How much harder is is to learn to play violin than trumpet? Should I even bother trying it?

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Lils Feb 29, 2016 @ 4:43pm

So, first off, the reason I'm asking this on Steam instead of Yahoo Answers or something is because I'm too lazy to make an account. We good? Okay. Now let's get on with the question.
So, for any of you musical people that have learned both trumpet and violin, how much harder is trumpet than violin or is it like the same difficulty leve?
I learned the trumpet in fifth grade and just quit band this year (ninth grade) because my school ended up making me just hate the band class because I just had no motivation to play it any more and the conductor was just an ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.. I was considering trying a musical instrument again this year because I kind of liked playing it but I'm worried that it might just end up being a waste of time and money.
With trumpet, it was kind of just memorizing keys and their combinations and blowing harder or softer depending on how high or low you wanted the notes to be. Violin, on the other hand, looks like a whole different beast and level of difficulty. I mean, I don't know anything about violin, but from what I can tell you have to learn how to hold you head in a really awkward position and then hold a bow and then to play you have to move the thing just the right way and there are so many positions to put the bow and then the sheet music. My god, the sheet music. My friend plays violin and she told me some things about the sheet music and even though they're in the same key it looks a whole lot more complicated with all of those weird symbols and lines and stuff. It just seems to look a whole lot more difficult and to make it even worse, everyone I've played trumpet for says I have no sense of rythm whatsoever and that alone will still make everything really hard. Then I just have a tendency to give up on things that are really hard that I can't do not terribley (Not even well. Just not terribly.) within a few weeks or things that just frustrate me a lot unless it's something i really really like or am especially committed to. I am not so into music that I and really super duper committed to it. I just wanted to have fun playing music and violin was something I've kind of always wanted to try.
I don't know. I just wanted to ask how much harder/easier/difficulty level violin is compared to trumpet. Do you guys think I should even bother trying to learn it or just give up music entirely? I am not really interested in playing guitar or flute or french horn or anything else other than maybe cello so if I just shouldn't attempt violin I'm probably going to just give up music and just be content listening to Mumford and Sons and Of Monsters and Men. Sorry for the long post.

Last edited by Lils; Feb 29, 2016 @ 4:44pm

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Showing 1-15 of 34 comments

Jonathan Sensei Feb 29, 2016 @ 4:48pm

From what i've seen (and heard), the violin is harder to play well compared to the trumpet; but that really depends on the person. You should give it a try regardless: you might find it entertaining or therapeutic.

★★Xei★★ Feb 29, 2016 @ 5:16pm

Speed of learning can relate to the person's interest and ambition to master it. If you really love violin over trumpet, you can probably learn it a lot quicker and find it easier.

We tend to learn something quicker if we're more intrigued and interested than not.

fluxtorrent Feb 29, 2016 @ 5:27pm

As someone who HAS to know how to play the violin for my livelihood it took me 200 milliseconds to instal the master program in order to defeat all comers.

Scythe Feb 29, 2016 @ 5:34pm

I know people that play both trumpet and violin, also due to the fact I'm a dedicated lead guitarist I know a decent amount about classical string instruments as well. Violin is MUCH harder to play than trumpet, although it can depend on the particular person's experience or set of musical skills. Violin has much more complicated form and positioning, and you also have things like intonation to handle that you wouldn't even consider on a trumpet. Now this goes without saying that brass and string are both entirely different... but violin is most definitely more difficult than trumpet. How much is difficult to really dictate or express, but that is largely based around yourself and the motivation you have towards a certain instrument.

Last edited by Scythe; Feb 29, 2016 @ 5:38pm

Lils Feb 29, 2016 @ 6:17pm

Originally posted by ★★Yandere Hime★★:
Speed of learning can relate to the person's interest and ambition to master it. If you really love violin over trumpet, you can probably learn it a lot quicker and find it easier.

We tend to learn something quicker if we're more intrigued and interested than not.

Originally posted by Scythe:
I know people that play both trumpet and violin, also due to the fact I'm a dedicated lead guitarist I know a decent amount about classical string instruments as well. Violin is MUCH harder to play than trumpet, although it can depend on the particular person's experience or set of musical skills. Violin has much more complicated form and positioning, and you also have things like intonation to handle that you wouldn't even consider on a trumpet. Now this goes without saying that brass and string are both entirely different... but violin is most definitely more difficult than trumpet. How much is difficult to really dictate or express, but that is largely based around yourself and the motivation you have towards a certain instrument.

So then do either of you recommend even attempting to learn violin or should I just give up? I mean, I was really bad at trumpet when I quit and I had four or five years so I'll probably be even worse with violin and not progress at all. I mean, if I didn't really progress much, if at all, in band while going to class for it every day for four or five years straight, then I don't imagine I'll have much progress on violin if it's really so much harder like you say so would it even be worth it? I mean, if there is no progress at all is there even really a point? (as you can probably tell I tend to quit things if I never get better at them because I just don't see a point.)

76561198093502514 Feb 29, 2016 @ 6:22pm

They are very much different. Brass instruments barely compare to any classical string instruments. But, they are much different worlds. Playing brass doesn't take much precision with your fingers... You've got three buttons to press (classic school band trumpet). But the precision is in your breath and lips. Violin definitely forces you to be articulate with your arms and fingers.

I would highly suggest picking up a violin for just a little while and see how you feel without any instruction. Play with it a little and see how you feel. If you enjoy it, pursue it a little to see if it fits your taste. Playing music is a good hobby to have.... I just kind of suggest against making it a career. Also, don't be so melodramatic about quitting.

Scythe Feb 29, 2016 @ 6:57pm

Originally posted by DunoDontCare:
They are very much different. Brass instruments barely compare to any classical string instruments. But, they are much different worlds. Playing brass doesn't take much precision with your fingers... You've got three buttons to press (classic school band trumpet). But the precision is in your breath and lips. Violin definitely forces you to be articulate with your arms and fingers.

I would highly suggest picking up a violin for just a little while and see how you feel without any instruction. Play with it a little and see how you feel. If you enjoy it, pursue it a little to see if it fits your taste. Playing music is a good hobby to have.... I just kind of suggest against making it a career. Also, don't be so melodramatic about quitting.

I'd agree with this, it's at the very least good to attempt it!

Lils Feb 29, 2016 @ 8:29pm

Originally posted by DunoDontCare:
They are very much different. Brass instruments barely compare to any classical string instruments. But, they are much different worlds. Playing brass doesn't take much precision with your fingers... You've got three buttons to press (classic school band trumpet). But the precision is in your breath and lips. Violin definitely forces you to be articulate with your arms and fingers.

I would highly suggest picking up a violin for just a little while and see how you feel without any instruction. Play with it a little and see how you feel. If you enjoy it, pursue it a little to see if it fits your taste. Playing music is a good hobby to have.... I just kind of suggest against making it a career. Also, don't be so melodramatic about quitting.

Okay. Thanks for the advice. I think I might try it and see if I like it at all.

judah Feb 29, 2016 @ 9:24pm

Depends on personal skill and stuff, because I'm not the best with woodwinds, but Violin is ridiculously hard. I basically taught myself guitar, bass, piano, and a few other instruments, and I'm not bad at them, but the violin is stupid hard to play.

If it only had frets...

Doctor Dank Mar 1, 2016 @ 5:40am

It just comes to personal preference, really. I was told once that rock guitar is easier than rock drums, but its the opposite really (drums are easier than guitar if you dont understand). And i became a famous rock drummer in school which everyone wants to invite me to any event in the school, while still struggling in learning rock guitar

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Lils Mar 1, 2016 @ 7:57am

Originally posted by F-8:
It just comes to personal preference, really. I was told once that rock guitar is easier than rock drums, but its the opposite really (drums are easier than guitar if you dont understand). And i became a famous rock drummer in school which everyone wants to invite me to any event in the school, while still struggling in learning rock guitar

Awesome. Best drummer in history of drumming? :P

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Hwkiller Mar 1, 2016 @ 9:39am

My wife is a professional violinist, and most of our friends are musicians (including my old apt mate who plays trumpet).

They both agree that violin is harder to master, mainly because it's far and away more flexible.
The trumpet is a fairly static instrument, most designed the same (but with varying build quality).

The violin can sound radically different depending on the bow wood materials, the resin, the build of the violin, the materials used for the violin, the strings, etc.
So already, the build of the violin has more potential variations, which lead to more sounds to "master".

Then the playing style can change the sound. The difference between a 'fiddle' and a 'violin' is 90% playing style, and you can hear how drastically different they sound. Not just the notes they play, but the fiddle tone and violin tone are so different.

The violin has no distinctly separated notes (ala valves or frets). So you have to truly memorize precisely where to place your fingers, where to drag the bow (and the angle of it), and all of that depends on proper holding technique.

So in sum, yes, violin is a complex, highly variable instrument. The trumpet, certainly, is difficult to play too, but from what my musician friends say --- woodwinds in general have a lower ceiling.

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