Top 10 Hardest Instruments to Learn

Banging on something in time with the beat sounds easy enough right? Wrong. Especially considering that in a band or orchestral setting, drums in any fashion are held responsible for making sure everyone else is on beat. Learning the basics is easy enough, but once you get into the real meat of it, drumming is a test of coordination and endurance. At its core, playing drums is actually playing multiple instruments at once- even a basic beat will involve all four limbs. Sure, drummers from Tommy Lee to Levon Helm make it look easy, but it takes a lot of practice to master even a basic kit, let alone the full Neil Peart.    

Where would houses of worship be without this important historical instrument? This is another instrument that requires a mastery of hand-eye coordination, especially since it has multiple layers of keyboards- in addition to a pedal board controlled by the feet. Each keyboard has its own set of voices and knowing which to employ at what time is as much of a learning curve as melody, chord theory or the actual playing. It’s probably fitting that this instrument is normally used in churches, because if you plan on learning the organ, you are going to need some divine intervention.  

The accordion is an odd instrument, so it's only fitting that it is forever linked with the oddball Weird Al Yankovic. But given Al's level of proficiency on the instrument, maybe he's due even more respect than the Internet pays him. Playing the accordion is essentially like playing two instruments at once. On end of the accordion is a small keyboard, and on the other, a set of buttons that controls bass notes. In addition to operating both of these simultaneously, you must constantly compress and expand the ‘bellows’ of the accordion, allowing air to flow through the instrument, resulting in vibrations that produce the soft and harmonious sound heard in genres like folk, jazz and world music.  

The first of a few instruments on this list that requires lungs of steel, the oboe is an instrument whose sound is solely dependent on how you use your mouth. At the top of the oboe is a reed that you use to control the sounds coming out. You must constantly open or close the reed to allow or restrict sound and you have to make sure the reed itself is moist enough that sound wants to come out. Make sure it's not too wet though or your oboe will be giving you a sloppy kiss when you try to play it. This is before you get to the whole business of actually fingering the keys and creating some music. 


#6: Guitar

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The guitar is the classic go-to instrument for the fast-track to rock and roll superstardom! If only it were that easy. Whether electric or acoustic, guitars all get played pretty much the same way. For a right handed player that means fretting chords or single notes with their left hand while maintaining a strumming rhythm or plucking single strings with their right. At first, simply pressing down on the fretboard to create a note can be difficult, and downright painful! Campfire-level guitar playing can be easy enough to learn, but guitar is hard to master given how many styles it can be played in and the related techniques used in each style. Even on the basic level, coordinating both halves of you to work in-sync and play something musical can be a challenge.  

#5: Piano

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Here’s another instrument that requires a fair bit of multitasking. When playing a piano you must use both hands while simultaneously sight-reading lines of music. Most instruments will have you doing this, but the piano requires two lines of music, which can get confusing. While one's left hand is playing bass lines the right hand is busy forming chords, melodies, or both, although neither role is ever truly set in stone.  As with the guitar, there are many different styles of piano to play, each one with it’s own intricacies and techniques. However, anyone who can master this instrument and the level of musical theory that comes with it will have an advantage when they decide to pick up a second instrument.  

The harp is known for its beautiful and majestic tone, and to the untrained eye it looks simple enough to play. Not only do you get to sit down, you just have to run your fingers across the strings and wonderful music is heard, except, not so much. While the actual plucking of strings is simple enough mechanically, the musical theory behind it is demanding. What’s more, many forms of harp also incorporate foot pedals used to sharpen or flatten a note, further increasing this instrument’s difficulty. Meanwhile, other types of harps have multiple courses or rows of strings. The fact is, keeping the flow on a harp is a challenge that would make anyone turn away. Master it, however, and you’ll be able to play music that even angels would love.  

Most instruments fall into two categories: never to be moved or easily carried- but the bagpipes blur the line by being both cumbersome and bulky while being portable by design. If you plan on learning this one, you are going to need some strength and endurance. Strong lungs are another requirement as you are constantly blowing into and squeezing the bag to get the desired sound, and you're quite likely marching while you're playing it. Similar to the accordion, bagpipes require constant stimulation in order to continue producing sound. It’s an interesting instrument and the sound it makes is enough to make anyone want to wear a kilt and strap on a sporran, but it’s not for the feint of heart.  

#2: French Horn

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The French horn is a little odd looking. Because of its spiral shape, you need to have great lung control to be able to push the sound through the entire instrument. This is also an instrument that you need an unbreakable ego to play. Unlike others of its kind, if you don’t have the least bit of confidence in your ability you will not be able to make even a sound. Many horns in general are notorious for their difficulty but the French horn blows them out of the water. Pun intended.   Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.   Theremin   Bass Guitar   Trombone    

The violin is a musically versatile instrument, and players like Ashley MacIsaac make it look almost effortless to play. When it comes to playing the violin, position is everything. Holding a violin in the right position gets tiring, as you have to hold it up with your arm outstretched. When playing or changing notes you need to position your fingers perfectly with no frets to guide you and the position and pressure of the bow on the strings has to be just as perfect. Being even slightly off of with any of these components can lead to a huge shift in tone and performance. Even Lindsey Stirling had trouble with this, as pointed out during her performance on “America’s Got Talent.”  

 Do you agree with our list? Which instrument do you think is the most difficult to learn? For for musical top 10’s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.