What is the hardest musical instrument to play?

12/1/2020What is the hardest musical instrument to play? Learning how to play a musical instrument isn't always easy. For people who don't have any experience with music, this can be a challenging task. If you’re someone who wants to try playing a musical instrument as a new hobby, you may ask yourself, “What’s the hardest musical instrument to play?”

To answer this question, there are some important things you should know. A musical instrument’s difficulty is relative. While some people may find that it’s easy to learn a certain instrument, others may find them difficult to learn. It all depends on the person and how they approach learning a new instrument.

Difficult Instruments to Play or Learn

1. String Instruments

Some people might argue that string instruments are the hardest because they require a lot of skill and precision. A string instrument also needs to be held in the right way to create music, and this is why it is so hard to master. Here are some of the popular string instruments that can be hard to play: 

  • Violin or viola: As a beginner violin player, you’ll need to practice a lot just to be able to play the simplest songs. Unlike a guitar, a violin doesn’t have fretboards to guide your fingers. You’ll need to know exactly when to change your fingers to play a note, and it can take some time before you learn how to do it.

  • Harp: The harp is another kind of stringed instrument that's hard to play. It has many strings which are tuned in different pitches so that when one plucks them all at once, they create music. Playing this instrument requires good coordination between your hands and fingers.

  • Guitar: Guitars can also be a challenging instrument to play for some people. While others may consider it an easy instrument, playing the guitar requires you to have a good amount of finger strength and speed to press down on the fretboard.

2. Brass Instruments

In addition to string instruments, a brass instrument could be another instrument that many people often consider to be the hardest musical instrument to play. Brass instruments require the player to use their lips and tongue to produce sounds, and it normally takes a lot of time before a beginner can play the simplest songs on it. The following is an overview of some of the more popular brass instruments:

  • Trumpet: A trumpet consists of two main parts; the bell section where you blow into it and the mouthpiece where your breath goes through. Each one comes with its own set of keys or buttons that allow you to adjust the volume level as well as change between high notes and low notes.

  • Trombone: Similar to a trumpet, this type of brass instrument requires you to have good lungs because you need to breathe while blowing into it. Unlike a trumpet, however, trombones usually come with only one valve instead of four.

  • Horn: Another common brass instrument is the horn. What makes this type unique from others though is that it doesn’t contain any valves. Instead, it uses reeds to create certain tones.

3. Piano

The hardest musical instrument to learn is not always a string or brass instrument, though. For some people, the piano can be one of the most difficult musical instruments to play, even if they already have some musical experience. Pianos have 88 keys, which means that there are a lot more notes to learn than with other instruments. Pianists play with both hands and they need to have good coordination skills so that they can successfully play two different tempos at once.  

4. Drums and Other Percussion Instruments

Playing the drums is the hardest musical instrument because there are many techniques that need to be mastered. The drums also have a lot of parts, which can get very complicated for beginners. Drummers must learn to play with both their arms and feet at the same time as well as using different types of sticks. They also need to be good with tempo changes and know how to keep up with other musicians to play the instrument properly. 

Instruments at Bondi Ukuleles

If you're looking for an easy instrument to play, then the ukulele is a great choice. Although it still takes some time to master, it’s simple enough for people with little to no experience in musical instruments. 


Here at Bondi Ukuleles, we can help you start your musical journey with our selection of high-quality ukuleles. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, there is something here that will fit the bill. Our team is always happy to offer advice on what ukulele would be best suited to your needs. If you need any assistance in choosing a ukulele, please don't hesitate to contact us!

What is the hardest musical instrument to play

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.

Related Articles

Our Top 7 Christmas Gift Ideas for Ukulele Players
Question: Is it worth getting an electric ukulele?
Question: Why are Hawaiian ukuleles so expensive?