The sound of music...a question to the musicians...

Hello people,

What musical instruments do people take with them when they go away for...say between 1 and 3 months? I presume portable things, not full size guitars? I'm only asking because as a guitarist, I don't really know what to do when I go on holidays. I often get my musical cravings.

so what instruments do you take along with you, or do you just suffer it out?

NB: If this is in the wrong section please move it, I thought this was probably the most apropriate place...

This is in the right section, don't worry.

I remember somebody asking this before, the person decided to take a guitar with hir. It was a cheap 3/4 guitar, one that would be easier to haul around than a full size one and that wouldn't cause a heart break if it got lost, stolen or broken beyond repair.

If you normally use an item everyday and find that you cannot do without it on the road best take it along, no matter how stupid it may seem at first.

Just keep an eye on luggage restrictions if you are flying with your guitar. And depending on where you are going to you might find it easy to pick up one on the road, eliminating the need to bring one from home with you.

[ Edit: Edited on 22-Oct-2009, at 16:27 by t_maia ]

Luggage restrictions is exactly the problem. Hmmm....

Thats a cool idea, think about getting one while on the road, or when I'm there...I didn't think about that before.

I went with a group of about 15 people to Fiji for a month this summer. Two people brought along a small backpack guitar. So glad they did! They are very lightweight and have a slim travel case. Because we had no electricity, we provided our own entertainment, and had a much better trip for it!

If you are traveling with another person, someone else can easily also pack a small hand drum. One of our guitarists also had a three-ring binder with song lyrics and guitar tabs so we could sing with him, and the other girl could play the songs she didn't know.

Our biggest frustration was not knowing all the words to many songs we "knew." Having the instruments was great, though.

My harmonica. Not loud, light, small, easy to learn and an instrument that can be played along with just about anything or anyone.

Problem with that or an ocarina and stuff is that I'd have to learn to play it before leaving. I'd give it one hell of a try, and having already learnt recorder several years back I'm sure I'd pick it up quickly, and I play guitar anyway...I'll have to think about it.

Go with the harmonica. You can buy an excellent one for less than €75. It fits in your pocket, it's not hard to learn, the locals will love it and it sounds lovely.

Djembe. Where theres a drum, theres a circle. And circular formations allow for the flow of energy to much more easily pass by. It just makes sense!