Instrument Charades: 50 Musical Picks to Mime
Strike Up the (Silent) Band
Air guitar, anyone? Instrument charades is a wonderfully fun, active category where players mime playing musical instruments while their team names the tune-maker. The big, recognizable motions — strumming, drumming, conducting — make it easy and hilarious. It's a perfect fit for music classes, band kids, family game nights, and anyone who's ever rocked an air-guitar solo.
This guide gives you 50 instrument charades picks sorted by difficulty, plus how-to-act-it-out tips, fun variations, and a plan for any crowd. Let's make some (silent) music!
🎸 Easy Instrument Charades
Instruments everyone knows and can mime:
Guitar · Drums · Piano · Violin · Trumpet · Flute · Saxophone · Harmonica · Tambourine · Triangle · Maracas · Cymbals · Recorder · Xylophone · Bongos
🎺 Medium Instrument Charades
A step up — instruments with trickier motions:
Cello · Clarinet · Trombone · Accordion · Banjo · Harp · French horn · Double bass · Bagpipes · Ukulele · Keyboard · Electric guitar · Conga drums · Tuba · Oboe
🎻 Hard Instrument Charades
Trickier or unusual instruments for competitive groups:
Theremin · Sitar · Didgeridoo · Bassoon · Pan flute · Glockenspiel · Mandolin · Castanets · Kazoo · Steel drums · Vibraphone · Lute · Piccolo · Hurdy-gurdy · Marimba
🎼 Music Action Charades (Themed Round)
Act out musical activities beyond just instruments:
Conducting an orchestra · A rock concert · Singing into a mic · A drum solo · A guitar solo · Headbanging · A marching band · DJing · A choir · Tuning a guitar · A standing ovation · Strumming by a campfire · An orchestra warming up · A music festival · Dropping the beat
🎭 How to Act Out Tricky Instruments
It's all about the playing motion. Coach your players with these:
| Instrument | How to Act It Out |
|---|---|
| Guitar | Strum across your body, sway, rock out |
| Drums | Hit invisible drums and cymbals with sticks |
| Piano | Fingers gliding across imaginary keys |
| Violin | Tuck under your chin, bow back and forth |
| Trumpet | Hold to your lips, press valves, puff cheeks |
| Flute | Hold sideways, flutter your fingers |
| Harp | Pluck large vertical strings with both hands |
| Accordion | Squeeze in and out while "playing" buttons |
| Bagpipes | Tuck the bag under your arm, puff and squeeze |
| DJ / turntables | Scratch a record, one hand on a headphone |
Pro tip: For the hard ones, focus on how the body holds and plays the instrument. A violin is tucked under the chin; a flute is held sideways; a trumpet faces forward. Posture is the giveaway.
Fun Instrument Charades Variations
- Orchestra Round: Only classical instruments — violin, cello, oboe, harp.
- Rock Band Round: Electric guitar, drums, bass, mic — form an air-band!
- Build-a-Band: A group acts out a full band playing together.
- Music Action Round: Conducting, headbanging, a guitar solo.
- Genre Round: Match instruments to a genre — jazz, rock, classical, folk.
Why Instrument Charades Is Great for Music Class & Kids
- Big, recognizable motions — strumming and drumming are easy to act.
- Sneaky music education — reinforces instrument names and families.
- Active and fun — air-guitar solos are pure joy.
- Perfect for band kids — they'll nail the tricky ones.
- No props, no noise — ideal for a (surprisingly quiet) classroom game.
Tips for the Best Instrument Charades
- Focus on the playing posture — how the body holds each instrument.
- Encourage big, rocking motions for guitar and drums.
- Match difficulty to your crowd — guitar for kids, theremin for music buffs.
- Try a build-a-band round for collaborative fun.
- Use a generator for instant instrument and music words.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good instrument charades words?
Easy picks like guitar, drums, piano, violin, and trumpet, plus trickier ones like the accordion, harp, and bagpipes.
Is instrument charades good for music class?
Yes — it reinforces instrument names and families through movement, it's active and fun, and band kids especially love nailing the tricky ones.
What are easy instruments to act out?
Guitar (strumming), drums (hitting with sticks), piano (gliding fingers), and violin (bowing under the chin) — all have clear playing motions.
How do you act out a violin in charades?
Tuck the "violin" under your chin and draw an imaginary bow back and forth across the strings — the posture instantly gives it away.
What's a fun instrument charades variation?
"Build-a-Band" — a group acts out a full band playing together (guitar, drums, bass, mic) for the team to name each instrument.
How do you act out tricky instruments?
Focus on how the body holds and plays it — a flute is held sideways, a trumpet faces forward, an accordion squeezes in and out. Posture is key.
🔗 More Charades Guides You'll Love
Ready to Start the Band?
You've got 50 instruments, playing-posture tips, and five musical variations — now grab your air guitar and let the instrument charades begin. Make it effortless:
👉 Open the free Charades Generator — instant instrument words, a timer, and team scoring. No app, no signup. 🎸
Who's got the best air-guitar solo in your group? Strike up the silent band tonight!