Best Kazoos for 2023 – Reviews and Buying Guide

The kazoo is an American version of an African instrument played for several centuries. Although some stories suggest that it was invented in 1840, the first U.S. patent issued for this design happened in 1879 from the work of Simon Seller.

Warren Herbert Frost was the first to name this instrument a kazoo, earning his patent in 1883. The first metal kazoos were patented by George Smith in 1902.

The Original American Kazoo Company began mass-manufacturing the instrument in 1916, creating thousands of kazoos each year to enjoy. In 1994, the business was making 1.5 million units annually.

The factory floor still functions in its original configuration, and it is open to the public for tours.

Best Kazoos in 2023

Playing the kazoo can add depth and character to musical compositions. It can also be a fun way to reconnect to your childhood!

Kids love playing this instrument because of the funny sounds it makes. If you can put up with the noise (or join in the fun!), these options are the best kazoos in 2023:

1. A-to-G Music Kazoo
2. ZSFLZS Metal Kazoo
3. SUNYIN Wooden and Metal Kazoos
4. Hohner Accordions Kazoo
5. Kazoobie HUMMbucker Electric Kazoo

Let’s find out more about each one.

1. Best Plastic Kazoo: A-to-G Music Kazoo

If you like the sound of a plastic kazoo and want a better paper, this instrument is the perfect investment. The caps get pressed using 100 pounds of pressure, ensuring that you have high-quality sounds available for every song.

Each kazoo goes through a rigorous testing process to ensure your playing experience has consistency. The design is so effective that the instrument is approved for three-year-olds.

You’ll receive eight instruments with this purchase, and the colors vary with each set. The caps are a different tone than the body, which adds another small, but essential, element of fun to the experience.

The sound is surprisingly rich, and you’ll have fun trying out all sorts of improvised compositions every day!

2. Best Aluminum Kazoo: ZSFLZS Metal Kazoo

When you’re ready to produce bold and brassy notes with a kazoo, you’re going to want this instrument. It comes with five extra membranes to help your music keep happening.

The sounds from this kazoo have a delicacy to them that plastic or wood cannot match. Although the metal makes it a bit brighter, you still get a folk-style quality that’s perfect for bluegrass, country, and similar genres.

You receive a gift box and a drawstring bag for added value with the purchase, but these feel more like marketing add-ons.

The cap can get screwed on a little tighter with this kazoo, so you’ll want to double-check that part of the instrument before playing. It can be a little pitchy when the membrane starts wearing out, but that problem is easily solvable.

It may cost a little more than some models, and that quality transitions over to the music you can make.

3. Best Two-Set Kazoos: SUNYIN Wooden and Metal Kazoos

This gift set lets you experiment with both alternative materials if you’re ready to move on from plastic. The wooden one is made from Canadian red cedar, while the metal instrument is composed of a high-quality aluminum alloy.

You’ll find the sounds that both kazoos provide are bright, but gentle. It doesn’t become bossy or brassy when you increase volume levels, but you may notice a touch of added soprano while humming along.

The kazoos are suitable for anyone of any age to hum, learn rhythms, or sing. Blowing through the instrument causes the paper to get malformed, so using the correct technique is essential to the process.

4. Best Value Kazoo: Hohner Accordions Kazoo

This kazoo is the best option for anyone who wants to experiment with this instrument. It comes in a variety of colors, produces consistent sounds, and is priced at less than $1 per unit when purchased in bulk lots.

The plastic body on these entry-level kazoos is surprisingly durable. Although the membrane is thin and prone to breakage, you’ll still get plenty of practice time with this design. You can reduce the risk of this happening by not placing a covering over the sound production area.

Although the thickness is not as much as you’ll find in some other models, this kazoo is better than the treasure box or import store choices you can find at a similar price.

If something happens to the one you’re playing, pick up another from the box to continue the song!

5. Best Electric Kazoo: Kazoobie HUMMbucker Electric Kazoo

This plastic kazoo features an electronic pickup that you can plug into any standard amp. The cable is 15 feet in length with the typical 1/4-inch plug. Several bright colors are available, although the actual one you receive is variable.

The professional-grade dynamic pickup fits right over the paper without interrupting audio wave movements. Since the cable detaches from it, you can replace the pickup without needing to get another cord for it.

You can hook the kazoo into your pedals before the amp if you prefer because of its standard setup. It can be lots of fun to use pitch modulation and delay effects with your humming.

How to Play the Kazoo

Kazoos are a lot of fun to play because your vocal productivity is what creates music with this instrument. You don’t need to take any formal classes or understand notes.

The only elements needed for a successful kazoo-playing experience are an understanding of melody, rhythm, and timing. If you can hum along to your favorite song, you have the talent to play this instrument!

You create pitch and tone based on the notes that you sing or hum into the instrument. In that regard, a kazoo isn’t forgiving. If you are offkey while playing, everyone listening will pick up on that mistake.

The quality of the buzz a kazoo makes is directly proportional to how you sing or hum. When you can produce rich tones with a broad vocal range, the instrument has the same outcome with the buzzy distortion that everyone loves.

Place the kazoo to your lips. Some people like to place the opening in their mouth just a little to create an airtight seal.

Once you’re ready to play, don’t blow through the instrument! If you speak, sing, or hum, you’ll notice the results immediately.

Different Types of Kazoos to Play

Did you know that most kazoos are priced under $10? If you want to try this instrument without much risk, some excellent plastic options are available for under $5.

Before you start thinking about what investment level is right for your playing, it is important to ask yourself a few questions.

• Why do I want to play the kazoo? If you’re going to play in a band, you’ll need a different instrument than the person wishing to play for fun when the mood is right.
• Who is playing the kazoo? An expensive kazoo should be for adults or responsible children only. Plastic versions work well for toddlers and some adolescents.
• How serious are you about playing? When your goal is to be a professional kazoo player, a premium instrument can produce high-quality tones for your music. If this is for fun, whatever kazoo that fits your price range is suitable for your needs.

Once you know how you want to play the kazoo, you can search for an instrument in the appropriate price range for your budget. You can find plastic, metal, wooden, and electric designs at virtually every price point.

■ What You Need to Know about Plastic Kazoos

This material is the standard option for most affordable kazoos. They are mass-produced, use wax paper to create a buzz, and are cheap enough that you won’t be bothered if one gets lost.

The versatility of a plastic kazoo is its primary advantage. You can hold it firmly in your teeth while playing other instruments or completing additional tasks, working, and buzzing simultaneously.

You’ll notice that plastic kazoos tend to break notes more often than other materials used. There isn’t smoothness or clarity as you shift to different keys. Although the sound isn’t entirely unexpected, it may not provide the most pleasant outcome for your composition or jam session.

Teaching someone how to play the kazoo typically works better with plastic because it provides consistency at the lower tones.

■ What You Need to Know about Metal Kazoos

The metal kazoo is a band’s secret weapon. Different alloys produce unique tones that add depth and character to the music. You can hum something that’s bold like a trumpet, rich like a clarinet, or bossy like a tuba.

What makes the metal kazoo an exciting option is the sustain the instrument produces. It holds the tone clearly, helping you play between pitches with more glide than staccato. You’ll find more melodies and accompaniment options are available when you choose this material.

Metal kazoos do an excellent job of representing the mid-range and treble frequencies produced by human vocal cords.

It isn’t as easy to play a metal kazoo because the surface gets slippery when exposed to the oral environment. You’ll need at least one free hand available to ensure your singing or humming makes a solid connection.

Metal gets hot in the sun, which means you could burn your lips or tongue accidentally. Try to remember to bring your instrument inside each day and store it in a cool, dark location.

■ What You Need to Know about Wooden Kazoos

The choice of a wooden kazoo depends on the final sounds you want to incorporate for your music. This material creates something more open, with less buzz, building a folksy addition to a composition.

What makes a wooden kazoo unique is that different sizes and shapes get handcrafted to create unique keys or notes to play.

All wood has flavor to it. Some manufacturers use a varnish or sealant to prevent this issue, but that technique exposes your mouth to a potential chemical hazard.

You’ll want to stick with something like hickory, walnut, or pine for a wooden kazoo to have a pleasant experience. Any sealants used on the kazoo must be food-grade, non-toxic materials.

■ What You Need to Know about Electric Kazoos

Electric kazoos create a digital signal that is useful for various purposes. You can turn your humming into recordable sounds for a DAW, broadcast it through a sound system, or route it through an amplifier like a guitar pickup.

The new electric kazoos give your artistic efforts more freedom to explore. Since you need to plug the instrument into an amp using a pickup, your movement has more limitations with this choice.

Additional hardware on electric kazoos makes the instrument bulkier and more challenging to manage, which can be bothersome for some players.

The good news is that an electric kazoo is still a highly affordable instrument. Most models are in the $20 price range, and it is rare to find anything over $40.

Faq about Choosing and Playing the Best Kazoo

The best kazoo for your playing needs is one that meets your craftsmanship, sound, and size stipulations.

How you choose the best instrument may depend on the answers to these frequently asked questions.

■ Are Metal Kazoos Better than Plastic Ones?

Metal kazoos provide brassy tones and more durability than plastic ones. When you want lower sound frequencies and high distortion levels in your music, plastic kazoos are better than metal ones. Most players who use this instrument frequently tend to have both options available to take advantage of these strengths.

■ Are Kazoos a Real Instrument?

Kazoos might seem like they are toys, but they are real instruments. It belongs to the percussion family because of its ability to produce rhythms and beats. Although the initial patent came from a toymaker, the design of this buzzing piece comes from the evolution of unit flutes and the mirliton.

■ How Do You Make a Kazoo Sound Better?

Your vocal changes are what create high-quality sounds through a kazoo. If you use bold, forceful tones while humming, talking, or singing, that effort translates to a superior result. Place the instrument to your mouth in the way that you would a whistle. Try to hum different syllables and words to see the results you can get.

■ How Did the Kazoo Get Its Name?

The kazoo might have its name from an ancient slang word that means “fool” or “stupidity.” The etymology is similar to the process used to get words like gazebo and gazook. One of the original names for this instrument was “gazoo.” The actual reasoning is lost to history and the 19th-century patents do not provide any additional insight.

■ What Is inside of a Kazoo?

A kazoo is an instrument made up of three parts: the main body, turret, and resonating membrane. This material can be anything that creates soundwave excitement, although wax paper is the most popular choice. It vibrates as the waves pass underneath to make the distortion heard.

A Final Thought about Playing the Kazoo

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on an instrument to make music. A kazoo is a fun, family-friendly purchase that can turn your evenings into a jam session with everyone around.

Since entry-level plastic kazoos can cost less than $1, you can spend less on this fun experience than on a matinee movie ticket.

The best kazoos reviewed here can guide you toward the style you prefer. When you can play whenever the urge strikes, life feels like it gets a little better with these buzzy sounds.