In your opinion, what is the most difficult instrument to learn and play?

Probably “the first one”, because there the student is introduced to not only the mechanics of the instrument, but “music itself” for the first time.

The skin flute

Learning to read music is key to “learning” to play any instrument and is not an easy task and takes time and focus. The timing and key signature part of reading music is key to a full understanding of how to play music. Next is learning the notes on the instrument and acclimating the hand/eye coordination of playing, hitting, blowing etc. of creating the sound of that note. That is by far the hardest part of playing any instrument….getting the correct “sound” and intensity of the note. So IMO “learning” how to play and instrument is the hardest part.

Playing comes easy if all you want to do is play and instrument, just pick one up and make some noise. Do that enough and you can actually get good at making music not really knowing what you are doing.

I took 4 years of Piano and that training taught me all I need to know about music and I can pretty much pick up any instrument and play it. I self taught myself how to play guitar and cannot read guitar music to save my life but I can play my guitar better than piano. All in all it just takes practice, practice, practice.

When I was 8, I decided to play the…wait for it… accordion. What was I thinking?
I had to learn music, keyboarding, pumping, and walking with an anvil strapped to my chest.

Clearly, Myron Floren was always smiling because he was on drugs.

For me, the hardest out of all the ones I’ve learned was the guitar. I think it was because of the lack of keys. I also know how to play the clarinet, flute, piano, trumpet, saxophone, and mellophone. All of those have keys which I think makes it a bit easier. With the guitar, you have to get a feel for the frets and be able to tell which fret you are at. Yes it can be done, but for me personally, I think it was the most difficult.

I’d guess that trombone would be a bit more difficult for those same reasons, since it goes by slide position instead of keys and if you are off on your slide position, it affects your tone.

The instruments that defeat me are double-reeded instruments. I also think that violin is probably the hardest instrument to learn, and I don’t care how many other instruments you already know. Violin is very difficult to get a good sound out of. Another one I find difficult is harmonica, It’s hard to get a single note. Of course, if I were to take lessons and practice, I’m sure it would be a different story.

But the road to Carnegie Hall is always the same: practice, practice, practice. Which reminds me—I’ve got to practice.

Seriously though, maybe a stand up Harp, or possibly the violin.

The violin, I think.

I’ve been told that the theramin is not only difficult, but borderline painful to play.

I personally think the piano is hard to play only because your reading both bass and treble clef. I’ll stick with my bassoon it’s so much easier.

Oboe, it’s a double reed instrument.

When one is tone deaf,ALL instruments are hard to play. XD

I’ve played the piano since I was 13, but I have never understood how an organist can play up to four staffs simultaneously – two for the hands and two for the feet. I also tried to play a large pipe organ once and the lag between pressing the key and hearing the note was intolerable. This mutha scares me even to look at.

Bagpipes! I mean it’s like giving the kiss of life to a comatose guinea pig. He dinna look well Doctor Mactavish! XD

Just came to read other answers…. I have NO musical talent. Never even bothered to learn the words to Happy Birthday.

I always thought a six string guitar from trying to learn playing it. I’ve only played around with drums but I have heard that learning to play the drums is one of the hardest instruments to play, even harder then learning to play the guitar or most other instruments.

I would think the trombone would be hard.

@Paradox I would have to agree….my youngest plays the drums and I can’t hit the skins properly if my life depended on it and forget about keeping a beat!