Amara is the scale most players fall for first, and a fair number never leave it. It is a minor scale with the sharp edges taken off — melancholy without being heavy, and forgiving enough that a beginner's first hour sounds like music rather than practice.

This one is in E, with thirteen notes on the top shell and seven underneath. That is a wide instrument. You can hold a simple pattern on the low notes and still have somewhere to go with your right hand, which is exactly what most players discover they want about three months in.

The finish is a light gold on stainless steel. In a room with any warmth to the light it reads more brass than silver.

How it sounds

Long sustain, and a centre note that stays out of the way instead of ringing over everything else. The shoulder notes speak easily — you do not have to hit them hard, which matters more than it sounds, because the instruments that need force are the ones that end up in a cupboard.

Who it is for

Your first instrument, if you want one you will not outgrow in a year. Equally, a second instrument if what you have is a 9-note and you have started running out of room.

What arrives

• The instrument, tuned in our room the week it ships
• Padded hard case with backpack straps
• Two soft carry bags for the shells
• Care cloth and a small bottle of protective oil
• A printed note with the tuning date and the note layout

Honestly

Twenty notes is a lot of surface. If you have never played and you want the smallest possible learning curve, write to us — we will point you at a 9-note instead, even though it costs us the sale.