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

[Lils]

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.

[Tanya Degurechaff]

Originally posted by Quint el Pizote Estacionamiento:

Originally posted by ✴ Celestial Fatality ✴:

Trumpets blow...(worst joke of the week, sorry).

But at least they don't sound like killing chickens.

il have you know i eat chicken nearly twice a week, xD

[Lils]

Originally posted by ✴ Celestial Fatality ✴:

Trumpets blow...(worst joke of the week, sorry).

I like that pun. Thank you for the joke. *steals joke*

[Lils]

Originally posted by Hwkiller:

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.

Originally posted by Doc Savage:

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...

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.

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, in my quest to research violins and stuff, I have discovered violas and cellos. I like all three about the same (maybe viola a little more than violin and cello), and now I have a new question. Since I like all three about the same, which of the three would you guys recommend? Are they all about the same level of difficulty or is one of them even harder or a little easier than violin or are they all about the same level of difficulty?

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

The viola is the best. It has a warm, human sound, as opposed to the screechy violin. And it's also easier to transport than the cello. It can go down to the C an octave below middle C, giving it some ability to form harmony/accompaniment, but it can also play a good treble melody.

(I have not learned viola before, but I have learned violin before. That said, my preference is entirely based on musical taste.)

[Hwkiller]

Originally posted by Ozzy:

Originally posted by Hwkiller:

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.

Originally posted by Doc Savage:

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...

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.

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, in my quest to research violins and stuff, I have discovered violas and cellos. I like all three about the same (maybe viola a little more than violin and cello), and now I have a new question. Since I like all three about the same, which of the three would you guys recommend? Are they all about the same level of difficulty or is one of them even harder or a little easier than violin or are they all about the same level of difficulty?

Well, it's hard to say.

Cello is played very differently from the violin and viola. It's about the same complexity though, although perhaps the lower tones are harder to distinguish than the variety of higher notes that various violinists could hit.

Viola is hard because the body is essentially "too small" for the sound it is meant to create. That is, it's harder to resonate.

That /said/, violins typically have more difficult music written for them, even if the viola is harder to get sound out of.

[Lils]

Originally posted by Hwkiller:

Originally posted by Ozzy:

So, in my quest to research violins and stuff, I have discovered violas and cellos. I like all three about the same (maybe viola a little more than violin and cello), and now I have a new question. Since I like all three about the same, which of the three would you guys recommend? Are they all about the same level of difficulty or is one of them even harder or a little easier than violin or are they all about the same level of difficulty?

Well, it's hard to say.

Cello is played very differently from the violin and viola. It's about the same complexity though, although perhaps the lower tones are harder to distinguish than the variety of higher notes that various violinists could hit.

Viola is hard because the body is essentially "too small" for the sound it is meant to create. That is, it's harder to resonate.

That /said/, violins typically have more difficult music written for them, even if the viola is harder to get sound out of.

So then which one would you recommend doing? Is there any one that would be best for someone who has never done anything strings before?

[Naedmi]

I hope you have good lungs, if you wish to master the trumpet.

[Hwkiller]

Originally posted by Ozzy:

Originally posted by Hwkiller:

Well, it's hard to say.

Cello is played very differently from the violin and viola. It's about the same complexity though, although perhaps the lower tones are harder to distinguish than the variety of higher notes that various violinists could hit.

Viola is hard because the body is essentially "too small" for the sound it is meant to create. That is, it's harder to resonate.

That /said/, violins typically have more difficult music written for them, even if the viola is harder to get sound out of.

So then which one would you recommend doing? Is there any one that would be best for someone who has never done anything strings before?

Honestly, choose the one that you enjoy playing. None of them are easier than any other, and all are complex instruments. If you have an opportunity to take lessons for a few months where you can rent violins, violas, and cellos, try taking lessons for each one and see which one you enjoy more.

Some practical considerations (my wife just told me): Violins/violas are cheaper (though, none are 'cheap' when you want a decent string instrument), easier to carry, and cheaper to maintain than cellos and other larger string instruments.

[Lils]

Originally posted by Hwkiller:

Originally posted by Ozzy:

So then which one would you recommend doing? Is there any one that would be best for someone who has never done anything strings before?

Honestly, choose the one that you enjoy playing. None of them are easier than any other, and all are complex instruments. If you have an opportunity to take lessons for a few months where you can rent violins, violas, and cellos, try taking lessons for each one and see which one you enjoy more.

Some practical considerations (my wife just told me): Violins/violas are cheaper (though, none are 'cheap' when you want a decent string instrument), easier to carry, and cheaper to maintain than cellos and other larger string instruments.

Thanks for your help. I think I'm going to try violin first. I really like the sound of it and if I find I really like it then I'll continue with that. If I don't then I'll try viola and then cello.

[Ddim7]

Ok so first of all I have been playin jazz and classical trumpet for over 10 years now and I can say that trumpet if more than just blowing hard and soft. You need control, sound and the tone coming from the bell. Since i'm more towards jazz trumpet, you need a lot of control on the upper register and it takes a lot of guts to earn first chair in a big band. For classical side its more of the tone colour and the tuning. I will agree that the violin is slightly harder than trumpet due to the finger board and the string crossings. But I will say that the violin is very limited on their genre. You may see some strings in pop songs but their rarely in pop songs. When was the last time you heard violin in a pop songs (or even a trumpet).

Also the techniques in both instruments are very different and diverse. When you first see a trumpet it looks easy because there are only 3 valves or as some people call it buttons. I hear this every time after I perform. NO the trumpet is not playing with 3 valves you need to change your mouth shape such as your embouchure and also your lungs need to take all the air in to get a full good blown sound.

For violin, I don't play violin so I only know like a few techniques and their mostly easy. Yes yes I know there are more than just like 2 techniques.

Also the price for violin are too crazy. Like wtf 10 million for a professional Strat violin? Like what the hell who could afford that. And the trumpet comes down to a insane below 1 million to 5 million.

I am more towards trumpet cause like im a jazz player and don't really like violin but if people need to know than i'm here to explain.

And yes i know this is 4 years late but im in quarantine and im bored so leave me alone

[pasa]

Violin is hard and requires good pitch hearing and lot of patience. You don't sound like having enough motivation.

However it is no reason to abandon music, plenty of easier instruments with great sound like keyboards, guitar... not even expensive to engage, and can be done on your own for a long time.

Also you can stay with the winds and play xaphoon or recorder.

[Tiberius]

Originally posted by UFOzzy🍞💊:

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.

You are learning an instrument based on you wanting to learn it, because you enjoy the music that comes out of it, not based in the difficulty.

[chesse]

Originally posted by Rippin:

Ok so first of all I have been playin jazz and classical trumpet for over 10 years now and I can say that trumpet if more than just blowing hard and soft. You need control, sound and the tone coming from the bell. Since i'm more towards jazz trumpet, you need a lot of control on the upper register and it takes a lot of guts to earn first chair in a big band. For classical side its more of the tone colour and the tuning. I will agree that the violin is slightly harder than trumpet due to the finger board and the string crossings. But I will say that the violin is very limited on their genre. You may see some strings in pop songs but their rarely in pop songs. When was the last time you heard violin in a pop songs (or even a trumpet).

Also the techniques in both instruments are very different and diverse. When you first see a trumpet it looks easy because there are only 3 valves or as some people call it buttons. I hear this every time after I perform. NO the trumpet is not playing with 3 valves you need to change your mouth shape such as your embouchure and also your lungs need to take all the air in to get a full good blown sound.

For violin, I don't play violin so I only know like a few techniques and their mostly easy. Yes yes I know there are more than just like 2 techniques.

Also the price for violin are too crazy. Like wtf 10 million for a professional Strat violin? Like what the hell who could afford that. And the trumpet comes down to a insane below 1 million to 5 million.

I am more towards trumpet cause like im a jazz player and don't really like violin but if people need to know than i'm here to explain.

And yes i know this is 4 years late but im in quarantine and im bored so leave me alone

nice ne oh who cares

[Fumo Bnnuy n Frends]

generally string only instruments are harder to learn than precussion or wind instruments b/c of the amount of different sounds you hear vs the buttons you gotta press and exhale.

[Lils]

Why is this 4 year old post getting revived now