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Old 12-11-2017, 01:51   #1
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Choose musical instrument for cruising

Hi!

Having a hard time choosing what instrument to bring. I used to play the piano. A keyboard is too bulky. The foldable ones are probably crap.

I am thinking to bring a rather small accordion, and a harmonica.

Took a course in accordion playing.

One could play some Swedish folk music for example.

Harmonica - got no experience, hard to learn? Could be fun while at the helm, during ocean crossings. Is it hard to play the blues?
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Old 12-11-2017, 20:39   #2
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

Try a Hohner Marine Band Harmonica. Easy to play melody and lots of potential for blues. Lots of books out there.
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Old 12-11-2017, 21:10   #3
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

I am thinking a lot about this too as we prepare for a family voyage next year.

I want my kids to be able to stay up on piano, violin, etc, but wonder at the logistics of bringing instruments on the boat. Space issues aside, I imagine the marine environment could be rough on a keyboard, for example.

Taking the opportunity to learn a new instrument while at sea seems like a great idea. Perhaps small instruments like flutes, harmonicas, accordions, ukuleles, etc would be best?

Any other instruments come to mind that we might consider?
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Old 12-11-2017, 22:36   #4
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

If you play keys a battery powered portable keyboard could be fun. I take a violin, guitar and battery powered amp.
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Old 12-11-2017, 22:46   #5
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

Hi, Bob,

A concertina is the thing, works like an accordion, but takes up less space than a shoebox, has push buttons for "keys", and lots of sea shanty music for them.

I don't know how hard it might be for someone who is already a musician to learn to play the harmonica. One of our cruising friends carried 3 different ones, keys of C, D, and G. All his shorts had many baggy pockets, and he brought them to beach pot lucks. Lotsa fun.



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Old 12-11-2017, 23:47   #6
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

Hi!

I'll bring a harmonica for sure. Concertino, will check. Thing is I already got an accordion with piano keys on one side. I was told to get one with the small black buttons instead, also for the melody/right hand. You can play faster etc.

My daughter plays the piano, so how can she practice? I was thinking:
https://fyndiq.se/product/2585034-po...piano-keyboard/

Is it pure crap or she can at least practice?

I would really want at least touch sensitivity for the keys. It's good to have to be able to play a note, so they can sing also. We are going to have school aboard so they'll have to have music on the schedule also.

As for sports. I will be the kid's teacher. I was thinking to swim a lot? Crawl, breast stroke, on the back etc. Typical medley. And you can turn under the water against the boat side.

And also some kind of aerobics on the beach, and muscle training using your body, push ups etc. We can run of course, once ashore. What else...beach soccer! Fun.

Cheers
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Old 12-11-2017, 23:55   #7
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

Just get a keyboard on board. it is not much larger than a accordion and it can run on batteries too, also it can plug headphones for rehearsing AND you have a whole orchestra to make the rhythm and accompany you while playing. Its much more fun. You also can hook up a computer via the MIDI interface to have some sequencer / recording and play along with more instruments all by your self.

You can even use the MIDI to compose and print out the notes you are playing...

On the other hand - a good old guitar is great at bonfires too and needs no power at all.
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Old 13-11-2017, 03:44   #8
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

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Originally Posted by Bob666 View Post
Harmonica - got no experience, hard to learn? Could be fun while at the helm, during ocean crossings. Is it hard to play the blues?
Just think of your best friend stealin' your woman... and gettin' drunk and thrown in jail after you clocked him. And call yourself (your favorite malady) (your favorite fruit) (your first name), for example Stumpy Watermelon Bob.

Every sound you make will be "blues."



For a guitar player, there are smaller models... or perhaps try learning mandolin, ukulele, or violin/fiddle... partly for their smaller size... but the humidity could take it's toll on the instruments... so maybe less expensive models would be best on board.

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Old 13-11-2017, 03:48   #9
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

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Originally Posted by Bob666 View Post
Harmonica - got no experience, hard to learn? Could be fun while at the helm, during ocean crossings. Is it hard to play the blues?
Just think of your best friend stealin' your woman... and gettin' drunk and thrown in jail after you clocked him. And call yourself something like (your favorite malady) (your favorite fruit) (your first name), for example Stumpy Watermelon Bob.

Every sound you make will be "blues."



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Old 13-11-2017, 03:52   #10
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

How about bagpipes.......
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Old 13-11-2017, 04:06   #11
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

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How about bagpipes.......
I think this belongs in the "How To Anchor Alone" thread [emoji13]
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Old 13-11-2017, 04:51   #12
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

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How about bagpipes.......
They hold ok in sand (decent number of flukes), but aren't much good in any other bottom. Hard to attach the rode as well.
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Old 13-11-2017, 05:24   #13
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

Another option is a recorder. We used to play them for fun in college and they were great fun and easy to pick up. They are usually plastic and smaller than a rolling pin. There are nice duets too.
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Old 13-11-2017, 06:24   #14
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

My wife picked up a Banjolele recently. It's a very cool sounding instrument and only takes up the space of a couple of shoe boxes. I'd need several long passages to devote enough time at it to get good, I don't have the time now.
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Old 13-11-2017, 06:40   #15
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Re: Choose musical instrument for cruising

The problem with accordions, bagpipes and even harmonica's (after a while) is who wants to listen to them? My vote is for a 3/4 or 7/8 scale guitar. Admittedly, I'm a guitar player. I'm also a trumpet player, but again......who wants to listen to a solo trumpet in an anchorage, essentially practicing for 1-2 hours?
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