# The guitar comes to mind first when people think of music

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/culture/the-guitar-comes-to-mind-first-when-people-think-of-music/

> Indexed question in Culture.

## Reading

Verasight surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults from August 13 to 18, 2026. 48.5% of Americans think of the guitar first, followed by the piano (28.5%) and drums (11.7%).

The violin follows at 3.8%, the trumpet at 2.6% and the cello at 1.0%. Another 4.1% named another instrument or don't know any.

## Topline

When you think of music, what is the first instrument that comes to mind?

The guitar comes to mind first when people think of music.

- Guitar: 48.5%
- Piano: 28.5%
- Drum: 11.7%
- Other/I do not know any instruments: 4.1%
- Violin: 3.8%
- Trumpet: 2.6%
- Cello: 1.0%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2026-08-13 → 2026-08-18
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.2%
- Module: Verasight JSM and Quirk's Omnibus Survey
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/jsm-quirks-2026#q-23](https://reports.verasight.io/r/jsm-quirks-2026#q-23)

## Citation

JSM and Quirk's Omnibus Survey, fielded August 13-18, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/jsm-quirks-2026#q-23](https://reports.verasight.io/r/jsm-quirks-2026#q-23)