Practical Guide for Traveling with Musical Instruments by Cars

Traveling is one of the most beautiful experiences we can experience. And if I told you that it was possible to leave with your musical instrument, would you do it? It would be a chance to be able to explore the world while taking our music with us, through the horizons!

Why Taking It?

I find it really exceptional to be able to go on an adventure, without borders, and without constraints. But leaving with your guitar can be more magical. For a digital nomad who is also a music lover, whether you are a beginner or pro, taking your electric or acoustic guitar with you is possible.

Imagine yourself on the beach, on the edge of a campfire, surrounded by travelers like you, or maybe even your friends. It is dark. It’s a calm night. You take out your guitar and start playing some notes. By doing this, you will create a relaxing atmosphere and link all travelers together. Music is universal. This will allow you to meet and discuss a topic that interests you with people from around the world. It will also create sharing, musical, and cultural as well as humans.

Make your guitar travel with you will also create beautiful memories. You will always remember when you played the first piece you learned there. Imagine making your music travel, listening to people all over the world, and giving them the means to be free melodies. Because yes, music is free and music makes it free. It is a universal means of expression that everyone can understand and that everyone can use to express their feelings, their emotions, and what they want to share and make others live.

Also, you will not stop training, even far from home. You will always have the opportunity to improve yourself, to learn pieces from different countries where you go, to learn from your turn to someone you meet who has always wanted to one day, without daring, to play.

It is beneficial to be a musician and have a band. Everything is worth it on stage. But, when it comes to riding, dismounting, getting in the car and traveling by plane, the odyssey can become a nightmare.

Carry Your Instrument

Having the opportunity to take a guitar trip with you is a chance. Indeed, with small formats, you can transport it wherever you want. For example, there are child sizes that could be used as a travel guitar. You can find an article online that explains these differences in size. I invite you to read it right here so that you can gather more information on the subject.

You can choose between a ½ model, considered by most airlines as a piece of cabin baggage. Therefore, you can continue to play, even during your trip (not during the flight, of course). Unless you already have one, you simply need to invest in a case, preferably solid, rounded corners (security issue) to ensure optimal transport and a properly stored and protected instrument.

Its low weight and small size, your guitar will be all the more convenient to carry the rest of your trip, even during trips, if you expect to use the train, car or any other means of transport.

If you have to make journeys on foot, the instrument will not take you much space, will not be substantial, and thus will not disturb you in any displacement. Its practicality does not, therefore, reserve the plane. Therefore, not being very bulky, you can take your guitar with you every time you go out, day or night.

Take Care of Your Instrument

With a quality case, you can take care of your guitar, to avoid any impact of falling, knocks, or scratches. I take this opportunity to explain that I bought my guitar to take the example of the beach. Sand grains can be very annoying when it comes to preserving an intact varnish, and moisture can also damage the wood. That is why it is essential to protect your guitar as best as you can with a solid case or a simple cover (the case is highly recommended in comparison with the cover) while paying attention to the instrument when not stored. It’s normal! You must always take care of it, but more when it may be subject to further deterioration.

There are many things at stake: prevent the instruments from hitting, anticipate how the temperature can affect them, that nothing is lost, and take care of them from the hands of thieves.

Complicated? We are sharing a practical guide to travel with instruments and avoid an unpleasant surprise.

1. Make a List, Print it, and Take a Picture

Even if you have everything in your memory, at the moment of haste, there are things that you can forget. It is best to make a list where you contemplate everything: from the cables to the nibs.

Don’t settle for printing or making a list on a sheet: it can also be lost. Take a photo always to have it on your cell phone.

2. Keep Track of Weather Forecasts to Protect Your Instrument

Every musician knows that the strings have to be loosened for extended trips or by plane. However, what many do not know is that if the temperatures are high and the instrument is made of wood, it is necessary to buy an instrument humidifier.

The humidifiers will prevent the wood from stretching and inflating by heat, irreparably damaging the instrument.

If there is a lot of humidity in the environment, it is not necessary. Alert situations are dry, hot climates trip in a car trunk, or by plane.

Travel in cold weather can also affect them, mainly due to sudden changes in temperature.

Remember that there are instruments that cannot go in the trunk because of the heat that is enclosed there. Get informed and get ready!

3. Use Luggage and Hard Cases

Instruments must travel in hard cases. There are even those who choose to enter protective plastics or fabrics inside to avoid being hurt by sudden movements. As it happens in airplanes.

Cloth cases are out of place. In the case of cars, it is necessary to accommodate the instruments with harder cases at the beginning, leaving the most fragile instruments at the end.

We advise to separate the type of merchandise by backpacks, for example: in one, the cables; in another, the computer with the interface; in another, the pedals. Always do it the same way.

4. Avoid Overloading Your Car

If you are traveling in a car with the battery and all the instruments, check how much weight the vehicle can carry. If you consider that it is overloaded, you will have to drive slowly and avoid forcing the car too much.

Fuel consumption and car wear can be considerable. Prevent passengers from adding weight to the car.

5. Pay for Parking

There are more and more cases of musicians who are victims of theft. You need not skimp on paying for parking. It is an investment that you will appreciate.

Study the area before going to verify the level of security and to protect the instruments. Try to be always accompanied and more than one person watching when raising and lowering instruments.

7. Arrive Early

If you are going to travel by plane, remember that everything can happen. There is nothing worse than last-minute decisions.

Sometimes, some end up paying a passenger seat for their instrument. Also, some wish to protect it with the protective plastic wrap.

As you can see, the success of your trip is the organization and the anticipation of your trip. What has been your experience?

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