# Which needs more brain power IYO?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-needs-more-brain-power-iyo/613013>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [February 16, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-needs-more-brain-power-iyo/613013 "2012-02-16T05:26:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-needs-more-brain-power-iyo/613013/1 "2012-02-16T05:26:10Z")

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Someone made a comment somewhere about, maybe the ‘stupid mammal thread’ about hands needing more brain usage than say flippers.

I am curious.

Sight read & play a reasonably complex piece for the first time and have the skill to do so reasonably. = Fairly accomplished musician.  
( Music that could / would be suitable for the following. )  
On a piano  
On an accordion  
On a violin  
On a guitar  
On an organ  
On an suitable reed instrument

Your reasons if you wish.

I vote - piano - accordion - organ - then I have no knowledge.

What say you?

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**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-needs-more-brain-power-iyo/613013/2 "2012-02-16T05:40:40Z")

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Jesus Christ, my brain is bleeding.

Joe

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**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-needs-more-brain-power-iyo/613013/3 "2012-02-16T07:20:29Z")

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Hmm, I would rank violin ahead of guitar, because of the precision involved. On a violin, your finger better come down in precisely the right spot on the fingerboard; on a guitar, the frets give you a little wiggle room.

And I would think organ would be a little more difficult than piano, because you have to pull out the stops and do a lot more with your feet.

Two caveats, however:

1. More difficult doesn’t necessarily mean more brain power.

2. I think composers will push a player’s talent as far as they can to get the sound they want. If guitar is easier to play than violin, people will write more difficult music for the guitar, and it will even out.