The Most Difficult Woodwind Instrument to Play, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the woodwind instrument you think is the most difficult!

Updated on May 5, 2024 06:26

Unlock the hidden virtuoso within you and embark on a melodious journey as we dive into the enchanting world of woodwind instruments! StrawPoll proudly presents a captivating ranking challenge: "What is the most difficult woodwind instrument to play?" Unravel the secrets behind mastering the intricate techniques, breathing control, and finger dexterity required by these fascinating instruments. Vote for the woodwind that leaves you breathless or champion a missing contender to join the symphony. Thousands of music enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting your verdict, so join the harmonious debate, and let your voice be heard in this mesmerizing woodwind showdown!

What Is the Most Difficult Woodwind Instrument to Play?

1

87
votes
Bassoon

The bassoon is considered the most difficult woodwind instrument to play due to its complex fingering and embouchure technique. It also requires strong breath support and a great deal of practice to produce a consistent tone.
The bassoon is a large woodwind instrument known for its rich and deep sound. It consists of a long, bent tube with various keys and holes along its length. The bassoon is played by blowing air through a double reed and using the keys to control the pitch and tone.

Length: Approximately 1.4 meters (4.6 feet)

Weight: Around 2.7 to 4.3 kilograms (6 to 9.5 pounds)

Range: B-flat below the bass clef staff to E-flat above the treble clef staff

Number of keys: Between 21 and 25 keys, including various thumb keys and rollers

Reed: Uses a double reed made from cane
2

38
votes
Oboe

The oboe is also challenging due to its complex fingering, requiring precise control of the reed and a strong breath support. It is also very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.
The oboe is a woodwind instrument known for its unique timbre and demanding nature. It is often considered one of the most difficult wind instruments to play due to its complex fingerings and the control required to produce a good tone.

Range: It has a range of about two and a half octaves, from B♭3 to A6.

Key: It is typically pitched in concert C and is a transposing instrument.

Fingering: The oboe features intricate fingerings which require precise coordination and dexterity.

Reed: The oboe uses a double reed made of cane, requiring a skilled reed-maker and careful maintenance.

Tone: It possesses a rich, warm, and expressive tone, often described as nasal or haunting.
3

25
votes
Creator:H. Grenser · CC0

English horn

Heinrich Grenser

The English horn is a larger version of the oboe and therefore requires even more breath support and control of the reed. Its fingering and tone production are also more difficult than the oboe.
The English horn, also known as the cor anglais, is a double reed woodwind instrument that belongs to the oboe family. It is pitched lower than the oboe and produces a rich, haunting tone. The instrument's name, 'English horn,' is actually a misnomer, as it originated in Silesia, Germany.

Range: Low B♭ to E

Length: Approximately 64 cm

Material: Wood (typically grenadilla or rosewood)

Key: F

Number of keys: 12-13
4

16
votes
Contrabassoon

The contrabassoon is a large, low-pitched instrument that requires a great deal of breath support and strength to produce a consistent tone. Its fingering is also very difficult due to its size.
The contrabassoon is a large double reed woodwind instrument and is considered one of the most difficult wind instruments to play. It belongs to the bassoon family and is known for its deep and powerful sound.

Size: It measures approximately 1.82 meters (6 feet) in length.

Weight: It weighs around 11 kilograms (24 pounds).

Range: Its range extends from B♭0 to E♭5, with the lowest note being one octave below the bassoon's lowest pitch.

Key: It is usually written in bass clef and transposes an octave below.

Reeds: It uses a larger and more robust double reed compared to the bassoon.
5

27
votes
Flute

The flute may seem deceptively simple, but it requires precise control of breath and embouchure to produce a consistent tone throughout its range. Its fingerings are also complex and require a great deal of dexterity.
The flute is a woodwind instrument that belongs to the aerophone family. It is known for its elegant and enchanting sound, making it one of the most beautiful musical instruments. The flute produces sound by blowing across a hole near one end of the instrument, which causes the air to vibrate and create a melodic tone. Its simplicity and versatility have made it a popular choice in various musical genres, including classical, jazz, and folk.

Type: Woodwind instrument

Materials: Typically made of silver, gold, or other metals

Length: About 67 cm (26 inches)

Range: About three octaves

Key: C key (most common), but also available in other keys
6

13
votes

Piccolo

The piccolo is even more challenging than the flute due to its smaller size and higher pitch, requiring even more precision in breath and embouchure control.
7

8
votes
Bass clarinet

Adolphe Sax

The bass clarinet requires a great deal of breath support and finger dexterity to produce a consistent tone. Its low register can also be particularly difficult to control.
The bass clarinet is a large woodwind instrument that belongs to the clarinet family. It is similar in shape and fingerings to the standard B-flat clarinet but produces a lower pitch. The instrument features a long cylindrical body with a curved neck and a flared bell at the end. It is played with a single reed and has a complex system of keys and levers to control the pitch and articulation.

Range: Low E♭ to written C

Length: Approximately 1.3 meters (4.5 feet)

Weight: Around 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds)

Materials: Wood (typically grenadilla or ebonite) and metal (keywork)

Fingering: Boehm system
Bass clarinet in other rankings
- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular bass instrument
8

3
votes
Saxophone

The saxophone requires a unique embouchure technique and a great deal of breath support to produce a consistent tone. Its fingerings can also be challenging, particularly in the altissimo range.
The Saxophone is a versatile woodwind instrument with a conical shape and a single-reed mouthpiece. It is made of brass and commonly played in jazz, classical, and contemporary music.

Range: The saxophone has a wide range, from low B♭ to high F or F♯.

Types: There are various saxophone types, including soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones.

Transposition: The saxophone is a B♭ transposing instrument, meaning when a player reads a C, it sounds as a B♭.

Keys: Most saxophones have approximately 20 to 23 keys, allowing for a wide tonal and chromatic range.

Construction: The saxophone consists of a brass body with keywork, a neck, and a detachable mouthpiece.
9

4
votes
Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

Bass saxophone

Adolphe Sax

The bass saxophone is a large, low-pitched instrument that requires a great deal of breath support and finger dexterity to produce a consistent tone. Its size and weight can also be challenging for players.
The Bass saxophone is a member of the saxophone family known for its large size and deep, rich tone. It is the lowest-pitched of all saxophones.

Length: approximately 6 feet (1.8 meters)

Weight: around 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms)

Key: usually in B♭ or C

Range: from B♭0 to E5 (or even higher)

Mouthpiece: larger and heavier than other saxophones
Bass saxophone in other rankings
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular bass instrument
10

2
votes
Adrienne Easton · Attribution

Sopranino saxophone

The sopranino saxophone is the smallest member of the saxophone family and requires a great deal of precision in breath and embouchure control to produce a consistent tone. Its fingerings are also very challenging due to its small size.
The Sopranino saxophone is a woodwind instrument and the smallest member of the saxophone family. Its size and range make it one of the most challenging woodwind instruments to play. The sopranino saxophone produces a high, piercing sound, similar to that of a piccolo. It is known for its remarkable agility and unpredictable high-pitched notes.

Range: It has a range from B♭3 to F6.

Size and Weight: The sopranino saxophone is approximately 26 inches long and weighs around 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg).

Key: It is typically in the key of E♭.

Fingering System: It uses the same fingering system as other saxophones, but the finger placement is much closer together due to the instrument's compact size.

Mouthpiece: The sopranino saxophone uses a small mouthpiece, similar to those used on the soprano saxophone.

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Ranking factors for difficult woodwind instrument

Technique

The complexity of the fingerings, embouchure (mouth position), articulation, and breath control required to play the instrument.
Tone production

The ability to produce a consistent, resonant tone across the instrument's entire range, as well as the capacity to control and manipulate the tone color and dynamics.
Range

The size of the instrument's playable range and the difficulty of playing in its extreme registers (e.g., low, high, and altissimo).
Ergonomics

The physical ease or difficulty of playing the instrument, including the weight, size, and balance of the instrument, as well as the comfort and accessibility of its keywork.
Ensemble skill

The degree of difficulty in blending with other instruments and adapting to different musical styles and genres.
Intonation

The ease or difficulty of playing the instrument in tune, both individually and in an ensemble context.
Musicality and expressiveness

How challenging is it to convey musical emotions, phrasing, and details on the instrument?
Repertoire

The breadth and depth of existing literature for the instrument, as well as its versatility in various musical settings.
Learning curve

The time and effort typically required to master the instrument, including the availability of resources (such as teachers, method books, and online tutorials) to help guide the learning process.
Maintenance

The complexity of necessary maintenance, such as key adjustments, pad replacements, and cleaning, as well as the overall durability of the instrument.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult woodwind instrument to play. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or woodwind is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1951 views
226 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each woodwind once every 24 hours. The rank of each woodwind is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most difficult woodwind instrument to play

Woodwind instruments have been around for centuries and are considered one of the most diverse groups of musical instruments. The family of woodwind instruments includes flutes, clarinets, saxophones, oboes, bassoons, and more. While each instrument has its own unique challenges, many players agree that some are more difficult to play than others. When it comes to the most difficult woodwind instrument to play, opinions vary. Some argue that the oboe is the most challenging due to its difficult reed-making process and the need for precise embouchure control. Others believe that the bassoon, with its complex fingerings and large size, presents the most difficulties. The clarinet and saxophone are also known for their technical demands, especially in the higher registers. Despite the challenges, mastering a difficult woodwind instrument can be incredibly rewarding. Through diligent practice and dedication, players can unlock the full potential of these beautiful instruments and create breathtaking music for all to enjoy.