The PIANO is BOTH the easiest and hardest instrument.

[jhon]

For me, piano is the most versatile instrument - so versatile to the point that it could be either the easiest or the hardest - if you know what I mean.  

[pianohopper]

It's also the BEST instrument - solo or otherwise.

[kghayesh]

The piano can be so easy in the begining when you first start learning all the notes and the scales (C, G, A,....etc.) Then when you play from Beyer of Czerny and those stuff.

But its difficulty gradually rises, as your repretoire progresses to higher levels. From easy Bach, Mozart, Kulhau to Rachmaninov and Liszt.

Just to play a Chopin Ballade or a Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody or a Rachmaninov Etude-Tableaux well you need so much hard work, practice and most important dedication.

[Rach3]

From easy Bach, Mozart, Kulhau to Rachmaninov and Liszt.

What is it with Bach and Mozart being referred to as 'easy'? And the other guy is spelled "Kuhlau".

-Rach3

[kghayesh]

I didn't mean that they are easy.

Watch my words, I said from EASY Bach, Mozart not Bach, Mozart.
Here i meant their easy works only not all of them coz you rarely find an easy Rach or Liszt work.

[ako]

I'd have to say each instrument has its difficulties. Knowing how to play the piano definitely helps in picking up other instruments since the music is written on both staves.

[thierry13]

There is no easier, harder instrument. There is harder repertoire for particular instruments, tough.

[alzado]

I believe the deck is stacked here, since obviously anyone on PIANO FORUM plays the piano.   All this praise of the piano as "best instrument" is too much like applauding ourselves.

How about some independent "third party" to comment?

Such as a professional violinist or a french horn player?  Or an audiophile who doesn't seriously play any instrument.