Quote:
Originally Posted by catt
Bouzoukis, ciiterns, OMs, oud, saz, etc are no smaller than guitars/banjos when it comes to portability.
Nothing beats mandolin for portability - also the ukes of course for easy entree.
I like charango and ronroco. Lap dulcimer is prbly the easiest entree and effective contrast to guitar.
If you can range beyond plucked strings, there are many options:
Whistle (as in Irish whistle) and other simple blown devices
Small harp (as in Irish harp)
Small percussion (like kalimba/m'bira)
Zithers, psaltries, etc of various types
I gigged a lot on drums and double bass, so became infatuated with playing smaller instruments for their portability. My ultimate "triumvirate" of travelling instruments was fiddle, flute, concertina - all carried in one trip from the car. (For a real divergence I encourage people to take up button box - easy entree, effective voice..)
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Ah, it's not so much ultimate portability I'm after as a good sounding instrument that isn't much bigger than a guitar (if at all). I already play mandolin and fiddle, but I want something with more bass and more room for my giant hands (see the pic in the thread).
And I want it to back my own singing, mostly, so many of the breath-powered instruments are out.