Makin' Music...

[Alby1]

One of my many sole reasons for going camping is being able to play a little guitar in the great outdoors.  Actually, it's a regular sized guitar, and I play it every chance I get while camping, which usually means only on Saturday evening, for a typical weekend tripper.  I'll generally start with a collection of american standard folk and blues tunes, (most out of book), then as the evening wears on, and the little ones are dreamin' under their blankets, I like to darken the mood, and break out some of my sad and spooky songs...  murder ballads and stuff like that.  I also pack a ukulele, a set of harmonicas, a few simple hand percussion items like shakers and spoons, and I try to encourage others to join in, which for the most part, I have no luck.   

Some other favorite camping hobbies, (in no particular order):
- Cooking camp food, i.e. cobbler, smores, bb-q, etc...
- Playing Cards, (Rummy 500), or Dominoes
- Fishing
- Inexpensive beer consumption

[HappiKampers!]

You can be our campsite neighbor ANYTIME!  Sounds like a lot of fun!

[beemerphile1]

No musical talent on my campsite but I love to listen.  We do have a camping friend that brings his guitar and sometimes he plays a flute.

[sxharr05]

I LOVE to sit out on the back deck of our cabin at night, kids in bed, torches lit, cold drink nearby and my bass on my lap. I think I'm gonna have to pick up an accoustic and join in with ya. Set list sounds fascinating.

[gmhg41]

I play bagpipes. Most of my camping is at Scottish games, so everyone is psyched to hear them.

I also have a set of smallpipes. They're bagpipes too, but quiet -- maybe as loud as a guitar. My wife plays violin.

[retiredtraveler]

Please post your future camping trips. We hate having to hear any kind of music from anyone else's campsite.

[MrBigDog2U]

Please post your future camping trips. We hate having to hear any kind of music from anyone else's campsite.

Whew!!! For a bit, I was thinking it was just me. Playing any kind of musical instrument is just like having a radio playing. There are lots of different tastes in music and what you choose to play may not appeal to everyone in hearing range.

[Geodude]

As a guitar player I never mind anyone playing in a campground, it's always such a nice sound.  A radio with constant chatter, sports games, tinny music or booming bass is a whole other beast for me, and it makes me squirmy.

Having said that, if I do play in a campground I often take a 3/4 size guitar that doesn't have a lot of presence, and will play quietly, without a pick.  The odd time, and depending on the circumstances, I'll take one of the bigger horses...

We had a guys' weekend last weekend and had a piper in the crew. It was really neat hearing the pipes both at sunset and for our Remembrance Day ceremony:



Oh, and white stuff?  Sure! 

[Brian]

I never mind anyone playing in a campground, it's always such a nice sound.  A radio with constant chatter, sports games, tinny music or booming bass is a whole other beast for me, and it makes me squirmy.

+1

And I have zero musical ability.

To me, being offended by my camping neighbor playing acoustic guitar, especially before quiet time, would be like being offended by the light from his campfire.


Brian

[sacrawf]

I certainly won't be offended by acoustic music wafting to my campsite...including the bagpipes, before quiet hours.  I haven't had any experiences of enjoying music of campers in the campground excepting one weekend when and entire gospel choral group was occupying about a half a dozen campsites. It was great to hear them practice around their campfire.

I have always thought a mountain dulcimer would be an easier-to-transport and less offensive camping musical instrument.  Any thoughts?

[gram on the go]

I would love to be camped next to you and enjoy your music and talent. DH wouldn't mind either so long as you abided by the quiet hour rules. After that he'd have to put up with my humming/singing!

[happygramp]

I never mind anyone playing in a campground, it's always such a nice sound.  A radio with constant chatter, sports games, tinny music or booming bass is a whole other beast for me, and it makes me squirmy.

+1

And I have zero musical ability.

To me, being offended by my camping neighbor playing acoustic guitar, especially before quiet time, would be like being offended by the light from his campfire.


Brian

+1,

A softly played guitar, light from a campfire and kids laughing sounds like a perfect trip.

[luckylynn]

I play bagpipes. Most of my camping is at Scottish games, so everyone is psyched to hear them.

I also have a set of smallpipes. They're bagpipes too, but quiet -- maybe as loud as a guitar. My wife plays violin.

Wish we could camp next to each other! i do so enjoy Bag Pipes ; Small Pipes and yes even Violin.  Also like Scottish games.

Have a hard time playing the radio ....LOL ! but sure love to listen

[gmhg41]

 Playing any kind of musical instrument is just like having a radio playing.

No it's not. Making music requires massive time and dedication. Playing a radio requires electricity. Kind of like the difference between making pulled pork and a marshmallow fight.

There are lots of different tastes in music and what you choose to play may not appeal to everyone in hearing range.

You know... I really dislike rap music. But if I was camping and if there was a guy at the next camp site rapping, I'd go over and listen. Who knows, maybe we'd do the first ever hiphop/bagpipe collaboration....

No one can make anyone get angry. It's a choice each of us makes from time to time.

[Char]

sacrawf, funny you should mention playing a mountain dulcimer.  I just recently got one and was thinking it might be fun to play around the campfire.  But I think it will have to wait until I can actually play it well. Don't want to scare the neighbors.