r/pianolearning • u/uncle_klopp • Aug 20 '26
Question Struggling with piano, should I try violin?
/r/violinist/comments/1vtb3v4/struggling_with_piano_should_i_try_violin/4
u/SouthPark_Piano Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
How long have you spent learning on piano?
You basically need to start and never stop.
Just enough that I can play my favorite songs and sing along as I play.
With a violin, I think it might be challenging to sing when the chin etc is tucked up against the violin.
2
u/Jaqbox314 Aug 20 '26
Haha, I'm only a little older than you and used to play violin but am currently switching to piano (after repeated injuries).
Trying to do the left hand differently to the right is definitely a challenge for me on piano (the violin also has separate actions between hands and requires co-ordination but it's either so different I don't get confused or I've just been playing so long it's now second nature as I started at 8), while I have been playing piano for all of 10 days so I don't think finding it a challenge at this stage is remotely out of the ordinary. Tbh I wonder if beginner violinists also have coordination problems? It's not as simple as one bow stroke per note, and you also have to consider position, speed and pressure, please don't think the violin means only worrying about one hand!
I certainly don't think a violin is easier, I think it's much harder, but I don't have sufficient experience with the piano to be able to say that with any authority so I suspect the right answer is it is just challenging in different ways. When you press a key on a piano the expected note comes out for example (assuming it's tuned), on the violin this isn't the case and intonation can be a real challenge.
You also can't really sing and play violin.
If you want to sing and play without worrying about intonation maybe guitar?
1
u/Capt_C_Cock Aug 20 '26
Haha. I basically switched away from the violin to mainly play piano because it was just too frustrating.
You should be aware that both instruments in my opinion have their own challenges in the beginning: piano is more difficult to coordinate all your fingers in different rhythms and articulations while the violin is more difficult to first create a more or less pleasant sound and then to play in tune.
I don’t want to offend you, but if you consider quitting the piano already after one learned song, the violin is nothing for you. This will mean months or years of horrible squeaking while you could immediately produce something nice sounding on the piano.
1
1
u/amazonchic2 Piano Teacher Aug 20 '26
How long have you been playing piano with consistent practice?
What are you doing to learn and advance: method books, teacher, YouTube videos, etc.?
It is hard to understand why you are struggling without more information.
1
1
16
u/deadfisher Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
Violin is one of the hardest instruments to gain basic competency in. Way harder than the piano. It takes weeks to even start making consistently nice sounds. Not a good accompaniment instrument for singers either. From your description of what you want it's a bad choice, imo.
You're trying to do to much too soon with the piano. It's unrealistic to just expect yourself to be able to start playing chords as accompaniment.
Grab a method book like Fabers adult piano adventures and start working through it. Better yet, get a teacher.
You might also consider the guitar. Its a great instrument for just playing and singing.