are commonly used in classical music, military bands, jazz, and contemporary music.

The saxophone is a truly underrated instrument, at least in band and orchestra. The saxes are often muted out by the sheer size of the trumpets' sound. This instrument is the driving force of jazz music. It doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves.

Bass Guitar

I like the guitar more, but the bass is a great instrument. It keeps the other band members from messing up, at least when playing live, and there are good bass lines like the following: For Whom the Bell Tolls, Peace Sells But Who's Buying, and Under Pressure.
Also, the bass normally has four strings, but that doesn't make it easy to play. I saw one at a music store yesterday, and the size of the frets made my eyes come out of my head and land on the moon, then turn around to see if the bass was gone yet. My eyes didn't return til I left the store.

It's always overshadowed by the six string guitar, but it's more important than the six string guitar. People say that because it has four strings it's easier than guitar when it's not. Let's see the average guitarist play Victor Wooten or Marcus Miller. It can also have more strings than the basic four string. The six string bass tuned BEADGC is a perfect example. Give the bass the respect it deserves because when you dance to a good song the bass is making you dance whether you know it or not.

Synthesizer

Must be one of the best inventions since fire.

Viola

No one knows it, but it's pretty cool.

Harpsichord

Dulcimer

?

Lute

?

Kalimba

Harmonium

Tuba

Euphonium

I play this and it's awesome. It's really fun to play because you have to work for it. If you just hum to play it, like a kazoo, then what's the point? It's also cool because it has a beautiful sound when played correctly.

I bet half of you don't know what a euphonium is. Trust me, low brass needs more attention.

Double Bass

Ukulele

The ukulele is a member of the lute family of instruments. It typically has four nylon or gut strings, or four courses of paired strings. Originating in the 19th century in Hawaii, the instrument was adapted from several small guitar-like instruments of Portuguese origin.

Marimba

Bassoon

So underrated. Most 6 to 12 grade bands don't even have bassoons. That is just bullcrap.

Oboe

Oboes belong to the classification of double reed woodwind instruments. They are usually made of wood, though there are also oboes made of synthetic materials. The instrument is known for its clear and penetrating sound, often used in orchestras, chamber music, and as a solo instrument.

French Horn

This is probably the most beautiful and versatile instrument that I know of. If you don't believe me, listen to pretty much any movie score.

Celesta

Keytar

Baritone Horn

This is so underrated. It's so underrated that it's at the bottom of the list because most people aren't sure what it is or if it's an instrument, even though it's better than all those instruments above this one. That is a disgrace that it's at 23 when there are 23. Just a disgrace to music.

Theremin

Melodica

Very underrated wind instrument.