This sort of a discussion isn't too relevant as far as I'm concerned because many people choose instruments to play based upon other characteristics regardless of the level of difficulty. Then too the difficulties are different for each instrument but the goal is the same~ To express the music through the instrument.

The flute for example is relatively easy to get a start on but becomes very difficult to play with a high level of virtuosity for most people. Part of this may be because most students get a relatively late start on the learning process. On other instruments such as violin or piano the students may start at a younger age when their brains are more receptive to the material and they can have an advantage with their development.

I've heard it said, (I haven't tried myself) that the oboe is one of the hardest if not the hardest to learn, because of the physical demands of producing a sound from such a narrow reed. Someone even told me that it is just about impossible to learn if you don't start as a child. I heard it is even possible to rupture something or otherwise damage yourself because of the pressures required, though that might be a bit of an urban legend.

On a different tack, I've read somewhere (I'm a great one for hearsay today...) that the guys playing things like the cymbals or the triangle (the percusionists) in orchestras suffer the most stress. They get to do nothing for most of the time, but if they mess up even a little EVERYBODY notices!

it depends so much on natural, god-given talent. For example, my 6 yr old son is learning trumpet, he just picked it up one day and honked out a good tone and is now learning all the notes, he has little interest in piano, flute, recorder, etc...

All instruments seem to be designed to include some degree of difficulty. It's like a law of nature...

And people find them variously difficult, according to their personal taste and talents.

I find the piano (and keyboards in general) extraordinarily difficult, but I am not at an age to learn it. Anyway I tried recently and failed...

The flute is not so difficult and for me it has proven to be easier than guitar, for example, which was my first choice of instrument years ago (I am talking of classical guitar)

I consider the bandoneon (sp?) the most complex (and therefore most difficult) of all the instuments I have seen. As a counterpart, you can hold an instrument sounding like a full church organ in your arms and carry it with you...

The easier IMO could be, perhaps, the recorder and it is usually the instrument of choice for initiating children in music.

i think the easiest instrument for me would be the recorder of fife, and the most difficult would be the piano or drums, because i find it hard to have both hands doing differant things at differant times, and mid for me would be the flute and clarinet(which i tried once but didn't rely like it so didn't take it up)

The recorder is easy = an other huge myth.

It is indeed easy to hold into position, blow a sound, learn basic fingerings and play simple songs. But it is certainly among the most difficult woodwind to master at an advanced level (just behind the baroque flute and the baroque oboe). You have no keys and mecanisms to help you out during quick passages. Lots of half tone holes, alternate fingerings...

Based on this and the previous comment on oboe (and my own personnal experience with the beast!), I would say that the baroque oboe is the most difficult instrument to play.

My vote goes to the Sitar. Really astoundingly hard from what I read.

The penny whistle would definately be a good contender for easiest. The hardest maybe the bag pipes.

I'm probly going to be the last to post on this topic (I always am).

But anyway, I think it depends on the person playing the instrument. An instrument one person might find hard, another person might play easily.

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As far as the 'hardest/easiest instrument' debate. most people tend to believe that the smaller the instrument, the easier it is to play. But I don't believe that. Thats one of the reasons flutes are considered to be easiest because they tend to be smallest.

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Recorders and Tin Whistles. They're not hard, but they're not easy either. Lots of people can play reels and jigs on them, but I've only heard a handful of people who could play them slowely and sound good.

well i play oboe, flute (some), piano, and electric bass..
oboe is by far the hardest...messing around with the reeds is a mess..ive been playing for almost 4 years and im not improving as much as i would want to..but the easiest for me would have to be bass..you dont have to worry about breathing..haha and with oboe thats a big thing (im sure it is on every other instrament also)

Violin would be the hardest instrument for me as I am naturally a woodwind player at heart. Flute would be the easiest for me.

I don't think any instrument is easy actually...

It's all about the learning curve and how the player adapts to the instrument...

Im a drummer too...took me about 3 months just to get the basic beat down...it takes some people about like...an hour.

But what happens after that is a whole different ball game.

Theres always ups and downs when learning an instrument.

How about the human voice as both easiest AND hardest.

Anyone can sing (allegedly), but operatic singing is extremely hard. If you're not carefull you can damage your instrument permantly, and even profesionals often do.

Failing that I'd go for kazoo as the easiest, but maybe there are some kazoo virtuosos out there who think otherwise...

The Kazoo, first time I hear from it. I looked it up in Wikipedia and seems to be at the lowest limit of musical instruments but still considered to be one.

I agree that voice is both the easiest (it is always there and ready) and difficult (when it comes to perform with a minimum of virtuosity).
It has the added problem that it is naturally limited and although it can be greatly improved with learning the correct technique and intense practise, there is no way you can buy a better brand or an improved model....

Jose...The Kazoo is about the next step above the voice in level of difficulty. Most babies lean very young to sing for their supper..or attention.

I remember hearing a Kazoo version of the 1812 Overture once. It was done with great artistic interperitation.

http://users.skynet.be/dada/galleryq/wall/detail/kaminsky_kazoophony.html

I would say that playing the carillon or at least practicing it would be a challenge.

Another instrument that represents a challenge is the Lute.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lute
Once you have tuned the strings, the next thing that you have to do is .....tune the strings.