What is the hardest instrument to play ? my vote goes to the "trumpet" and "electric jazz guitar"!!I can already hear the sound of Cor annglais players GIVING ME GRIEF!

there was a topic about this in the student forum. apparantly the oboe is regarded as the hardest

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Jul 10 2004, 01:04 PM)

there was a topic about this in the student forum. apparantly the oboe is regarded as the hardest

Really? I play oboe, and I dont' think it's that hard, though I can only compare it to singing!!!

I had read somewhere that it was the horn for brass and oboe for woodwind.

i play french horn. its really hard because thes loads of note with the same fingering. im always miss pitching!

I find the violin hardest out of all the instruments I play- and i think the flute and recorder are the easiest.

Tried the piano once and found it really hard, but then maybe when you get used to it it's a lot easier?

QUOTE (Jade @ Jul 11 2004, 10:54 AM)

Tried the piano once and found it really hard, but then maybe when you get used to it it's a lot easier?

it does get easier once you get used to it!!

maybe you should start learing the piano Jade, it would help with your bass clef reading!!

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Jul 11 2004, 11:14 AM)

maybe you should start learing the piano Jade, it would help with your bass clef reading!!

Yeah, i could do- that sounds like a good idea! I have a digital piano at home- it's just finding the time to do another instrument! i do want to though.

QUOTE (frenchyhorn @ Jul 11 2004, 10:46 AM)

i play french horn. its really hard because thes loads of note with the same fingering. im always miss pitching!

yes, the french horn is difficult to pitch, woodwind might be the oboe,strings...i think playing jazz on the electric guitar is difficult,...the easiest comb and paper!!!

I thonk the piano is definitkey the hardest.

Apparently the french horn is very hard to pitch notes well on.

QUOTE (Piano_Lady @ Jul 12 2004, 06:57 PM)

I thonk the piano is definitkey the hardest.

Have you been drinking?

QUOTE (Jazz man @ Jul 12 2004, 07:02 PM)

Apparently the french horn is very hard to pitch notes well on.

IT IS!

lol, Tenorclef!

QUOTE (Piano_Lady @ Jul 12 2004, 06:57 PM)

I thonk the piano is definitkey the hardest.

have you tried spelling shakuhachi.....never mind playing it

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned it - the harp is reputed to be the hardest instrument to play. Harpists are relatively rare and the harp is unlke any orchestral instruments - its player needs skill and dexterity in the fingers, and also mental stamina to keep up with pedal changes etc. plus it's not exactly one of the most comfortable positions to be in when playing it! The violin comes as 2nd hardest.

yeh violin is sometimes hard

QUOTE (Musicana @ Jul 17 2004, 12:40 PM)

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned it - the harp is reputed to be the hardest instrument to play. Harpists are relatively rare and the harp is unlke any orchestral instruments - its player needs skill and dexterity in the fingers, and also mental stamina to keep up with pedal changes etc. plus it's not exactly one of the most comfortable positions to be in when playing it! The violin comes as 2nd hardest.

Talking of which, are there any harpists on the forum? I need someone to play a composition I'm writing - it may turn out to be rather difficult - I already believe that the violin part is about grade 8

i'll ask about the harp. my friend used to play harp, i'll ask him.
i'll ask about vilion too!

hey, I play the harp. I'm not sure what standard I am because I don't have lessons anymore, I'm teaching myself atm whilst look for another teacher. I'd say im around intermediate, I'd love to give it a look at tho.

I would be happy to look at your harp piece and scribble comments on it as needed. The last lot of notes I sent a composer began 'Harpists have two feet only, one of these is a left foot, the other right...' All budding harp composers should mark every pedal change in so they have an idea what is being inflicted. I don't mind coping with technical difficulties when necessary, but the number of harp parts which are difficult through ignorance or apathy is somewhat irritating!

my music class last year had 2 harpists (in about 18 pupils). given that i live in shetland where you cant just go out and buy a harp, it has to be ordered from the mainland, and that there are to my knowledge only about 8 harpists, i think we did pretty well!

QUOTE (erard @ Jul 19 2004, 02:28 PM)

I would be happy to look at your harp piece and scribble comments on it as needed. The last lot of notes I sent a composer began 'Harpists have two feet only, one of these is a left foot, the other right...' All budding harp composers should mark every pedal change in so they have an idea what is being inflicted. I don't mind coping with technical difficulties when necessary, but the number of harp parts which are difficult through ignorance or apathy is somewhat irritating!

Not a problem Erard - no pedal changes, because it's all in the same key. Which I think means no pdal changes are needed. If you could be so kind as to PM me your e-mail address, I will send you either a Sibelius file, or a pdf file, of the harp music, depending which format is suitable for you

The voice must be one of the hardest instrument ......
D

QUOTE (DavidMusic @ Jul 19 2004, 03:07 PM)

Not a problem Erard - no pedal changes, because it's all in the same key. Which I think means no pdal changes are needed. If you could be so kind as to PM me your e-mail address, I will send you either a Sibelius file, or a pdf file, of the harp music, depending which format is suitable for you

Could I maybe have a look at it too?

Same goes for you then!

A study has shown that the oboe is the hardest because of it's physical demands on the human body!!
Hope that's of some help.

Oboe and horn are 'officially' the most difficult instruments in the orchestra.

In my opinion, it's the guitar and piano...especially classical guitar..plucking each note individually..can never imagine myself with a guitar.

I love piano but its an okay instrument ..its difficult because of the hand coordination, and the fact that you have to read 2 clefs at the same time *thinks about the A# key signature with exra double flats and double sharps* ....*dies*

oh whatever...if u have the passion to learn something....u will go for it ....no matter how difficult it is...

Yup agree. I believe every instrument, there is a certain degree of difficulity in each of them. I strongly believe it is the passion as well as the perservance that will keep a person going.

I don't think you can particularly specify the hardest instrument as not everyone finds everything they do of the same difficulty. Of course, different instruments have their own problems e.g it is difficult to pitch notes/produce a noise or whatever

As a person who takes up a new instrument every time they get bored, I would also agree with you there - I have found difficulties with everything I've tried, but have persevered with them all which has been great! I also believe that the difficulties come at different points in learning to play the instruments - the recorder, for example, is one of the best beginner instrument, but some advanced repertoire has been written for it that is not at all easy to play! String and brass instruments take time to get to know, but once the basics are obtained progress can be made without too much stress (in my opinion, anyway, feel free to disagree with me!)

Well i reckon the violin is the hardest.

QUOTE (Verona The Violinist @ Sep 15 2004, 08:08 PM)

Well i reckon the violin is the hardest.

I wouldn't really agree with that... I'd say viola is actually harder than the violin. You've got two clefs to cope with, a much heavier instrument, and all the same technique that the violin has to learn.
The hardest ones are meant to be violin, piano and French horn, according to my music teacher. I play all three of them and I'd say all are tackle-able!

QUOTE

I'd say viola is actually harder than the violin. You've got two clefs to cope with, a much heavier instrument, and all the same technique that the violin has to learn.

I play viola and I used to play violin and I always thought that the viola was easier than the violin. Reading the points you made, cheeble, i'm kind of changing my mind. The viola has got easier orchestral parts that don't have so many high positions and semiquavers. I think some people just naturally find one of these easier than than the other - in my case, viola.

I would have to say it was the harp!!

All those strings and pedals!!!

QUOTE (Woodwind Wizz @ Sep 18 2004, 10:33 AM)

I would have to say it was the harp!! All those strings and pedals!!!

i know that...but i'm still not convinced...i seriously think that organ is the hardest instrument to play

QUOTE (Rainbow @ Sep 17 2004, 04:55 PM)

The viola has got easier orchestral parts that don't have so many high positions and semiquavers. I think some people just naturally find one of these easier than than the other - in my case, viola.

That's also very true! however, there are some difficult works for the viola as well, just not so many as the violin. thanks for making the point though!

I play cello and piano, but despite having leaned piano for longer and probably practising it more often, I'm definitely better at cello. I get way better exam results and now have overtaken my piano ability in terms of grade level. I think piano is a hard instrument, but my cello teacher reckons I just have an affinity for cello javascript:add_smilie(":unsure:")
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That happened to me- I overtook my violin on piano, having started violin before... but now it seems I am going to have to work for both grade 8s at the same time... heeeeeeelp...

it doesn't matter does it....i'm gonna do dipABRSM for piano and singing next year

QUOTE (cecilia @ Sep 18 2004, 03:49 PM)

That happened to me- I overtook my violin on piano, having started violin before... but now it seems I am going to have to work for both grade 8s at the same time... heeeeeeelp...

Which do you consider to be your main instrument now? Or do you consider them both equal?

I don't know... if someone put me on the spot I'd probably say violin but only because that was the answer for quite a long time. But I play piano minimally more than violin... but then again I play violin in orchestras and things, so I think they're probably equal!

my first instrument is piano...followed by singing...though they are both on the same grade...

a quite funny one which came up in 8notes forums on this same question was the Susaphone, which I'm told is a "marching Tuba" - as if playing the thing didn't take enough breath!

how come no one has mentioned spoons? they're really hard to play.... but good for eating soup

Is that a Sousaphone, Zoda? They look really funny because they kind of go around the player's neck!

I guess that must be it, Cecilia - Sound's a bit like being eaten by a boa constrictor, only a lot harder to get comfortable with. I'd never heard of one, and a bit like Australia, Tasmania and the summit of Mount Everest, I may be content to never see them, but leave them shrouded in mystery to my dying day.

i think guitar is the easiest instrument that i've had, it only take me two weeks to master it.however, piano is a bit frustrating.it requir lots practice and tecnique is so important to paly a piano good.some songs r really fast and also need to stretch one's hands .!!