Which instruments can Ringo play?

 

Ringo's first instrument was a toy drum.  This was given to him by a visiting nurse while he was in hospital during a childhood illness.

With Rory

Ringo learned to play on a drum kit set up for a right-hander. This gave him a distinctive playing style and a reputation amongst local musicians. He joined Rory and the Hurricanes, the biggest group in Liverpool, in the late 1950s. 

His popularity led to a ten-minute solo slot in each set - known as 'Starr-time'. This involved him drumming, singing and occasionally playing (three) guitar chords: see below. 

Replacing Pete Best

Ringo initially sat in with The Beatles when Pete Best was ill in Hamburg. The others immediately noticed an improvement in their sound. 

He formally joined The Beatles in August 1962, after the first recording sessions two months earlier.  George Martin had not been happy with Best's drumming, but did not initially feel his replacement to be much of an upgrade

Ringo also struggled with the technical requirements of recording. For the original single version of Love Me Do, he was replaced by a session musician, Andy White.

Characteristically, Ring recovered quickly from this setback and impressed Martin with his capacity for improvement. 

Percussion parts

Ringo went on to record many different percussion parts on Beatles recordings. Tambourines, timpani, congas, bongos, maracas and cowbells all featured, as well as hand claps and even tap dancing.

Piano Man?

The restored Let it Be (1970) film shows an impromptu piano duet between Ringo and Paul. Ringo's playing is, by his own admission, rudimentary ('I only play in C' meaning) but does appear in snatches on Beatles recordings. 

He has a Hammond organ credit on Rubber Soul and occasional piano credits elsewhere (on Don't Pass Me By and  Back in the USSR for example). He is also one of those playing the final piano chord on A Day in the Life.

Solo

In his post-Beatles release, Early in 1970, Ringo further claims:

I play guitar: A, D, E./ I don't play bass cause that's too hard for me./ I play the piano if it's in C.