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2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)

01 Jan 00 - 01:51 PM (#156620)
Subject: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Peter T.

An intriguing Mudcat Music question to start the year off. (I know there are lots, but what the heck).
I was at a party yesterday, and got into a conversation with a teenager who had read Richard Holmes' "Footsteps" (one of the best travel/literature books ever written) and was thinking about spending the summer following his route through the south of France, and goofing around generally in that part of the world. He wanted to take a musical instrument with him that he could backpack, and that he could sing along with. If he got the right instrument, he was prepared to spend the time until June or July learning it enough so as to keep him company. I suggested a 3/4 guitar, but he said that was still too big to lug around -- he was going to travel light. I suggested a harmonica or a tin whistle, but he likes to sing. I vaguely suggested a concertina, but really don't know anything about them. Do Mudcatters have any thoughts about what a good travelling instrument under these constraints that you can tuck away into a knapsack might be? Do you have experience travelling with any small portable anythings that you could share? We have had threads about travelling with guitars, and so on, but this is really about a smaller kind of music maker, I guess. It just struck me as an intriguing question somebody out there must have wrestled with.
yours, Peter T.

01 Jan 00 - 01:57 PM (#156623)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: emily rain

ukelele

african style harp type thing (easily found in a specialty music store like lark in the morning): just a wooden bow with a few strings across it and a gourd for resonance. they come in all sizes.

which reminds me of kalimba/mbira/thumb piano

01 Jan 00 - 01:57 PM (#156624)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Margo

That's one reason why I like my concertina: it's small! Of course, putting it into a hard case, it is as big as a large women's handbag. But the handle can be strapped onto other things. I'd get an English if I were him. I suppose the Anglo players might disagree with me, but after trying both before buying, I found that the English was more suitable for playing chords while I sing. My opinion there. There are some itty bitty concertinas with 20 buttons. Mine hase 48 (I think that's right) Happy New Year, Peter!

01 Jan 00 - 02:00 PM (#156626)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Peter T.

Boy that was fast. You ladies must be hanging around the machine waiting for the champagne hangover to fade....Thanks! More??????Yours, Peter T.

01 Jan 00 - 02:03 PM (#156628)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Mikal

Hey, I am a drummer: He needs a Bodrhan. It is flat, mostly. You can pack inside it. It never needs intensive tuning, and it it is a fairly fun thing to play.

Your only problems is it cannot carry a tune, nor are you always welcome with it....Ah, forget the last joke, it never got me kicked out of anywhere!

Mikal

01 Jan 00 - 02:05 PM (#156630)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: katlaughing

Peter, I think the guitar thing could still work, as the "backpack" one's I've seen are a lot les than 3/4 sized. Some of them even fold up.

Fielding! Where are you??!! He'll know.

kat...no hangover.**BG**

01 Jan 00 - 02:05 PM (#156631)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: emily rain

forget the hangover; i'm waiting for the champagne to fade. : )

01 Jan 00 - 02:10 PM (#156634)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Peter T.

My understanding is that that the foldup guitars aren't very good, but what do I know? I guess a really small guitar (one tuned higher) might work. I suspect he wants something that can stand some beating. Maybe he should just take a Karaoke CD player with him......yours, Peter T.

01 Jan 00 - 02:13 PM (#156637)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Peter T.

By the way, emily, what are a kalimba/mbira/thumb piano?yours, Peter T.

01 Jan 00 - 02:22 PM (#156640)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Gary T

An autoharp would probably fit, and be fairly versatile for accompanying various songs. The potential drawbacks would be weight, retuning, and possibility complexity/delicacy.

01 Jan 00 - 02:31 PM (#156643)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: emily rain

imagine a wooden box, about four inches by five inches by two inches, hollow, with a one and a half inch soundhole on the top. you hold it in both hands like a book you are presenting to someone. this leaves your thumbs on top and relatively free. there are thin strips of steel attached to the top, which you can pluck with your thumbs to make a "bwong bwong bwong" kind of sound.

kalimba is tuned to a western octave, mbira uses a whatever tuning system is standard for the region. thumb piano is a general term.

excellent photo. the gourd around it is a resonator and is optional.

01 Jan 00 - 02:31 PM (#156644)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Jeri

A concertina would be expensive and a bit difficult to learn in a couple of months. Mandolins are fairly small, and it's possible to learn chords quickly. My nuber one suggestion however, is an autoharp. They aren't too big, and are easy to play if you just want to accompany singing.

01 Jan 00 - 02:50 PM (#156649)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: wildlone

I would agree with auto harp you can even get three bar ones that are very small 9 inches by 18 inches by 1.5 inches,with a cheap chromatic tuner it would'nt take up much space just pack clothes around it.
you may have guessed by the above I have such.

01 Jan 00 - 03:24 PM (#156670)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: _gargoyle

Button Box Concertina - One long weekend and you can play a dozen songs by ear....cost about 150.00 US in a pawn-shop.

Unable, to transport a piano I "latched onto" any keyboard instrument I could "borrow", mostly organs, as I traveled, eventually progressed to fullsized accordian (mailed it ahead and also lugged it around by train - too bulky still.

Extensive backpacking, (all three US ranges) led me to, recorder and harmonica....size and weight were primary concerns.

01 Jan 00 - 04:55 PM (#156702)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: McGrath of Harlow

Ideally a fiddle. But that takes a lot of learning.

Mouth organs are tough, small cheap(ish), and easy to learn by yourself, and to play with others. And he can sing the verses and play in between, or when someonme else is doing the singing or playing.

Bones rather than bodhran - smaller, tougher, less obtrusive, and ppeople always ask you to show them how to play them. And it's the only instrument you can play while you're pouring a drink down your throat.

Penny whistle because it's cheap, small, tough and potentially the most beautiful of all.

So I'd suggest a couple of mouth organs (maybe a double sided one with two keys - or a chromatic one), plus a pair of bones and a D whistle.

01 Jan 00 - 05:06 PM (#156707)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: wildlone

I supose that if he were very clever he could sing along to whistles,mouth organs and the like but as you have found it takes years of practise to talk out of your arse let alone sing.
and to think he once called me an idiot

01 Jan 00 - 06:16 PM (#156732)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: catspaw49

Small Appalachian Dulcimer. Its an offshoot of the French Epinette. Easy to learn and good to sing with. The key is getting a smaller one. Let me know if that's an interest Peter. Autoharps and concertinas are too heavy. If he's not too serious about it, a strum stick would do and be fun.

Spaw

01 Jan 00 - 06:19 PM (#156734)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Mike Billo

Emily hit the nail on the head with the first reply. Ukulele!

I often wonder why more people don't play this incredible little instrument.

01 Jan 00 - 06:23 PM (#156735)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: longhair

Martin use to make, and may still make, a guitar they called a Backpacker(I think that's the name of it). It had a small body but a pretty decent sound. I also saw a very small Taylor that had an excellent sound I thought. I also agree w/ the Mandolin thought. FWIW

01 Jan 00 - 06:31 PM (#156738)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: DonMeixner

I would lean towards an Autoharp myself. The gog bag works like a brief case. Versatile, fairly small, quick to learn. Schmidt used to make a smaller one for school kids. Keith Young makes a good Harp and as I recall its smaller than many.

If frets are desired, then there is no question

A Tiple.

Don

01 Jan 00 - 06:39 PM (#156742)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Big Mick

Peter, it's the mandolin or the Martin Backpacker for sure. CLICK HERE for a picture of a used one that Elderly has. If they use the search engine on the Elderly site which is at www.elderly.com they will come up with a number of new and used. There is even one with a pickup, although for the life of me I canna figure why you would do that. If there is interest in one of the used ones which go for between $100 and $175 US, I would be happy to check out the instrument on one of my forays into the shop.

Big Mick

01 Jan 00 - 07:13 PM (#156756)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Jon Freeman

Of the instruments that I play, the mandolin or even mandolin banjo would be suitable and both of these should be obtainable very cheaply. Melodeon and concertina both fit the requrements but concertina's in particular tend to be expensive if you want one that plays reasonably well. It is also a lot easier to sing, strumming chords than it is to try and accompany yourelf on the reeded instruments.

Jon

01 Jan 00 - 07:24 PM (#156759)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: catspaw49

Tiple?

Spaw

01 Jan 00 - 07:43 PM (#156762)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: DonMeixner

Spaw,

Yes, I believe there was a thread........

Don

01 Jan 00 - 08:08 PM (#156769)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Bill D

well, perhaps an inflatable guitar would help....they SEEM serious

01 Jan 00 - 08:28 PM (#156783)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: catspaw49

Uh...yeah............er, uh..............sure.................

Why not just throw a few strings ON THIS and kill two birds with one stone...so to speak.

Spaw

01 Jan 00 - 08:32 PM (#156785)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: emily rain

how DO you do it, 'spaw? do you just type "tasteless" into some search engine and see what comes up?

01 Jan 00 - 08:38 PM (#156787)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Alice

Taishokoto, or called a "banjo" in India. Inexpensive keyboard/dulcimer in a case. Comes in different lengths.

click here for photo Order from Ethnic Musical Instruments click here

01 Jan 00 - 08:48 PM (#156791)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Alice

here's a direct link to a keyboard dulcimer (Indian banjo) for $50. You strum the strings with the right hand and press the keys that chord the strings with the left hand. Easy to learn. click here

02 Jan 00 - 12:46 AM (#156878)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Wesley S

I vote for the mandolin. He could probabally find one cheap. I think Lark in the Morning sells a travel model thats tiny. Or perhaps a tenor guitar. Four strings and easier to learn.

I would also highly suggest a book called "The Backpackers Songbook". I got mine from Martin guitars for only $5.50. Great collection of songs, chord diagrams and some good first aid information included also. All in a book about 5 x 8 inches. Work checking out.

02 Jan 00 - 01:03 AM (#156888)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Rosebrook

Being a proud novice player of a gorgeous, new hammered dulcimer (how fun!), I wanted to share that I saw a 9/8 backpacker hammered dulcimer on e-bay today. Looks very cool. (No, I don't get a commission for mentioning it here!) It looks like it would make a nice travelin' companion.

Rose

02 Jan 00 - 02:08 AM (#156891)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Les B

How about a brown paper bag as played by David Holt & others (the poor person's Bodhran) They're also great for holding candy bars and dirty sox.

02 Jan 00 - 10:54 AM (#156980)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Peter T.

Phew, as ever, awesome. A few more questions and then I'll get this printed out.
1) Small Appalachian dulcimer. Is that the one with the hammers or the long stringy thing? (I seem to remember a thread where I asked this question before, he said in embarrassment.). Does it play chords, or just single notes?
2) Alice, does an Taishokoto (sounds Japanese to me) or Indian banjo sound like an autoharp? Is it strung for Western-style music? (To tell you the truth, I am personally fascinated by it.)
3) What is a melodeon?
4) What is the tradeoff in autoharps? The smaller they are the fewer chord bars or something?
5) This has been asked a hundred times, but it would be nice to have it here in this thread: is a button box concertina the 20 button model and the other larger? (I don't understand the difference between an Anglo and an English model. Must be because I am Anglo-English). Could someone just donate a paragraph on the differences, etc.?
Thanks again for the continuing suggestions.
yours, Peter T.

02 Jan 00 - 11:04 AM (#156983)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Peter T.

sorry, forgot the all important:
6) The concept of the bumperdumper eludes me. Who would crap on the highway? (Even to ask this question relegates me to the 19th or 20th centuries of distant memory). Is this to get back at someone who has stolen your parking place? And what is the turkey for? (even to ask this question......)
yours, Peter T.

02 Jan 00 - 11:05 AM (#156984)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: MandolinPaul

Mandolin's the way to go.

Mike: More people don't play the ukulele because it reminds them too much of that silly little Mickey Mouse guitar that they had when they were three years old.

Want to piss off a mandolin-player? Say, "Wow! Is that ever a nice ukulele!" It works on me every time.

Paul.

02 Jan 00 - 11:06 AM (#156985)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Tony Burns

I'll also suggest mandolin. I have one that someone thought was called a pocket mandolin. It is 23" long but only 5" wide (Just wider than the bridge.) and less thatn 2" thick. The problem might be finding one. I have only seen mine and one at the 12th Fret. However, now that you know such a thing exists you could call around. Mine has no markings to indicate who made it or when. Oh, and it only cost me $50.00CDN. My other suggestion would be a banjo mandolin Peter. Do you remember the one Davie had at the Tranzac? Lark In The Morning has one for $95.00US on their Mandolin page.

02 Jan 00 - 11:14 AM (#156989)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: catspaw49

Hi Peter...App. is "long stringy thingy"--traditionally single noted with drone strings, gives bagpipe effect, which helps to explain the popularity in the southern mountains where the Scots/Irish root music was strong. Hammered is a board zither struck with hammers, derived from the psaltery. Apps can be and are often chorded. This is easier with a small scale fretboard (length of instrument determines scale--ratio). I wouldn't suggest any multi-string things such as autoharps or hammered dulcimers for a beginner travelling-too many tuning problems. This link doesn't always work, but if not try Lark in the Morning and check the Mountain(Applachian) dulcimers....there is a small one listed with a sound clip for, I think, $65.00 US.

Spaw

02 Jan 00 - 11:17 AM (#156990)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Alice

Peter, I am still waiting until I am employed again before I add to my instrument collection, but I have wanted a taishokoto for a long time, and got some information about it from asking questions here on the Mudcat. I'll refresh that thread for you. You can tune the strings the way you want to. It is like an American lap dulcimer. -alice

02 Jan 00 - 11:35 AM (#156997)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Alice

the thread discussing taishokoto seems to be buried under another subject heading, but I did find information from an email from takeo:

Alice Flynn wrote
:

> I have found a source for the instruments that I can purchase in the
> United States, made in Pakistan. They are called a banjo in India.

yes, i saw another indian source catalog that also call taisho-koto as banjo.

> Here is a picture... different, because the small one has typewriter
> keys instead of piano keys. The big one is $60 US, the typewriter one
> $50 US.

wow, really cheap! and japanese one is usually typewriter one.

> I called the company. They said the
> strings are like guitar strings, and the sound is like a dulcimer. I am
> going to customize the tuning so I can use it to play Irish and American
> folk music.
> If you have any more information about the taishokoto, I would
> appreciate it. Thank you. Alice

recently i bought one book that explain japanese traditional musical instruments. here are taisho-koto part translation for you (sorry for wrong english):

------------------

taisho-koto,
taisho-koto, applied piano key to 2 string fletless harp, was invented by mr. goro morita, aka. mr. nisaburo kawaguchi or aka. onkai who lived in nagoya(*1), circa 1913. because it was easy to play very much and not so expensive, it soon became to be boomed among people. 2 steel string located on body, though today 5 string, and strings are covered with music sheet board (*2), and button are arranged like type writer for chromatical 2 octave range (*3). today's tuning is as follows; thin 3 string for same pitch to G, and semi bold string to one octave lower G (*4). the final bold string that is nearest to player, and not to be fletted by key button, is used for bass accompaniment to the pitch of D or C or some other key note of the tune, though this 5th string don't have to be played for usual tunes. the key buttons are arranged as the same as piano. if one push certain key, all 4 string are fletted at the same time. player push one button and strum the whole 4 string with flat pick. this taisho-koto was transmitted to south asia and india, and even used for accompanying isramic hymn(*5).

---------

*1, nagoya: where i have lived through my life.
*2, music sheet board: where player locate music score standed like piano.
*3, button arrangement: i once told you buttons arrangement are the same width like piano and not narrower for higher pitch, this was wrong. they are really varies.
*4, all 4 strings are straight steel string like 1st & 3rd string for guitar, only 5th string is round wound one like 4th guitar string.
*5, guess if yours is made in pakistan, its original purpose is for isramic hymn.

hope you enjoy!

-takeo

02 Jan 00 - 12:46 PM (#157016)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Peter T.

(totally hilarious, Alice!) It sounds like they adapted a traditional koto (or typewriter, for that matter), and it ended up a dulcimer. This remains a bizarre story, which is somewhat unbelievable -- how did it get to Pakistan or India? (WWWII?).
yours, Peter T.

02 Jan 00 - 12:59 PM (#157021)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Rick Fielding

Autoharps, though fairly compact, are heavy and sound like ratshit if they're even slightly out of tune. By the time you've walked half a mile I garantee it will have been jiggled way out of tune. The mandolin, although REALLY compact, needs a lot of technique to be an accompaniement instrument in other than a very few keys..likewise the concertina. As far as I'm concerned there's only one instrument that fits the bill in all ways..the baritone uke, or tenor guitar.(they're VERY similar) Both are dead simple to play (if tuned like the 4 high strings on a guitar) and with a capo, can be hugely versatile. They're not that difficult to find, are usually cheap, can (easily) fit in the above luggage container on a plane, and if you want power....can be equipped with a pickup. Mine is a Regal "courting guitar" from early in the century and cost 75 bucks (Canadian).

Rick

02 Jan 00 - 01:12 PM (#157022)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Rick Fielding

Autoharps, though fairly compact, are heavy and sound like ratshit if they're even slightly out of tune. By the time you've walked half a mile I garantee it will have been jiggled way out of tune. The mandolin, although REALLY compact, needs a lot of technique to be an accompaniement instrument in other than a very few keys..likewise the concertina. As far as I'm concerned there's only one instrument that fits the bill in all ways..the baritone uke, or tenor guitar.(they're VERY similar) Both are dead simple to play (if tuned like the 4 high strings on a guitar) and with a capo, can be hugely versatile. They're not that difficult to find, are usually cheap, can (easily) fit in the above luggage container on a plane, and if you want power....can be equipped with a pickup. Mine is a Regal "courting guitar" from early in the century and cost 75 bucks (Canadian).

Rick

02 Jan 00 - 01:13 PM (#157023)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Rick Fielding

And that goes double for me

Rick

02 Jan 00 - 02:33 PM (#157037)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: katlaughing

YES! YES! Baritone ukes are wonderful! Peter, early on last year we had a great thread on that. I was trying to decide which I wanted. The courting guitars are beautiful,too.

If he isn't too serious and wants to be inexpensive, he can get a decent sounding baritone uke at West World Music. My sister bought one for about $35 U.S., supposedly for school, then gave it to me. While it isn't as nice as her's, it is sufficient for an amateur like me.

Fun thread!

kat

03 Jan 00 - 11:27 AM (#157400)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Peter T.

Continuing thanks. The top picks seem to be: ukelele, or baritone uke, mandolin, Martin backpacker, concertina of some kind, Indian banjo, Appalachian dulcimer, personal swing band following in U-Haul.
yours, Peter T.

03 Jan 00 - 12:27 PM (#157419)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Danlbear

Whatever happened to the days or "Bach"and "Beethoven" when the travelling musician travelled the countryside on horseback with his or her piano strapped on his back?

03 Jan 00 - 01:33 PM (#157444)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: sophocleese

Did actually see in Heidelberg a pianist with his piano on large yellow wheels. He parked it under an overhanging shop front and regaled passers-by with some lovely music. Perhaps your friend would consider using a piano as a combination of instrument, luggage compartment, go-cart and, with tarpaulin, emergency shelter. He could even attach a bunper dumper. He could call himself a son of one of the Goons.

03 Jan 00 - 01:40 PM (#157447)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: InOBU

Lugging around Uilleann pipes, I can sympathise. How bout a Hurdy Gurdy, (if he has LOTS of cash to spend). Larry

03 Jan 00 - 02:17 PM (#157451)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Bert

I really hate advertising other peoples stuff here, but this thingie might work.

http://www.netstuff.com/strumstick/strum.htm

I think it's a bit pricey, but it looks fun.

Bert.

03 Jan 00 - 02:26 PM (#157454)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Easy Rider

You know those little toy Grand pianos, made of plastic, that little kids play with? They do actually make music, not much bass, but music just the same...

03 Jan 00 - 02:59 PM (#157468)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Sean Belt

I've got to go with Catspaw on this one. I play several stringed things. But for travel, I always carry my Appalachian dulcimer. I take mine with me on business trips to while away the time in hotels, as well on camping and floating trips in the Ozarks. It's light and compact enough that it fits well in the airlines' overhead bins or under my seat.

Another advantage to the dulcimer is that it's easy to learn to play, while affording a picker the opportunity to get as complicated as he/she wants with chording and finger picking patterns. And best of all, you can tune it to play in the keys in which you most comfortably sing.

What more could a person want in a travel instrument?

03 Jan 00 - 03:08 PM (#157471)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: DonMeixner

Oh all right! I'll relent and agree with Rick on this. For some reason I missed the fact that this was for a novice type traveler. A Baritone Uke or a tenor guitar would be the most versatile. best range for the weight and size of the instruments gathered here. Altho' a tiple does have a certain charm.

Don

03 Jan 00 - 04:00 PM (#157491)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: wildlone

Just a passing thread creep,the pictures of the tiple seem to show an instrument similar to the one the Portugesse luthiers call the English guitar, arn't the late night progs on tv great thats where I saw an interview with a Portugesse luthier.

03 Jan 00 - 07:52 PM (#157582)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Roger in Baltimore

I like the idea of the strumstick. It is basically an Appalachian stripped down to a tiny soundboard. Like the AD, it is nearly impossible to play one badly if you can tune it. It isn't hard to tune. You can get as complicated as you want with it: alternate tunings, chords, etc.)

I was happy to hit the House of Musical Traditions (local to Washington, D.C./Takoma Park) web site and find a bargain price for it. The price includes a carrying case (more like a carrying sheath). < a href=http://www.hmtrad.com/instr/kids.html>CLICK HERE and look for the strumstick under string suggestions.

Since we're talking about backpacking here, this instrument can stow just about anywhere in the pack. Mine is about 31" long in the case. The widest end is about 6 and 1/2" and quickly tapers to 2 and 1/2". If feels like a toy, but is pretty rugged.

My next suggestion would be the Kalimba. Go to the House of Musical Traditions site and look under Percussion suggestions. This instrument has nice tonal qualities for individual accompaniment. It is pretty rugged and again you can start easy and get complicated later.

You know, it's threads like this that I really like. Where else could you sample so many opinions and so much personal experience. Roger in Baltimore

03 Jan 00 - 08:21 PM (#157602)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: EL Jefe

Peter T... Melodeon...There are two definitions of Melodeon.. The English...a diatonic button accordion Rest of The World.. A ONE row diatonic button accordion

Concertinas...lots of great web sites..in nut shell English (here we go again) 48 buttons...chromatic... different tone in and out...(like a piano accordion) tenor-treble 56 buttons..great for accompanyment (sp) best known players Allistair Anderson ..Simon Thoumire Anglo...push-pull different notes...20 button..diatonic 2 keys and the relative minors...30 Button...some chromatic capabilities..and there are 36..38 etc.. Irish play mostly C/G (note that is not G/C).and some other pitches...Noel Hill etc...

My vote (having travelled a bit and play a few instruments...NOT a singer... 1. Diatonic harmonics (s) Steinbeck... 2. Penny whistle (s) 3. Ukulele, cavaquinho, Venezuelan cuatro, Canary Island timple (note the M)..in that order.. bag the Tenor uke..too large... Have you checked out the instrument called the "FLUKE" Jim Beloff web site...ukes are cool..and fun and serious if you want to be..however like all stringed instruments.. subject to damage.. Personnaly I'd have a Uke..many great players and versatile.. Check the KAWIKA uke site....get a "concert" size.. El Jefe

03 Jan 00 - 08:26 PM (#157604)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: charcloth

the appala. dulcimer gets my vote. If you can hum a tune you can easily figure out how to play it. you can chord it or note it. tuning is the easiest of any stringed inst. can learn it quite quickly and yet grow a life time with it. it is lighter than a tenor guitar or just about any of the other inst. listed. the mandoline does not accompany a singer well by itself. A tenor guitar or a uke would be my 2nd choices. A uke is easier to find. but Tiny Tim hurt the image of a uke to badly for me to carry one. It is a shame cause it & Tiny Tim were missunderstood

03 Jan 00 - 08:45 PM (#157626)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: WyoWoman

The human voice is deliciously portable.

04 Jan 00 - 01:39 AM (#157745)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Rick Fielding

Sure Wyo, but are you willing to stow it in the overhead when flying?

OK now here's another suggestion...and DON'T laugh at me. (well, not altogether anyway). Buy any cheap generic mandolin, remove the strings. Put only four back on. Tune them (from the bass) D,G,B,E. It will finger like a guitar and be lower in pitch, making it better to sing with. OK, NOW you can laugh...but I'm gonna try it tonight and see.

Rick

04 Jan 00 - 01:51 AM (#157747)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Jon Freeman

Rick, I certainly would not laugh at that idea but I would wonder about what gauges of stings would need to be used. The higher to strings shouldn't cause a problem with standard mandolin strings but mandolin D to guitar G is by my reckoning 5 semitones higher and the G to the G is 7 semitones higher. I'm a bit brain dead at the moment but I think that the mandolin 3rd string would make the 4th string on that tuning leaving someting else required for the 3rd string.

Of course, if you were to use that tuning, there would be nothing wrong in using pairs of strings either as with a 12 string guitar.

Jon

04 Jan 00 - 02:06 AM (#157749)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Rick Fielding

Yup John. You'd need different guages. Sorry, I'm so used to switching strings around on my instruments I didn't think of it. I'd go: 045, 035, 025, 014. (I think)

Rick

04 Jan 00 - 09:54 AM (#157805)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Peter T.

I know I'm going to regret this, but what is a Canary island timple? (of course you can pick up a cavaquinho on every street corner.... )
yours, Peter T.

05 Jan 00 - 06:59 AM (#158274)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Roger the skiffler

I noticed no-one suggested kazoo (but I can never go back anywhere I've been before so perhaps you're right!
RtS

05 Jan 00 - 02:12 PM (#158462)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Bert

That should be OK Rog, he DID say he was touring;-)

05 Jan 00 - 06:41 PM (#158595)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Bert

Try here

05 Jan 00 - 07:28 PM (#158624)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Pauline L.

I recommend a pennywhistle or recorder. They're small, light, easy to carry, and easy to learn (the basics, anyway).

I have a friend who climbed Mt. McKinley with his recorder in his backpack. When he got to the top, he tried to play "This Land Is Your Land," but he couldn't because he was out of breath.

05 Jan 00 - 09:06 PM (#158719)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: Peter T.

Has to support vocal -- or so he said. I tried Canary Island timple in a couple of search engines without success. Is this a real instrument? yours, Peter T.

05 Jan 00 - 09:15 PM (#158725)
Subject: RE: 2000 Mudcat Music Question! (really)
From: catspaw49

How's the "Rick Fielding Implosive Wacko Mando" coming along? Go with the B.Uke/Ten gtr. or the App.....or the above stated mando. I like the strumstick as an App substitute and they're very small. How about I just send the dude a stick dulcimer?

Spaw