Yachtie Mags part 2 re David Fox, off the beaten track

philmarks

philmarks

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OK, what I would like to read about is musical instruments on boats...

I'm not musical, but have decided to take up an instrument in my dotage. It should help me exercise my mind, and while away the hours at pleasant anchorages...

So, what musical instrument should it be? I have a friend who plays some type of squeezebox, another the guitar, but I really quite fancy an alto sax. I see a guitar as being a bit fragile on a boat. I understand that saxes may be easier to tune than a guitar. Brass goes well with salt water (well better than a guitar I guess). Or should I really look for a gunmetal or monel sax? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I think I did read once about a boat designed by Michael Pocock which had a piano built into the saloon table, but that's a tad too far for me.

I quite like the idea of practicing the sax in a marina /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Ideas and advice welcome!
 
Beware! As per Steely Dan (Deacon Blues: 1977):

"I'll learn to work the saxophone
I'll play just what I feel
Drink Scotch whisky all night long
And die behind the wheel"
 
I blow a Sax and frequently have it on board the boat.

I take great care to keep salt water off it. I'm not sure that it would do the lacquer any good, but the bigger concern is the damage to the various springs and pads. If you get one get a hard case for it, not one of the soft ones. I don't know about a gunmetal sax ( /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) but many years ago a plastic one was manufactured for a few years. If you had one of them you wouldn't take it on board, they are very rare and very collectible now.

The only problem with a Sax is they are not quiet and it can be difficult to find somewhere when you are boating where it isn't anti social to play it. Wonderful instruments though.

I wouldn't have thought that a guitar would be much of a problem on a boat, so long as you have a good case to protect it with. Don't worry about tuning the things; you would pick that up soon enough. At least they can be strummed reasonably quietly!

These days, with the modern electronic pianos, it would be perfectly reasonable to have one on board a biggish boat.

If you want something that's easy to have on board try a harmonica! I saw (heard?) jazz harp being played a couple of weeks ago by an expert. I had no idea that they could make such sounds. Incredible!

To be honest though, I don't think you should choose an instrument to suit a boat. Choose the instrument you like best, and then find a way to use it on the boat.

Above all, get some lessons.


Good luck.
 
Would have thought the bagpipes ideal - healthy outdoor instrument with sound that carries well. Don't need to practice much either, as Sir Thomas Beecham commented: "The bagpipes sound exactly the same when you have finished learning them as when you start". Wasn't too keen on pianos either: "A musical growth found adhering to the walls of most semi-detached houses in the provinces".

Thrall
 
Gotta be a full drum kit surely?? The very best instrument for allowing all your friends in the marina to enjoy the sound. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

And what about adding to the enjoyment of you and others on a balmy summers evening in a beautiful anchorage ........... magic!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
While cruising in the Caribbean we met an English guy on a 29' yacht travelling with his double bass! He used to meet up with an American couple (who we encountered on another island!) and play jaz gigs. Nice people all of them but there wasn't much room left in the salon with that big beastie in there!
 
It has to be something that doesn't take up too much space, won't suffer from damp, can be played solo or with any other instrument you might meet on the way and won't drive others away, That brings it down pretty much to things like flute or the famous penny whistle (sold these days in a metal & plastic version called a 'flageolet'). A plastic recorder also fits the bill but, unless played very well, it reminds people of excruciating school concerts = I used to call them the 'cat murderers' when my daughters played.

You could also consider a small electronic keyboard with 12v power supply.

On the other hand, if you like solitude, try the bagpipes.
 
Re: Wind instruments

That reminds of a song on an old record I have at home, where Messrs. Flanders and Swann wrote the words to the Horn concerto:

I once had a whim and I had to obey it,
to buy a French horn from a second-hand shop.
I polished it up and I started to play it,
in spite of the neighbours who begged me to stop.
(D.C.)

etc.
 
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