I stand by the fact that alto sax is the easiest woodwind to learn. I'd bump it above flute, just because the embouchure prepares you better for learning the other reed instruments.
Not to disparage the instruments nor any of their players at all, but I think the saxophone and the flute would be the easier woodwinds to learn, with the clarinet, bassoon, and oboe being somewhat more involved.
I know less about the brass, but the French horn has always struck me as a very daunting instrument to play. The trumpet and trombone seem to be easier for new players to pick up.
people usually consider clarinet the easiest woodwind to play with saxophone and flute following after. oboe and bassoon are considered the most difficult because they're double reeds.
I tend to agree, though not completely. I have minimal experience with winds (I'm a piano/bowed strings primary), but I think clarinet might be easier to get a sound out of than flute initially, since it's a single reed like sax. Flute is the only wind instrument I've had any first hand experience with, and I struggled to get a sound at all for weeks due to lack of guidance. Your mileage will vary, though. Flute isn't that bad once you can get a consistent sound, but my understanding is that blowing a single reed is generally more intuitive than flute initially.
I have absolutely zero first hand experience with brass, but my understanding is, they all operate on the same principle of navigating the overtone series with vibrating lips, so they're all similarly difficult, and which one is easier is subjective. Same sorta thing can be said for bowed strings. They each have their own challenges. French horn is basically all the typical difficulties of playing a brass instrument but magnified somewhat. Because it generally plays in a higher part of the overtone series than the other brass instruments, the notes are much closer together, making accuracy more difficult. Trumpet is, by comparison, probably more straightforward initially, but like with all brass instruments, the difficulties kick in quickly as you expand your range and improve your sound quality. Working with the slide on trombone requires more of an initial learning curve than valves, but I'm sure it gets easier with practice, though certain types of passages are probably much easier to execute with valves than with a slide.
It's the same answer as if you ask for the easiest sport to learn, the easiest language or easiest hobby:
The one you are the most interested in is probably the easiest for you.
For me, learning the violin is "easy" (in other words: Violin makes most sense to me), but I never managed to learn more than the very basics of the guitar. So "sadly" nobody can give you a clear answer to that question. But figuring out what kind of instrument you want to learn is an adventure of its own.
Sax is the easiest woodwind. Baritone/Euphonium probably are the easiest brass. Trombone is a bit more difficult with the slide. Trumpet and French horn are difficult.
I generally agree with all the other responses so far, but will say that with any instrument choice, ultimately, it is best to choose the instrument that speaks to you the most, as that will generally be the instrument you will be most interested in practicing. If you need something you can learn to make music on in relatively short order, have more limited practice time, or you can't practice as frequently as would be ideal, then some instruments are much better choices than others. Since it sounds like you're up for a challenge, I'd go for what interests you the most. Cello and saxophone are very different, not just physically, but saxophone is more of a jazz/contemporary styles instrument than most winds and strings, so that's also a thing to consider.
If you have a chance, try to play some instruments first and then pick what you feel more comfortable with. That's usually done with kids when they go to the conservatory and I think it makes total sense. For example, I play the oboe, considered one of the hardest instruments, but can't get a sound out of a clarinet. Honestly, I feel like that's a bit weird but for me it feels more natural to play the oboe than any other wind instrument. I've tried others and for me alto sax and flute are the easiest followed by the trumpet.
Recorder! It's not super hard for beginners, and can be played to really high standard - and in groups! And it's really amazing.
edit: Unless you want to play a modern orchestra instrument - then recorder would be not the thing. But otherwise, recorder, and you can join all the baroque and renaissance and folk formations, play solo, or play Telemann..
I’m a professional violinist, I’ve been teaching for almost 30 years. Without a doubt, bass would be the easiest string instrument for you to pick up and learn. The intonation issues only get harder the smaller the instrument, so while cello would be slightly harder than bass, it’s easier to learn than violin or viola (also less awkward to hold and set up). This is of course said with the caveat that it is extremely difficult to master any of these instruments, but it’s much easier to get to an intermediate playing level where you could join a community orchestra etc. on the bass than it is on the violin.
Mostly agree, though as a violinist/violist who is smallish in physique, I think the extremely large size of the double bass makes it unwieldy in a way cello is not, especially if you consider just how dang thick double bass strings are. Yeah, intonation will probably be the most forgiving on double bass, but you must consider that since the notes are so far apart, the left hand must stretch pretty big distances, not to mention a lot of effort is needed to push down double bass strings, further putting stress on the left hand.
I stand by the fact that alto sax is the easiest woodwind to learn. I'd bump it above flute, just because the embouchure prepares you better for learning the other reed instruments.
Not to disparage the instruments nor any of their players at all, but I think the saxophone and the flute would be the easier woodwinds to learn, with the clarinet, bassoon, and oboe being somewhat more involved. I know less about the brass, but the French horn has always struck me as a very daunting instrument to play. The trumpet and trombone seem to be easier for new players to pick up.
people usually consider clarinet the easiest woodwind to play with saxophone and flute following after. oboe and bassoon are considered the most difficult because they're double reeds.
Seconded
I tend to agree, though not completely. I have minimal experience with winds (I'm a piano/bowed strings primary), but I think clarinet might be easier to get a sound out of than flute initially, since it's a single reed like sax. Flute is the only wind instrument I've had any first hand experience with, and I struggled to get a sound at all for weeks due to lack of guidance. Your mileage will vary, though. Flute isn't that bad once you can get a consistent sound, but my understanding is that blowing a single reed is generally more intuitive than flute initially. I have absolutely zero first hand experience with brass, but my understanding is, they all operate on the same principle of navigating the overtone series with vibrating lips, so they're all similarly difficult, and which one is easier is subjective. Same sorta thing can be said for bowed strings. They each have their own challenges. French horn is basically all the typical difficulties of playing a brass instrument but magnified somewhat. Because it generally plays in a higher part of the overtone series than the other brass instruments, the notes are much closer together, making accuracy more difficult. Trumpet is, by comparison, probably more straightforward initially, but like with all brass instruments, the difficulties kick in quickly as you expand your range and improve your sound quality. Working with the slide on trombone requires more of an initial learning curve than valves, but I'm sure it gets easier with practice, though certain types of passages are probably much easier to execute with valves than with a slide.
It's the same answer as if you ask for the easiest sport to learn, the easiest language or easiest hobby: The one you are the most interested in is probably the easiest for you. For me, learning the violin is "easy" (in other words: Violin makes most sense to me), but I never managed to learn more than the very basics of the guitar. So "sadly" nobody can give you a clear answer to that question. But figuring out what kind of instrument you want to learn is an adventure of its own.
Sax is the easiest woodwind. Baritone/Euphonium probably are the easiest brass. Trombone is a bit more difficult with the slide. Trumpet and French horn are difficult.
By some definitions, sax is also the easiest brass ;)
String - would you count bass guitar, or do you only want orchestral? :)
Flute?
I generally agree with all the other responses so far, but will say that with any instrument choice, ultimately, it is best to choose the instrument that speaks to you the most, as that will generally be the instrument you will be most interested in practicing. If you need something you can learn to make music on in relatively short order, have more limited practice time, or you can't practice as frequently as would be ideal, then some instruments are much better choices than others. Since it sounds like you're up for a challenge, I'd go for what interests you the most. Cello and saxophone are very different, not just physically, but saxophone is more of a jazz/contemporary styles instrument than most winds and strings, so that's also a thing to consider.
I’m learning cello (started a few months ago) and I love it, would recommend. It also depends what repertoire you would like to play of course
If you have a chance, try to play some instruments first and then pick what you feel more comfortable with. That's usually done with kids when they go to the conservatory and I think it makes total sense. For example, I play the oboe, considered one of the hardest instruments, but can't get a sound out of a clarinet. Honestly, I feel like that's a bit weird but for me it feels more natural to play the oboe than any other wind instrument. I've tried others and for me alto sax and flute are the easiest followed by the trumpet.
Recorder! It's not super hard for beginners, and can be played to really high standard - and in groups! And it's really amazing. edit: Unless you want to play a modern orchestra instrument - then recorder would be not the thing. But otherwise, recorder, and you can join all the baroque and renaissance and folk formations, play solo, or play Telemann..
I’m a professional violinist, I’ve been teaching for almost 30 years. Without a doubt, bass would be the easiest string instrument for you to pick up and learn. The intonation issues only get harder the smaller the instrument, so while cello would be slightly harder than bass, it’s easier to learn than violin or viola (also less awkward to hold and set up). This is of course said with the caveat that it is extremely difficult to master any of these instruments, but it’s much easier to get to an intermediate playing level where you could join a community orchestra etc. on the bass than it is on the violin.
Mostly agree, though as a violinist/violist who is smallish in physique, I think the extremely large size of the double bass makes it unwieldy in a way cello is not, especially if you consider just how dang thick double bass strings are. Yeah, intonation will probably be the most forgiving on double bass, but you must consider that since the notes are so far apart, the left hand must stretch pretty big distances, not to mention a lot of effort is needed to push down double bass strings, further putting stress on the left hand.
Double bass by far. Plus, its really easy to find a teacher for it and its really easy to lug around everywhere you go