What would you recommend as a good choice for a starter instrument for an adult? My sister wants to learn something and has no particular type of instrument in mind, so long as it is not too expensive to buy or to learn.
It's hard to recommend something without knowing a little more. Is space an issue? Piano lessons can be affordable because it's a popular thing to do, but without the space for one in your house practice would be limited.
The Mother Messages: 34 Registered: April 2013 Location: The Deep South
Baron
Has your sister considered renting an instrument for a while first? Plenty of music stores also have monthly rentals of different types of instruments. The folks at the music store can be a great resource for finding a teacher too.
If at first you don't succeed, go back and do it the way Mother told you to.
Someone recommended guitar earlier in the thread, but as a guitar player myself, I wouldn't recommend it unless it's specifically the instrument you want to play. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT an easy instrument to learn. I also have experience with piano and alto saxophone and between the three, I would recommend the sax first, the piano second, and the guitar last in order of easiest to hardest.
If your sister really wants to learn to play an instrument but doesn't have one in mind specifically, I would second the rental route that someone else suggested. There's no sense in her buying an instrument, even if it is an "inexpensive" one, if she's just going to end up disliking it in the end.