I am tone deaf

[Elspode]

Hand drums. *Anyone* can develop rhythm playing hand drums. Get a djembe or a dhoumbek or an ashiko and start pounding away. Find others to observe and pound with. Soon you'll be struttin' like a Watusi warrior (I apologize for any perceived stereotypes, none was intended...have you seen those guys boogie in their ritual garb? Awsome. And there is always a lot of drumming going on when they do it).

[SteveDallas]

Originally Posted by Elspode

Hand drums. *Anyone* can develop rhythm playing hand drums.

Probably true, but if you're itching to play "tunes" I'd suggest a recorder. They're dirt cheap (at least the plastic ones that they sell for grade school music classes--the ones that serious performers of Renaissance music play are another story) and relatively simple to get a tune out of. Using one of those might give you an idea of your inclinations.

And if you're really itching to play keyboard there are some around $100 that I wouldn't turn my nose up for you to start on. (My main qualification would be that they have the same size keys as a standard piano, that they play louder when you hit the keys harder, and has at least half the range of a full piano.) There are videos that allege to teach you how to play--I don't know if any are any good. And there's always the old fashioned approach of a teacher.

And effort and key are important. I've won more than one audition ahead of people who were probably better musicians than I am--but I practiced more.