November 5, 2019 by Klaus Crow
I just spend a wonderful 14 days in Italy with my wife and two kids enjoying the La Dolce Vita at the Garda Lake.
We took our travel guitars with us and we had such a blast.
In the evening we jammed together in the front garden of our apartment while drinking Italian wine.
At noon I would sometimes go to the beach on my own (My zen moment), sitting down on a rock with my feet in perfect water playing my favorite Jack Johnson, John Mayer and Damien Rice songs. The sun burning on my skin and a tremendous view of the lake and the mountains. Just euphoric.
It was just great to have our travel guitars with us wherever we went.
At home I’m also totally head over heels in love with my travel guitar. I don’t know, but there is just something about it that wants you to play it all the time.
But then again, maybe I do know…
Let’s take a look at some benefits I think are really interesting:
Comfort
First off, a travel guitar feels really nice and smooth in your hands. It’s light and easy to handle whatever situation you are in.
It’s perfect for playing guitar on a chair with armrests or any other guitar unfriendly sitting object and it’s great for adults as well as children.
Flexibility
It’s all in the name. The travel guitar is perfect for travel. It takes up almost no storage space. No excuses anymore to not take your guitar with you on a holiday when you’re going by car, plane, bike or walking. It’s just no trouble bringing your guitar along with you. You won’t even notice it’s there.
Just take it to the beach, a friends house, a party, a family visit, a romantic night out, the park or some other place where you just want to chill or hang out. Life gets more interesting.
Small spaces (a car, a tent, a dressing room before a gig) or places where you don’t want your guitar to attract too much attention (maybe your job or school) are perfectly suited for your travel companion. Convenient situations arise by themselves once you start using your travel guitar.
Freedom
A travel guitar gives you a sense of freedom, ability and independency. You’ll notice it the moment you walk the streets carrying it with you easily on your shoulders. You’ll feel free!
If necessary or if you would want to you could travel the world making money performing on the streets, teaching guitar, connecting and networking with fellow musicians and other interesting people, playing gigs and sharing music everywhere. Totally independent. For many musicians the sky is the limit.
Efficiency
How much time is lost in life just by waiting. Waiting on friends or colleagues, in stationary traffic, on a plane, waiting for just about anything. Your travel guitar is the perfect companion to occupy your time.
Isn’t it great to have that extra time to run through those scales or that cool riff you just learned. Now you can use your precious time efficiently and having fun at the same time.
Tip:
It makes all the difference in the world to look for a quality travel guitar that feels smooth and comfortable in your hands and sounds really good to your ears. May I say, the Taylor Baby travel guitar is a good recommendation. (I’m not endorsing this product whatsoever.) Obviously that’s what makes you want to play it 24/7.
Now go and conquer the world!
Thanks, Klaus Crow
hahaha, you’re just like me klaus…. i’m also in love with the small nice guitars. like having a baby in your arms. but don’t forget… some of my students are not allowed to take their guitar with them on holidays…. their wives want them to leave their guitars at home because they play too much……
Klaus…. your actually awesome.
Its true man. Since stumbling to your site about two weeks ago my playing has improved tenfold! The way your site is put together, the way your lessons are worded and the fact you’re willing to put your time and effort into compiling all this information for everybody to use is truly mindblowing! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Right. Now. Back to the guitar! :P)
Hi Adam,
I humbly receive your kind words.
Thanks you very much!
Klaus Crow
Hey i really like your blog. I’m planning on buying a travel guitar. What guitar are you using?
Hi Kevin,
I’m playing a Taylor baby. The same guitar I recommend in this post.
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
Hey man, Which guitar models would you recommended for this kinda thing?
Hey there, just did an impulse buy today in Liverpool on my way back to London (Camden) and saw the Baby Taylor B2 (?) tried it out and I was playing it on the train. It’s a beaut. I can’t put it down – it’s got a great twang
Hi Paddy,
I’ve never stopped putting it down from the time I’ve bought it.
I’ve also got a Santa Cruz guitar which is way more expensive and sounds better,(No offense, Baby Taylor sounds awesome too) but I must confess that I play more on my Baby Taylor. It just feels so nice and just like you said..
It’s got a great twang!
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
I want to learn to play guitar on a traveler size guitar. I’m interested in
playing jazz standards, mostly. Can I get a traveler guitar with nylon strings or would I be better off with steel strings?
I have the Taylor GS mini travel guitar and along with build and sound its really awesome. I play it every day and it fits every situation ie couch, chair, car, bed. Would highly recommend it.
+1 on the GS Mini. It sounds big and it goes anywhere — it actually fits in overhead bins on airliners, and is below the sacred investment line so you don’t have to worry about it as much. At home I use this as an alt tuner (and sometimes as the patio and couch strummer).
Hi Klaus, I agree 100% I play my Washburn Rover every day while watching TV or just sitting around.It has made my barre chord ability improve vastly.I keep it next to the sofa and play it as often as I can.Also the Baby Taylor is Great,my brother has one and I LOVE it but it was a little dear for my budget.Sometimes I dont feel like taking out a large acoustic or electric it is a conveinience thing I guess,thanks for the great site keep up the great work…..