The Short Answer
Selena Gomez is primarily a singer and songwriter, but she also plays instruments.
The instruments with real evidence behind them are:
- Guitar — she began learning it while recording her early album with Selena Gomez & the Scene
- Drums — she began learning drums during that same early period
- Piano — she took piano lessons as a child and later kept learning it, and she has played piano herself in stripped-back performances
Claims that she plays violin, saxophone, or a long list of other instruments are not supported by reliable evidence, so they are not presented as fact here.
At a Glance
| Instrument | Does she play it? | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar | Yes | Began learning while recording Kiss & Tell (2009); has played guitar in later at-home performances |
| Drums | Yes, at a learning level | Began learning during the Kiss & Tell period |
| Piano | Yes | Piano lessons reported from age seven; later piano learning; played piano in a 2023 performance of “Lose You to Love Me” |
| Ukulele | Not confirmed as a player | She was photographed travelling with a ukulele in Australia in 2018, but that alone does not prove she plays it regularly |
| Violin | No reliable evidence | No credible source found showing Gomez playing violin |
Guitar
Gomez began learning guitar while recording Kiss & Tell, the 2009 debut album by Selena Gomez & the Scene.
That timing is useful context. She was the band’s lead singer, not its guitarist, and the guitar was something she was learning alongside her singing career, not her main role on stage.
She has since been seen playing guitar in relaxed, at-home settings. That fits how she has talked about the instrument: as something she enjoys picking up, rather than a skill she headlines with.
Drums
Gomez also began learning drums during the Kiss & Tell period, alongside guitar.
That is the confirmed part. It does not make her a professional drummer, and her live shows have used dedicated drummers in her band.
The old version of this article claimed she “plays the drums in the music video for Bad Liar.” That is wrong, and it has been removed. The “Bad Liar” video, directed by Jesse Peretz and released in June 2017, shows Gomez playing four characters in a 1970s-set story. It does not show her playing drums.
Piano
Piano is the instrument Gomez has returned to most visibly in recent years.
She reportedly began piano lessons at age seven, and later began learning piano again as her solo career developed. She has also spoken about wishing she could play piano better, which suggests she sees herself as a learner rather than an expert pianist.
A clear public example came in July 2023, when she posted an intimate piano performance of “Lose You to Love Me” on TikTok, playing the song herself.
What About the Ukulele?
Gomez was spotted arriving at Sydney Airport in March 2018 carrying a black ukulele.
That is the full extent of the reliable evidence. Carrying an instrument on a trip is not the same as playing it well or regularly, so this article does not list the ukulele as a confirmed instrument she plays.
What She Does Not Play (on the Available Evidence)
The old article also claimed Gomez plays violin, and at one point listed saxophone among instruments a musician “has to” play, in a way that implied she plays them too.
No reliable evidence was found that Gomez plays violin or saxophone. Those claims have been removed.
The same applies to the old article’s claims about classical piano from age four, guitar from age eight, and years of classical and jazz study. Those specific ages and training claims could not be verified, so they are not repeated here.
Her Music Career in Brief
Gomez first became widely known through Disney Channel work, including Wizards of Waverly Place, before building a pop career with Selena Gomez & the Scene and then as a solo artist.
Her second solo studio album, Revival, was released in 2015. She has since continued as a singer, songwriter, and actor, including her role in the comedy series Only Murders in the Building.
Her voice remains her main instrument. Guitar, drums, and piano support her songwriting and performances, but they are not what made her famous.
Frequently Asked Questions
What instruments does Selena Gomez play?
Guitar, drums, and piano, based on the available evidence. She is still primarily known as a vocalist.
Can Selena Gomez play drums?
She began learning drums early in her career, around the Kiss & Tell period. She is not her band’s drummer on stage.
Does Selena Gomez play piano?
Yes. She took piano lessons as a child, kept learning later, and has played piano herself in performances such as her 2023 “Lose You to Love Me” rendition.
Does Selena Gomez play violin?
No reliable evidence was found for this. It should not be listed as one of her instruments.
Does Selena Gomez play ukulele?
Not confirmed. She was seen travelling with a ukulele in 2018, but that is not proof she plays it regularly.
The Bottom Line
Selena Gomez plays guitar, drums, and piano to varying levels, and her singing comes first.
Any longer list of instruments — especially violin — goes beyond what the evidence supports, and this article leaves those claims out rather than repeating them.
