Anyone play a travel guitar?

[EDELWEISS]

I took lessons when I was a kid and was a complete failure. Translating the "notes" to "English" then to fingers on two hands just was too much for me. In retrospect I would have done better actually writing the "English" letters underneath the note but the instructor was adamant that I shouldn't do that.....Anyway about 50 years later, Ive started again. My new instructor shakes his head when he sees that Ive done the "notes to English" translation but says Do what works then work on not needing to do it:ponder:

I have a Yamaha acoustic as my "learner". Im coveting a Martin; that I promised myself Ill buy when I can play without the translation to English . Until then Ive been looking at travel guitars. They showed me the Martin Backpacker; but I want something smaller (think airline carry on size). Im not so much interested in sound quality, as I am in portability for "fingering". Ive been pondering the Chiquita and Hofner shorty.

Thoughts

[Mr. Anthony]

I've only played around with a couple briefly, but they've never interested me. I dunno if they'll help with learning, since I was already pretty good before I ever handled one.

For what it's worth I've carried a full-size guitar onto a plane more times than I can count. If you sweet-talk the flight attendants they'll usually put it in the crew coat closet. I only remember having to check it once it twice.

[EDELWEISS]

Thanks Brother. The idea came up just before a recent Texas Hog Hunt. I wanted to take my guitar, just to keep in practice between hunts. The only options available in time for the hunt were the Martin and a six string Uke or a kids size. I pondered the Uke for its portability but couldn't get past the vision of a Uke.

I asked the flight attendant about guitars and she said guitars fit in the overhead; but Ive seen how much gets shoved into overheads and decided to pass on that idea since a full size guitar would take up most of the bin's length.

[Jsavik]

There's so many good phone apps for reading music notations now...

[Custom II]

Learn chords, don’t worry about sheet music unless you’re trying to play truly classical guitar.

I’d bet a vast majority of professional guitarists can’t read sheet music.


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[Sancap]

What Custom II said. That you covet a Martin suggests you aren't into classical guitar. Isn't instruction in most everything else available as tablature (and video)?

[H60DoorGunner]

My dad is a professional guitar player. I'll ask him and get back to you. I think there are some fold up models and some carbon fiber/indestructible travel guitars out there.

[DogDoc]

You could get a baritone uke... Same strings as bottom 4 of guitar.

[EDELWEISS]

I know this sounds silly; but I want a Martin because Jeff Daniels plays one, and it was him playing "That's how I got to Memphis" on the HBO series News Room that pushed me back into wanting to play. Im sure Ill want some others too. My instructor was teasing me with a Fender Strat electric, he had me playing Blues and said I needed a "Blues Name".

I have a history of really diving deep when I get into something new, (I am the guy who went SBR and SMG crazy. I also went full bore into fencing, how many guys do you know with an actual Italian Epee?). Playing Guitar is my newest quest, hence the interest for a small version.

I toyed with the Jamstik as a portable learning tool but frankly the need to app this and download that freaked me out. Computers are for WT, emal, and well other man things.... Honestly I looked for YouTube vids but couldn't find one I liked.

Im sure Ill get to chords; but for now Im still translating. Actually translating seems like a good technique for me. Its like learning another language. Rosetta Stone was a great for leaning how to speak but not how to read

[H60DoorGunner]

1: you can buy a flight case for your guitar, and then check your guitar.

2: Here are some travel guitars he recommended. https://www.voyageairguitar.com/, and these he said are pretty good http://www.compositeacoustics.com/

He gave one of those CA guitars to one of my brothers to take on the sub when he's at sea. My brother has no complaints, and said it stays in tune much better than other travel guitars.

There are, of course, the mini-Taylor and the Martin backpacker. Those are also decent guitars.

Also, my dad gives lessons over the internet. If you get tired of trying to learn to read music, and want to learn to play the guitar instead...

This is my dad: https://youtu.be/yKI34Vl8wRo

[EDELWEISS]

Thanks Bro, the voyager looks cool

[H60DoorGunner]

Thanks Bro, the voyager looks cool

He gave one to my sister-in-law. She flys all over the place with it and still has it.

I'm a banjo player mostly, and my guitar repertoire is limited to a few Led Zepplin songs. Of the travel guitars I've personally picked up, the voyagaire seems like a good one. It sounds pretty decent too for a folding guitar... I dont know if that matters to you or not. The Martin Backpacker, for instance, never sounded that good to me. But again, I'm not much of a guitar player.

[cyclist]

Awhile back I picked up a used Washburn Rover that included a decent travel case.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiGQX2WoB18