Hardest instrument.

[1st_oboe]

I'm on another forum with a bunch of big-headed bassoonists that think they are some form of superhuman beings because they can play bassoon to some extent. On that forum, the question has been asked: What is the hardest instrument to play?

According to MENC it's a toss-up between oboe and french horn.

But I have a different answer:
The cowbell is the hardest instrument to master. Think about it, have you ever heard a cowbell player that just amazed you? No? I didn't think so. That must mean it's nearly impossible to be a good cowbell player, otherwise you would occasionally find yourself saying "WOW! That cowbell player was AWESEOME!"

So, MENC, if oboe and french horn are so difficult, why are there so many fantastic oboe and horn players? I've never heard of a professional cowbell player, so that MUST mean it is the most difficult instrument...
Why can't I get a degree in cowbell preformance, but oboe and horn degrees are available for the low low price of a mere 4 years worth of college?

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Kazoo. That's a very difficult instrument. And have you ever heard a kazoo choir? It's heart-stopping.

[GreatCarouser]

I've never been hit with any instruments so I can only speculate that one of the brass family would be 'hardest'.

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

I've never been hit with any instruments so I can only speculate that one of the brass family would be 'hardest'.

One word. Marimba.

[Patateek]

Yup, french horn. I know from personal experience. Began in jr. high and played through high school. It was hard. I was 1st chair and could play all the music, but the tone was not there. Quit when my private instructor started having me learn translation reading. That was enough. Maybe that is how he got me to quit coming to lessons. I was 16 and now 46 and still have my horn. Keep thinking I will pick it up again someday.
Maybe the oboe and horn are not that much more difficult but probably more so to play well. It is the lenght of the tubes in the horn that make even the slightest lip variation change notes. Probably the small reed on the oboe.

Pataeek
in Huntington Beach, CA

[Shapley]

I've never been hit with any instruments so I can only speculate that one of the brass family would be 'hardest'.

GC,

Why does this remind me of El Kabong? (Some of you older posters may recall the cartoon. It's one of those you won't see these days, due to racial stereotyping. El Kabong was a cartoon character, I believe he was a horse, that would hit bad guys over the head with a guitar.)

V/R
Shapley

[Serenity]

Shapley, that was Quickdraw McGraw's alter ego; his burro sidekick was "Babalouie?". You won't even see them on the Cartoon Network yet they play violent Japanese cartoons. Personally, I miss the old Droopy.

[Shapley]

Serenity,

Thanks. I had forgotten that he was associated with Quick Draw McGraw. I remember El Kabong better than Quick Draw, perhaps because my brother shouted "El Kabong!" when he hit me over the head with a plastic ukelele once. Left a bit of an impression.

V/R
Shapley

BTW, Here's a link:

http://www.animationusa.com/hb/kabong.html

[bignaf]

definitely french horn. Go to pro orchestral concerts, and it's likely that the only mistakes you'll hear aill be committed by the horn section.

[jamiebk]

Please excuse my ignorance on the subject, but what's the big deal with the French Horn?...I mean, it's got three valves same as the trumpet, coronet, and others. Now...if you want a real tough one try the didgeridoo

[Shapley]

Clearly the hardest instrument to play is the bagpipe. Invented over a thousand years ago, no one has been able to make music come of them yet....

V/R
Shapley

[BigJon@Work]

Shap, you stole my thunder. Ever heard a bagpipe orchestra?

[barfle]

I have yet to come across an instrument that wasn't far too difficult for me to make music come from.

I can get noise to come out of almost any of them (all of the ones I've tried so far, anyway), but I've always expressed my admiration for anyone who can make music come from anything that's more complex to operate than a record player.

[bignaf]

it's harder to control the embochure on the french horn.

[barfle]

it's harder to control the embochure on the french horn.

So that's what it's called these days.

[Jeff Dutton]

Well, if they would simply make the mouthpiece bigger the problem would be solved

...either that, or you need tiny lips...

[navneeth]

GC,

Why does this remind me of El Kabong? (Some of you older posters may recall the cartoon. It's one of those you won't see these days, due to racial stereotyping. El Kabong was a cartoon character, I believe he was a horse, that would hit bad guys over the head with a guitar.)

V/R
Shapley

I didn't recognise that name until you mentioned the guitar part. During the initial stages of CN in India (about 10 years ago), most of the cartoons were from the 60s. Looney Toons, Flinstones, Jetsons and the others that were used as fillers, an example being Quick Draw McGraw.

Btw, I'm just 20.

[Shapley]

Shap, you stole my thunder. Ever heard a bagpipe orchestra?

No, I can't say that I've had that ... er .... pleasure.

V/R
Shapley

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Shap, you stole my thunder. Ever heard a bagpipe orchestra?

No, I can't say that I've had that ... er .... pleasure.

V/R
Shapley

I have. House of Nations section of Balboa Park, one Sunday that was also some sort of Scottish holiday (Bobbie Burns' Birthday?) and there was a group composed of several pipers and some pipe students. It was amazing.

Only time I've ever been in Balboa Park, with food laid out on tables and without pigeons lurking on the rooftops.

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

Please excuse my ignorance on the subject, but what's the big deal with the French Horn?...I mean, it's got three valves same as the trumpet, coronet, and others...

It's got four valves. And they're rotary, not barrel. Horn players are forever fussing with those wretched valves.

Both my daughters play the French Horn. (I survived. I'm tough.) And both can pick up any of those other brass instruments and play it fairly easily - apparently even the tuba requires less air than the horn. I don't think either one has tried a sousaphone (as an aside, do you know the Marines have a fella who can dance a jig while wearing his Sousaphone?) but between them they've picked up everything else. Son played a trumpet all through high school, and he can't play a french horn. Either of the girls can play his trumpet, no problem.