learning a musical instrument

The Ukulele is Fun Fun Fun.

They are relatively cheap to buy, £50 will buy you a good playable instrument (please steer clear of anything under £30 most have serious problems that will hinder your playing). If possible speak to someone who plays and try several instruments, there are three common sizes. Depending on the size of your hands, you may find one size better than another.
Take a look at the instrument reviews here (This guy is independent and gives unbiased reviews)
www.gotaukulele.com/p/ukulele-reviews.html

Join a group or club, however inexperienced you are, the ukulele is a group instrument. Let me know where you live and I can advise you of local groups.

They are easy to play - I promise you, that with 10 min practise a day you will be playing many songs within a month. The chords C F G allow hundreds of songs to be played.

If you fancy taking up the Ukulele, PM me and we can chat on phone or skype.

Oh, do it Frue! I'm learning to play the piano. We've had the piano since the children were small, and both play. Over the years I've thought about getting rid of it, but both of them insisted that they'd love to take it - indeed, they quarrelled lightheartedly about who should have it. Last year, in a fit of decorating fever, I tried to press first one, then the other into taking it. Guess what? They don't have the room! So I decided to learn how to play the flipping thing myself! And I love it - it's therapy! And I'm getting better. I can still render well known tunes into unrecognisable clatter, but I'm improving. Guess who's sorry now! Good luck!

It depends what you want to do with this new skill. Do you just want to tinker for your own pleasure or do you want to join with others to make music?

If you learn the ukelele, mandolin or guitar, you can make fairly rapid progress in producing chords for you and others to sing along too. But be warned, your fingers will get sore to start with before they harden up! If you want to be able to play tunes, then this will be a longer and much harder task.

The piano is a huge challenge to learn from scratch when you are older. Not only do you have to learn to read the treble and bass clef, but the essence of good piano playing is being able to find the notes without looking down at the piano - this is a skill that is best learned young when the distances become internalised easily.

And as for the violin - this might result in divorce from OH or neighbours! - it is one of those instruments that is only tolerable (or indeed wonderful) when played well.

The harmonica is relatively easy and there are lots of online courses and also books. It fits in your pocket and you can take it anywhere with you. You need to research this a bit as there are different types - some you can play in different keys; and some that you have a different instrument for each key. They are fairly cheap to buy. The only problem I have with mine is that I get out of breath!

I think a wind instrument would be another good option - only one clef of music to learn and satisfying tunes arrive quickly. Reed instruments like the oboe and clarinet require an initial struggle to get a note at all, and the flute requires a lip technique which you either get quickly or have to work hard at. You also need fairly flexible non-arthritic fingers that can stretch.

I really do think that the descant recorder is the best option. It is easy to learn, cheap to buy, and there are lots of recorder tutor books to be found. You will make rapid progress and maybe you could play alongside your GC, if you have any. It is a serious instrument and there are many play-for-fun recorder groups around - often with U3A. You can make a start for under £10 as a simple plastic recorder can be had for as little as £2 plus say a fiver for a tutor book. As you progress you can invest in a nice wooden instrument.

I envy you this exciting journey - have fun!!