Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Make Your Backpacking Trip More Memorable With A Portable Guitar

By Essie Osborn


Backpacking is not just for students anymore. These days people go backpacking while they're considering a career change or they take a sabbatical from work for a few months. Backpacking can enrich your life in many different ways, especially if you travel to a developing country and gain perspective on your own world. Obviously there are some things to invest in when preparing for your trip, such as a good backpack. One investment you won't regret is getting a portable guitar.

By their very nature, guitars are portable. However, some are specifically designed with travel in mind. A travel guitar is smaller than the usual size for these instruments. Unlike a ukulele, which produces a more high-pitched sound, it sounds just like a regular guitar.

One of the greatest things about travel guitars is that they're so easy to take with you on the airplane. Most are designed to fall within the maximum dimensions for a piece of baggage as allowed by most airlines. They're incredibly light too, so you won't have to pay extra for excess baggage. Best of all is that they're small enough to take with you as hand luggage, so you don't have to worry about your instrument being damaged by careless baggage handlers at the airport.

What makes backpacking such an adventure is that you often take the same modes of public transport that the locals do. In many developing countries, this will likely be a bus or a minibus. Drivers and their assistants often insist on placing large items on the roof of the vehicle for the journey but if your instrument is small and compact, you'll be able to keep it with you or put it in the overhead racks. This makes it easier to quickly transfer from one vehicle to another.

You may be spending some time hiking or trekking. This is another time when you'll be grateful for only carrying a small instrument with you. Not only is it light and easy to carry but it gives you a way to pass the time around the campfire at night, especially when you're far away from civilization, WiFi connections and clubs.

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.

Many backpackers travel on a shoestring budget. It's very easy to overspend and then you might have to find a way to make some extra money. If you can play your instrument well enough, you may be able to make some cash through busking or by finding some gigs in local bars and restaurants. The owners of these establishments are often looking for new talent to entertain their clientele.

You may be able to find travel guitars at your local music store. However, there's a wider variety to be had online. You may even commission a luthier to specially build you one. Whichever way you find the instrument of your choice, it's one of the best investments you can make.




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