Music Analysis: How the use of musical instruments has evolved

Instruments are at least as essential to a musician's household as the bed and the kitchen. Both the instruments themselves and the way they are used have developed and changed over the years. Idealo has taken this as an opportunity to conduct its own study and take a closer look at the price development and popularity of instruments. The most exciting results of the music analysis and many other insights about instruments can be found in this article.

How musical instruments became more important over time

Around 20 percent of Germans use musical instruments or make music with their voice. This shows how important music is as a part of our leisure time and what significance is attached to making music. On average, young people decide to become musicians when they are just eleven years old. And their musical instruments typically have a history that goes back thousands of years. Instruments such as the bone flute or the frame drum are real primeval relics with a history of 50,000 and 5,000 years. Their successors, such as the recorder and the drum set, determine our everyday musical life today.

Has Covid increased the impact of music in everyday life?

A review of the relevance of musical instruments shows quite impressively that there was a significant increase during the Covid pandemic. This may simply be due to the fact that music with instruments at home is a very low-contact hobby that is nevertheless fun and can quickly drive away the lonely hours. Whether Corona leads to more music in everyday life in the long term, however, can only be observed over time. And not every musician remains loyal to the instrument even after the pandemic, which means that the increasing new purchases may not last in the long run. Nevertheless, demand for instruments continues to rise sharply.

This is how the demand of known instruments has changed

Based on Idealo's music analysis, keys instruments in particular have been able to assert themselves. Their share rose by a whopping 52 percent, which represents an exceptionally strong increase compared to plucked and stringed instruments. The front-runner here is the digital piano, which has already found its place in many households as an inexpensive alternative to the piano. The electric guitar is also extremely popular, with an increase of 22 percent. The same applies to the keyboard and acoustic guitar, which are also very much in vogue and are frequently used, with demand up 15 percent.

The situation is somewhat different for drums, flutes, percussion, and harmonica. These have not become less popular in recent years, but they also haven't benefited from the Covid era. Nevertheless, the aforementioned instruments naturally remain an integral part of our musical culture. In direct comparison to the piano and electronic alternatives, however, it becomes clear that the trends in demand are different.

Here's when we buy the most instruments

A very exciting statistic emerges with regard to the time in which we buy new instruments. For almost all instruments, winter and the run-up to Christmas are the most popular times to buy. This is especially true for keyboards, digital pianos, electric guitars, and acoustic guitars. It can be deduced from this that these frequently end up under the tree as gifts. With demand for digital pianos up to 70 percent higher in winter than in June, it is therefore clear to what occasion we buy musical instruments in Germany. Apart from the steep winter curve, there are very few events during which similar trends can be observed.

These three digital pianos are currently the most popular

As already mentioned, keyboards and digital pianos clearly set the pace. The combination of keyboard and electronic options for enhancement makes the digital variants a real pioneer among keyboard instruments. The following three models have been the most popular in the last 2.5 years:

Yamaha P-45

A very handy and practical model is the Yamaha P-45 keyboard. It contains a full 88 keys and holds your hand when practicing. The integrated speakers are also a plus point for making music not only in the home studio, but also on the road. With a weight of only 11.5 kilos and a handy shape, the keyboard is also very mobile.

Roland FP-10

With the Roland FP-10 digital piano, an exciting model awaits you, which is equipped with 88 keys as well as integrated hammer action. Additional MIDI functionality is ensured by integrated Bluetooth 4.0, while headphones can also be connected via USB-A and USB-B input at any time. A music stand and pedal are included in the linked set.

Yamaha P-125

Another winner of the music analysis is the Yamaha P-125 keyboard, which is already available in its latest version. This one captivates with a total of 24 tones, which can liven up your playing more than ever before. Other advantages like a built-in metronome as well as the integrated speakers ensure realistic sounds. Should you want to play quietly, the integrated headphone output provides the necessary flexibility.

These three electric guitars scored well in the music analysis

While keyboards and digital pianos are the frontrunners of music analysis, electric guitars also remain fully in trend. There are many models that are not only ideal for advanced and expert players, but also for beginners. The following electric guitars have scored points with buyers in the last 2.5 years:

Fender Player Stratocaster

The manufacturer Fender makes numerous electric guitars that are extremely popular among musicians. The Fender Player Stratocaster in particular is a great choice with a classic but intense sound that has it all. This makes the electric guitar an exciting solution—not only visually, but also with its authentic sound that can enchant any guitar lover. Hardly any electric guitar is better suited for creating your own sound patterns.

PRS SE Paul’s Guitar

One of the highest quality and at the same time most popular electric guitars awaits you with PRS SE Paul's Guitar. Thanks to its composition of high-quality mahogany wood, the electric guitar becomes a real showpiece that will surely make music creation even more fun. The treble and bass of this model also come into their own, allowing you to add your own character to any song. 

PRS SE Custom 24

The third place of the ranking is occupied by the PRS SE Custom 24, which also stands out with a strong body made of mahogany and a total of 24 frets. It is above all the combination of a unique look and the associated sound that makes this electric guitar special. If you also love making music with trebles and basses, then you will certainly like the PRS SE Custom 24 in all its versions.

These three e-drums hit the mark with high quality

A lot has happened in the field of e-drums in the last 2.5 years. Manufacturer Roland, in particular, has been able to react optimally to the current situation on the market with its products, especially when it comes to ease of use, sound and quality. With the following three e-drum picks, you certainly can't go wrong and can look forward to great sound:

Roland TD-17KVX

If you are looking for a comprehensive drum set, then we can highly recommend the Roland TD-17KVX E-Drums. Hardly any set offers higher quality on the market, which is why the e-drums deservedly landed in first place in Idealo's music analysis. This is also reflected in the high demand, which remains constant despite significant price increases. Buying the set also means getting suitable accessories without having to buy them separately.

Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit

A somewhat more affordable and beginner-friendly variant awaits you with the Alesis Nitro Mesh Kit. Especially the Nitro drum module with 385 sounds makes the difference to many other devices and justifies the high demand of the e-drums. Also qualitatively, the pads are quite respectable compared to many higher-priced models. Integrated audio outputs and a metronome provide additional comfort and fit seamlessly into the set.

Roland TD-1DMK

The Roland TD-1DMK V-Drum Set awaits you in third place of the music analysis in the field of electric drums. This also appeals as an entry-level model and allows you to play intense and unique sounds. With 15 built-in songs and the exciting TD-1 drum module, you'll have an easy time learning the basics right on the kit and improving your skills on a daily basis. The coaching functions, which are also included, contribute to faster learning progress.

Our tip: Profit from low-priced keyboards!

Parallel to the increasing demand, there is also a clear price decline in the keyboard and digital piano segment. While many areas of life are becoming increasingly expensive due to inflation, the price drop in this segment may also have additionally fueled demand. As recently as the summer of 2020, strong keyboards cost around 800 euros. Two years later, prices have fallen by more than 50 percent. You can now find high-quality keyboards for less than 400 euros, which makes an investment even more worthwhile. However, prices are not dropping that much everywhere.

Other instrument groups such as guitars and drums are currently experiencing a rather opposite trend. E-drums in the same category, for example, have risen in price by around 20 percent in the two years, which is also linked to the demand for electronic music. Similar trends are also evident in accessories and related equipment. A practical solution here is to make a price comparison and thus identify the best price in advance.

Why mixing consoles, software, and headphones are getting more expensive

DJ equipment and synthesizers are currently all the rage. A 58 percent increase in demand for DJ equipment shows quite impressively the role that closed clubs played during Covid, and for folks' own home studios. Synthesizers also show a significant gain with 25 percent higher demand, which is no different for mixing consoles with a 17 percent higher demand. Here, too, the Christmas effect becomes clear, which was already strongly evident in the case of classic instruments. Especially in the winter months, mixing consoles and synthesizers are extremely popular purchases.

Use these synthesizers to create compelling sounds

There were also impressive results in the area of synthesizers in the music analysis. Especially the manufacturers Yamaha and Roland, already known from other instruments, can entice musicians with strong performance, which has led to a significantly higher demand in recent years. At the same time, the market in the field of synthesizers is quite fast-moving, whereby innovations play a decisive role. The following three models were the most popular in the trend:

• Arturia MicroFreak

• Korg wavestate
• Roland SP-404 MKII

There are regularly smaller offers around the available synthesizers, which means that the purchase does not necessarily have to be that expensive. For the money, however, a lot is offered in the field of DJ equipment, whereby integrated OLED displays and up to 200 samples per project are no longer a rarity. It's best to compare in advance which synthesizer is best suited for your DJ projects, what requirements are placed on the application and what should be considered.

Music analysis: Here's what the future holds for popular musical instruments

Current trends and developments clearly show that DJ equipment will become much more relevant alongside keyboard instruments. The same applies to practical audio software, which is also a clear winner in music analysis. Many DJs are dependent on powerful software for their own work in order to make even better use of their existing equipment. You can read about your chances of a career as a DJ and what you need to bear in mind here in another article on the mukken blog.

In addition to higher demand, price increases will continue to play a major role in the coming years. Already since 2021, prices in many categories are practically going through the roof, which is quite scary as a result of the music analysis. Therefore, in order to still be able to find and play your dream instrument, it comes down to comprehensive analysis and research. For example, take a closer look at available bargains and remaining stock to save even more.

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Learn more about music now - right here at mukken!

Idealo's music analysis and statistical evaluations make it very clear in which direction musical trends are currently heading. We will also keep you up to date with further developments and analyses of the music world here on the mukken blog. Would you like to find out more about the individual musical instruments? Then take a look here. And if you want to get together with other musicians, then click through our community.