Suggestions for a low-cost musical instrument?

I'm a music novice. I've quit instruments in the past, so I want try to learn a new instrument but don't want too invest too much into it just yet.

Music stores do rent out instruments. Have fun. Take care.

Well, it really depends how good you want to get at the instrument. cheap instruments normally don't get you very far, but the can help with motivation. also it depends on what type of music you like, whether its percussion, strings, woodwind, or brass. if you tell me what type you like then i can help you a little bit further.

For $200 you can get a reasonable beginner's violin outfit...just make sure you buy it from a proper violin shop.

For $200 you can buy a decent electric guitar and a small amplifier.

You could also try renting the instrument.

Why did you quit before and which instruments were they ?

The only instrument that I can think of that I like is the acoustic guitar....Yamaha has a nice sounding one for $ 200.00, from the guitar center, on sale....and for an inexpensive guitar it's not bad.....I could say the triangle, or drum pads but I don't find them to be an interesting instrument to play !!!!!!!!!

Personally, I believe one of the most rewarding instruments to learn is the oboe. It has a very nice sound but is a harder instrument to play, and a beginning oboe can still cost up to $2,000. (If you buy one used you can get them in the $600-$1000 range)
If you want something a little easier to learn and equally rewarding, I'd recommend the flute. There are a lot of places that you can obtain lessons and the average beginning flute costs around $400. (As with the oboe, they cost less used.) The oboe and flute share many fingerings, you could learn flute, and if you enjoy it, switch to oboe.
The clarinet could also be a good choice. They cost around $200.
Other good instruments would be trumpet, French horn, trombone, or alto/tenor saxophone.
Hope you have fun!

You can get a playable Mahalo ukulele for $25 bucks at most guitar stores. There's been a run on ukuleles lately, so it'll make you cool. People will see you with it and want to be your friend.

Seriously if you have had trouble trying to find an instrument get a guitar or a keyboard. They are by far the most used instruments and all of your favorite music (be it classical, rock, Jazz, or anything you can think of) is playable on either of them. Thousands of websites are dedicated to either one so it makes it easy to learn by yourself. You can get a keyboard for like 80 bucks at cosco (mine lasted two years until a friend broke it and I don't really play keyboard so I wasn't angry) or a decent guitar and a small amp for 200$ (If you decide to do this email me I can help you out I've been playing guitar for a while). Drum kits are also cheap but they are almost exculsively for rock (or Jazz). Woodwinds tend to be expensive and incredible hard to learn without a teacher. Brass I would say is impossible to learn without a teacher unless you have perfect pitch. Violin, Viola and Cello are all great instruments, but they are very hard to learn and discouraging also (until your good because they sound horrible trying while your a beginer). So I really would suggest keyboard or guitar.

Try ebay. I got a brand new flute for $75, which was perfect to get me started and interested. I've been playing for 2 years now, and really enjoying. In another year or so, I'll have moved past the capabilities of that cheap instrument and may need to invest in a new one. But then I'll always have the cheap one around for when my kids decide to start learning.