Why is Violin So Hard?
Hi everyone, Joel Kennedy here from Kennedy Violins. Today, I want to tackle a question we get all the time: “Is the violin hard to learn?”
The short answer? Yes.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.
In fact, every instrument becomes challenging at some point. Whether it’s piano, clarinet, or drums, they all require time, patience, and consistency to master. The violin, however, is uniquely difficult—especially in the beginning. Let’s explore the four biggest reasons why learning the violin can feel so tough (and how you can overcome them).
1. Your Hands Must Work in Opposite Directions
Unlike many instruments, violin playing demands two completely different kinds of motions at the same time. Your right hand moves the bow horizontally across the strings, while your left hand moves vertically to change pitches—and often shifts sideways as well.
That kind of coordination doesn’t come naturally. With instruments like piano or flute, your hands often mirror or complement each other in similar ways. On the violin, though? Your brain has to develop brand-new connections just to get the basic coordination down.
It’s no wonder beginners feel overwhelmed—but trust me, it’s absolutely possible to train your brain with good guidance and practice.
2. The Technique Is Totally Counterintuitive
Most people’s instinct is to grip things tightly to maintain control. But violin technique is all about relaxed balance.
When holding the bow, you might want to squeeze it—but in reality, your grip needs to be so light it feels like you might drop it. Likewise, instead of clutching the violin neck like a baseball bat, your left hand barely touches the instrument at all. Most of the violin’s support actually comes from your chin and shoulder.
This goes against everything your brain thinks you should do. And that’s why early violin technique feels so unnatural—at first.
But here’s the good news: if you’re aware of this from the beginning, you’ll have a much better shot at building correct habits that stick.
3. There Are No Frets—Just Your Ears
On instruments like guitar, you have frets to help you land on the right pitch. On the violin? Nothing. No markings. No guides. Just a smooth fingerboard and your own ear.
That means your only shot at playing in tune is massive repetition and ear training. You’ll need to place your fingers in the same spots thousands of times while developing the ability to recognize when you're even slightly off.
To make things more complicated, finger spacing changes depending on where you are on the fingerboard, what string you’re on, and even the tuning and setup of your instrument.
So yes—it’s hard. But with patience, the muscle memory and ear development will come.
4. It’s Hard to Sound Good
Let’s be honest: in the early days of violin playing, sounding good is a challenge.
Why? Because producing a beautiful tone involves an infinite number of variables with your bow. You need to control:
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Weight vs. speed of the bow
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Where you’re playing (near the bridge or fingerboard)
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The natural characteristics of each string
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And even the position of your left hand (which affects string length and vibration)
To sound pleasant, you need to adapt to all of these factors simultaneously. That’s a lot! But again, the key to progress is:
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Consistent practice
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Correct technique
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And avoiding bad habits from the start
So… Is It Worth It?
Absolutely. The violin’s steep learning curve is real, but it’s also what makes it so rewarding. Once you get past the initial hurdles, the violin becomes one of the most expressive, versatile, and satisfying instruments to play.
If you're just getting started, check out my video “Can I Teach Myself Violin?” where I go into detail about how to build the right habits from day one. (Spoiler: yes, you can teach yourself—but you’ll want the right tools and advice.)
And remember, here at Kennedy Violins, we’re not just a shop—we’re players and teachers, too. If you have any questions about technique, gear, or getting started, we’re always happy to help.
