Learn Basic Musical Instruments in English (Pre-A1)

Raúl Maguiña

Fondateur de Langcom | Examinateur pour les examens de Cambridge et du SIELE

juillet 20, 2026

PRÉ-A1📚 Vocabulaire⏱️ 3 min read
Learning the names of musical instruments in English helps you talk about music and hobbies. In this lesson, you will learn six common instruments: guitar, violin, piano, saxophone, clarinet, et drums. These words are very useful for describing what you like to listen to, what instruments people play, or even what music you enjoy. For example, you can say I like the sound of the piano ou My friend plays the guitar very well. Understanding these basic words is a great first step for talking about music in English and sharing your interests. We will also learn how to use the verb play correctly with instruments, like play the drums, and why we often use the word the. This will help you describe musical activities clearly and correctly in simple English sentences.

What are some common musical instruments?

Musical instruments are objects people use to make music. There are many different types. Let’s learn some common ones:

  • Guitar: This instrument has strings. You play it with your hands. I like to play the guitar.
  • Violin: This is a small string instrument. You play it with a bow. The violin makes a beautiful sound.
  • Piano: This is a large instrument with black and white keys. You press the keys. My sister plays the piano.
  • Saxophone: This is a shiny, golden instrument. It is a wind instrument. He plays the saxophone in a band.
  • Clarinet: This is a black wind instrument. It has keys. She learns the clarinet at school.
  • Drums: These are many instruments together. You hit them with sticks. The drums make a loud rhythm.

🎓 Apprenez l'anglais grâce à la méthode mixte

Petits groupes · Tuteur IA disponible 24 h/24, 7 j/7 · Préparation aux examens de Cambridge

Plans provenant de $39 $79 par mois

Réservez votre cours

How do we talk about playing instruments?

When you want to say someone makes music with an instrument, you use the verb play.

It is important to use the word the before the instrument name. For example, we say play the guitar, not just play guitar.

  • I play the piano.
  • Do you play the violin?
  • She wants to learn the saxophone.
Common Musical Instruments
Instrument What it is
Guitar A string instrument.
Violin A small string instrument played with a bow.
Piano A large instrument with keys.
Saxophone A shiny wind instrument.
Clarinet A black wind instrument.
Drums Instruments you hit for rhythm.

Exemples

  • My brother plays the guitar.
  • The violin is a beautiful instrument.
  • Can you play the piano?
  • I like the sound of the saxophone.
  • She has a new clarinet.
  • The drums make a lot of noise!

Entraînement

💬 Vous avez besoin de conseils personnalisés ?

En tant que centre de préparation agréé par Cambridge, nous pouvons vous aider à choisir la formation et la certification qui vous conviennent. Discutez-en dès aujourd'hui avec nos conseillers.

Discutez avec un conseiller sur WhatsApp

Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones

A common mistake for Spanish speakers is to forget the word the before the instrument when talking about playing it.

In Spanish, you might say ‘tocar guitarra’ (to play guitar) without ‘la’. But in English, we usually say play the guitar.

  • Correct : I play the piano.
  • Incorrect : I play piano.

Questions fréquemment posées

What is a musical instrument?

It is an object used to make music. For example, a guitar or a piano.

How do I say ‘tocar’ for an instrument in English?

You use the verb play. For example, I play the guitar.

Do I always use ‘the’ before an instrument?

Yes, when you talk about playing it, you usually say play the guitar ou play the piano.

Leçons associées

À propos de l'auteur : Raúl Maguiña

Raúl Maguiña est le directeur de l'Asociación Educativa Langcom, un centre agréé de préparation à l'examen Cambridge English situé à ÉTATS-UNIS. Fort de plus d'une décennie d'expérience dans l'enseignement des langues et les certifications internationales, il a aidé des milliers d'étudiants, d'enseignants et d'établissements d'enseignement dans 25 pays à obtenir les certifications d'anglais Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL et Michigan.

En savoir plus sur le Langcom →

0 commentaire

Envoyer un commentaire

Votre adresse e-mail ne sera pas publiée. Les champs obligatoires sont indiqués avec *

Ce site utilise Akismet pour réduire les indésirables. En savoir plus sur la façon dont les données de vos commentaires sont traitées.

Demander plus d'informations

Si vous avez d'autres questions, n'hésitez pas à nous contacter.

WhatsApp

Courrier