Looking for an instrument that lets you hum along with the melody while skipping that troublesome business with the notes and fingerings? The humble kazoo may be your ticket. The kazoo is categorized among the type of instruments known as “mirlitons.” Long a relative of traditional African instruments, the modern kazoo was born in the 1840’s in Macon, Georgia.

Pro: No strings, holes, anything else. Small, portable.
Con: Dorky looking, annoying sound, even when played correctly.
Famous Examples: Hendrix’s “Crosstown Traffic,” baby...

Want to get out your aggressions by hitting a percussion instrument, but lack the actual aggression or muscle tone? Then the tinny triangle may be the right instrument for you. Just hold the string and whack away, chief. The triangle came into use in Europe in the 14th century, and by the 18th century, it was an established part of the orchestra.

Pro: Comes with a little metal stick good for poking people in the eye with.
Con: So lame, even other grade school band kids won’t talk to you.
Famous Examples: Cowboy cooks calling the ranch workers in for dinner, Ed Grimley

For people who can’t handle the complexity of the maracas, there’s this folk rock staple, the shaker egg. A small plastic egg filled with little ball bearings, it makes a satisfying shush-shush sound when you shake it. Even better, they’re ergonomically designed to fit in your hand while you play a guitar. Of course, if you could play the guitar, you wouldn’t need a primer on easy instruments now, would you?

Pro: Cheap, about two bucks each
Con: Always getting lost, hard to be emotive shaking an egg.
Famous Examples: My sophomore year of college.