travelling with music

“Hello! I just found this site....looks good.
What I was wondering is if anyone has ever travelled with musical instruments, and if they would recommend it.
I have a drum and my travel partner a guitar, and we planned to do some busking on our travels, but I have been cautioned against taking it...
any information would be helpful and welcome. I have never been backpacking before, and dont know what to expect etc...
thanks and peace”

“A drum is probably a little heavy to backpack with, not to mention it might get you tossed in the campfire. There are special "backpacking" guitars made, but it's still a lot of weight. It would probably be more acceptable than a drum though. Drum sound carries too far.”

“I can't speak for everybody else, but I never go on the trail without my pipe organ. Nothing like a Bach cantata at sunset!”

“Hey, I heard Bach had no stops on his organ.















That's why he had so many kids!”

“i THINK Pail is talking about the European form of backpacking - like traveling from hostel to hostel?”

“lmao. Good one bit.

What the heck is busking?!”

“I always backpack with my Strat, Tele, SG, a 120 Watt Marshal stack, a full compliment of pedals, effects rack and a generator.”

“busking is playing music, singing, performing for donations - on the sidewalk, in a train station, etc.”

“Maybe, tbb. Having never done that sort of thing, perhaps it's more acceptable to play instruments in the hostels in the evenings. But I don't think I've ever seen even a harmonica on the trail, much less guitars or drums.

Most musical instruments are pretty susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature. I'd think twice about taking anything more complex than a harmonica or a Jew's harp on the trail.”

“Dang BWD, we gotta get together and jam sometime. You ever heard "Does Your Chewing Gum Lost Its Flavor" played on a pipe organ?”

“A few years ago someone backpacked the Appalachian trail with a tuba.

I'd suggest you do some backpacking without instruments... or stick to a harmonicas for a trip or two and then take your guitar and a light drum. Some trails its easy to take instruments, on others its very hard. I've seen people playing guitars in a shelter, I've also come across a smashed up guitar by the side of a particularly difficult trail (the Six Husbands trail in New Hampshire).”

“I saw a very nice backpacker's size banjo at a luthiers' shop in Gatlinburg of all places. Very nice.”

“The guy who hiked with a tuba must have been nuts. Even the smallest ones are heavy. I don't think I ever played one that weighed less than 18 pounds.”

“Pail, if you're going to do hostel to hostel bping, I would bring it and just watch it carefully. Some hostels are safe and some are sketchy.”

“..when I go backpacking I am looking to see and hear the sounds of nature. I become annoyed by the sound of someone else's music.”

“i see stump has never hiked with Artex then....


~toot~toot'”

“If you are any good at playing the guitar/drum it'd be alright. But if ya suck, and play lousy music, then lose it. I'd be willing to sit down and listen to some good music. :)”

“i got a 3/4 for me son, which i will be taking backpacking. it's really cool to play out in the wilderness....at times.

there are times i've been camping and never had the urge to play, never even got it out. other times, i HAVE to play, and am very inspired and can hardly put it down......


ya never know”

“You ever heard "Does Your Chewing Gum Lost Its Flavor" played on a pipe organ?"
Geobeet
12:20:34 PM
04/17/03


Wasn't that a favorite of Feathers McGraw in the animated classic "The Wrong Trousers" featuring Wallace and Grommit?”

“pennywhistle -- steel & plastic, can be played underwater if need be.”

“hey, thanks for all the advice guys. We were talking, and me and my partner have decided against the instruments (well the drum and guitar anyways). At least for this trip. I have a penny whistle though ;)(good idea Tilt)And he has a harmonica!!! haha. .... a tuba?!”

“I used to play the tuba too! the Sousaphone (marching) tuba is alot easier to carry than a concert tuba, but they both make great echoes from the top of the mountain (gotta be careful in moose and elk country though!)”

“might manage a mating call by accident? That would make an interesting trip report....”

“OH yeah... the highest note on a 'D' pennywhistle can carry for MILES... LOL

No telling what that might call up. Banshees and whatnot, <G>”

“i knew you were a pervert tilt!”