Thursday, April 24, 2014

Make Your Backpacking Trip More Memorable With A Portable Guitar

By Essie Osborn


These days, going backpacking for a couple of months or even a year or two has become a rite of passage like never before. It's a more economical way to see the world and to experience local culture more authentically than you would have on an organized tour. Many backpackers also allow some time for volunteering, especially when they travel to developing countries. Traveling light is the name of the game but one item that will always come in handy on a backpacking trip is a portable guitar.

Of course all guitars are portable since this is how the instrument was designed. However, they're not normally the most traveler friendly objects. They're awkwardly shaped and bulky. However, travel guitars are made specifically for musicians who want to be on the road a lot. They're smaller by comparison but produce a similar sound, unlike ukuleles, which produce sounds at a higher pitch.

Travel guitars are wonderful for airplane trips. Manufacturers often take into account the maximum sizes of luggage that you're allowed to take with you into the cabin and then ensure that their guitars fall within those limits. The result is that you won't have to check in your instrument but can simply keep it with you as hand luggage. This eliminates the risk of the instrument getting damaged by baggage handlers.

One of the joys of backpacking is that instead of traveling in air-conditioned tour buses, you normally travel in local modes of transport. These tend to be rickety buses or trucks or, in some areas, boats. While people can, and do, take anything imaginable onto these vehicles, from furniture to livestock, larger pieces of luggage normally have to go onto the luggage tack on the roof. This can slow you down and you don't get to keep an eye on your belongings either, but a travel-sized instrument can be kept with you instead.

Many backpacking destinations offer incredible opportunities for trekking through jungle or among mountains. These journeys can take a few days and you may very well be completely removed from civilization for the duration. You'll be glad that you've brought a musical instrument to help pass the long evenings but you'll be even more grateful that this instrument weighs hardly anything and is easy to carry around.

The instrument comes in handy for hostel life too. It helps promote social interaction as people get together to make music. However, it also allows you to escape the crowds and find a form of meditation while you sit an play somewhere quiet.

Some people think that taking musical instruments along when you go backpacking is silly and impractical. However, they forget that musicians can easily make money on the road. You can busk for some extra coins anywhere you want. In many backpacker bars you may even be able to get a paid gig or two to help supplement your income.

Stores that sell musical instruments sometimes have a travel guitar or two in stock. However, if you're looking for a variety to choose from, your best option is to look online. Some companies even specialize in making travel guitars only. If you're a serious guitarist, an alternative is to ask a luthier to build an instrument especially for you.




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