Easiest/Hardest Musical Instruments to Learn

MeatMachine

Dr. Stan Gray
May 31, 2011
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I've been playing the viola ever since I was ten years old. Unfortunately, the viola is largely a supportive instrument, requiring a string quartet at the very least to really make the most of it. Kinda like... I dunno, butter, I guess. No one eats butter by itself, but it compliments other food items well.

Point is, I'd like to pick up a new instrument that can actually play enjoyable songs on its own without the need of other people playing other things along with it. Piano, guitar, even the violin, etc, can be a solo concert - but I have no idea where to start. (Also, I don't want to do the violin because I want something different - I can already play the violin fairly well, anyway.)

So, what do you guys think? What are some nice sounding, solo instruments that are comparatively easy to learn how to play? What are your recommendations?

Hell, while we're at it, what do you think are the HARDEST instruments to learn?
 

Barbas

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Oct 28, 2013
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I heartily recommend the piano. It's a very versatile instrument with a sensible layout that makes it easy to learn and enjoyable to perfect. The hardest instrument to learn (that comes to mind) is probably the bagpipes, as you have to have access to a quiet place where you won't disturb people when you practice. For many prospective students in Scotland, I imagine that means having to drive to the nearest town or city with appropriate (soundproofed) practice facilities.
 

Queen Michael

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Jun 9, 2009
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The nyckelharpa, a traditional Swedish instrument, is a complete ***** to learn.
 

Glongpre

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Jun 11, 2013
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Since you are familiar with the violin, maybe give the erhu a try. I think it has such a unique sound, it is really nice.

I started playing the guitar last year, and it isn't too difficult. I don't take lessons or anything so the going is pretty slow and I don't practice a ton, but I still make pretty good progress. Bar chords though, they are tough. And the chords where your hand is like stretched to the limits. Those are hard for me because my hand isn't too flexible.
Guitar is versatile, you can go into finger picking, flamenico style, or just stick to chords. Just doing chords is the least interesting I find, but probably the easiest.

Ooooooooo, you should try the saxophone! Actually I should, I love the sound of that thing. Or the trumpet.
 

bartholen_v1legacy

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Jan 24, 2009
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Easiest? The triangle.
Not exactly rocket science, wouldn't you say?

As for hardest, I've heard Theremin to be insanely hard to learn. If you don't know what that is, it's
Wikipedia said:
an early electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the thereminist (performer).

The instrument's controlling section usually consists of two metal antennas that sense the relative position of the thereminist's hands and control oscillators for frequency with one hand, and amplitude (volume) with the other. The electric signals from the theremin are amplified and sent to a loudspeaker.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin#Uses
 

Kae

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I don't play any instruments so I wouldn't know, but just guessing that since you play the Viola maybe the Violin would be easier for you to learn since you already have the finger technique?

I mean it's just a guess, I can't really play any instruments because I lack the passion for it, I've had classes before and I just don't put any effort into it, maybe if I found one I really liked I could play it as I must admit that I don't particularly care for the flute or the guitar which are the ones I was forced to play, I have no idea how to play them because I genuinely didn't care.
 
Jul 9, 2011
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You think viola is a support instrument? Try double bass. Double bass is the most supportive of supportive instruments, and even double bass has its dedicated concertos:


I'd suggest cello over violin. Yes, it's also often relegated to support role, but it has the greatest overall range out of all the strings, and it seems to be the most "mainstreamly popular" of them all. It plays/tunes/etc. almost exactly like the other stringed instruments (double bass is the only one tuned in fourths as opposed to fifths), too, so getting used to it would be a simple matter of adjusting your thinking from horizontal to vertical.
 

Neurotic Void Melody

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Piano: I second for easiest to learn. I mean, all the notes go up in order with all flats singled out and it requires the least energy to produce the sound, basically pressing buttons. It is probably kindest to your body too, with no calluses needed to form or circular breathing to learn. Or you could go for a Kazoo?

Hardest? I cannot say for sure, but the accordion has an extra dimension of input which makes my brain go all tingly trying to embrace it.
 

maninahat

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I would have said the violin is the hardest of instruments to play. even after a couple of decades of commitment, it can very easily sound too shrill and screechy on its own. Of course, this is only my personal experience, but I think there is a world of difference between pressing a key on a piano, and drawing a bow across a string.
 

Zeras

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gandhi the peacemake said:
You think viola is a support instrument? Try double bass. Double bass is the most supportive of supportive instruments, and even double bass has its dedicated concertos:


I'd suggest cello over violin. Yes, it's also often relegated to support role, but it has the greatest overall range out of all the strings, and it seems to be the most "mainstreamly popular" of them all. It plays/tunes/etc. almost exactly like the other stringed instruments (double bass is the only one tuned in fourths as opposed to fifths), too, so getting used to it would be a simple matter of adjusting your thinking from horizontal to vertical.
I'll second that, and also plug for French Horn - which I learned how to play and that also seems to be often relegated to a support role, but has a great range and has composers writing concerto and solo pieces that really showcase its abilities.
 

Fox12

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Jun 6, 2013
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I'm curious how difficult organ music is, both to play, and to gain access to. Unless you're part of the local church choir, I can't imagine it's easy to get access to one. And it looks like a ***** to learn. It has a beautiful sound, though.
 

TheYellowCellPhone

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I still hold that tuba is an incredibly simple instrument to learn that just happens to have an extremely competitive playerbase. Yeah string players get really competitive about reaching concert master, but realize there's around twenty violins in your typical orchestra. Most orchestras only need one tubist, if at all. And typically, if a tubist takes a position in an orchestra, he keeps it for life or moves up to a better orchestra. Very few pieces of music require two tubists (one I can name off the top of my head is Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz). Add onto this that there is still plenty of music that doesn't require a tuba and just sticks to using bass trombone -- not just music written before the 1850s or so, but plenty of music since the tuba became a part of the orchestra.

But because the embouchure is incredibly lenient and open, people with no brass background can get a pretty okay range the first time they touch it, compared to something like the trumpet which is incredibly tight, and people might only be able to squeeze out a handful of notes. And because brass is really simple, it only has three valves, so fingerings are super easy.

Plus I just like how it sounds. It's described as "warm" and I'm inclined to agree.
 

FPLOON

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Hardest: <url=http://img13.deviantart.net/126c/i/2012/320/2/9/resource__crystal_flugelhorn_by_laberoon-d5kzoq9.png>Crystal Flugalhorn
Easiest: Anything that involves "plucking" strings...

Other than that, you can't go wrong with anything bass-related... Because it all about that bass...
 

Idlemessiah

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MeatMachine said:
I'd say guitar. Learn a couple of chord shapes and you can play pretty much anything. Goes great with campfires. Also bonus points if you can sing at the same time.

Since you already play a stringed instrument you'll have no trouble picking it up.

Xsjadoblayde said:
-- with no calluses needed to form or circular breathing to learn. --
I always wondered what circular breathing was and you just prompted me to look it up. Its really difficult.
 

Ten Foot Bunny

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Mar 19, 2014
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Drums were the easiest for me because I move all. the. time. Besides, three hours of frantic banging every day is a great workout.

Banging the drums, that is. I know where your minds are going! o_O

Seriously, though, I've always had more energy than I know what to do with because of ADHD. Drumming was (and still is) an incredible outlet for that excess energy, even though hours of playing still doesn't wear me out entirely. What's more is that I easily picked up the ability to independently control all four limbs without having to think of what I needed to do in order to play what I intended to play.

Hardest for me was probably piano. Having really big hands is great for guitar and bass, but I had a really difficult time getting my fingers to land on the right keys.
 

Auberon

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Aug 29, 2012
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If you start banging, you're the one with debatably greatest responsibility of keeping the tempo of whatever you're playing - that said, drum solos can be awesome.

And if you worry about calluses, you can always use picks from very beginning, might be a tad harder.
 

Lufia Erim

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Harp play a harp! Do it Now! Then learn how to play zeldas theme song on it.

OT: I would say the piano. But that's a boring answer. Learn to play a mother fucking Pipe Organ. That shit is fun as hell to play. 3-4 keybords, plus 1 or 2 ranges of pedals. You are literally dancing when you play one properly.
 

Lufia Erim

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Burned Hand said:
Lufia Erim said:
Harp play a harp! Do it Now! Then learn how to play zeldas theme song on it.

OT: I would say the piano. But that's a boring answer. Learn to play a mother fucking Pipe Organ. That shit is fun as hell to play. 3-4 keybords, plus 1 or 2 ranges of pedals. You are literally dancing when you play one properly.
It has to be this, and you also have an arbitrary number of stops.

Fox12 said:
I'm curious how difficult organ music is, both to play, and to gain access to. Unless you're part of the local church choir, I can't imagine it's easy to get access to one. And it looks like a ***** to learn. It has a beautiful sound, though.
The organ, a full pipe organ, is one of the most insanely complex instruments ever.

Do you have a picture of that organs pedals? That looks glorious.

As far as i know ( not an expert by any stretch) but it's looks a lot more intimidating than it is.

The stops from what i understand ( which isn't much) is to change the sound of the organ. So as for actually playing one you don't really need to be switching stops mid-play ( it's awsome if you can though). Also the keybords are like piano keybords. You can play on the same level. Or play on different levels. And switch levels mid play. The hard part is learning to play with your feet on the pedals.

All things you can learn one step at a time.