Timothy Catania
You’ve been playing music for a little while and want to show the world what you’ve got. All that’s left in your wallet is some lint – that new guitar sitting in the corner of your room is (completely) unrelated. All things considered, why not try earning extra coin by busking to the masses, in – *gasp* – the outside world?
We’ve collected what we think are the essentials you need to get started busking. Whether you play guitar, are into something more upbeat, or are totally new to making music, we’ve got something for you.
Busking essentials for guitarists
If you play the guitar, you’ve likely got a couple of axes sitting at home (hopefully not collecting dust), but you’re probably not too keen on taking them outside.
Instead of standing in the great outdoors for hours with your prized Fender strapped to your chest, we recommend picking up a dedicated instrument for the job.
Donner ST-Style DSJ-100 Mini Guitar Kit
This small fry comes equipped with a single-coil pickup. Just one. And coming in at 30 inches, you might be worried about how well you’ll be able to play this.
Well, the Amazon page features some guy absolutely shredding some lullabies and nursery rhymes with this thing. Seriously – we were not expecting this kind of tone from this small package.
Also included with your purchase are a strap, a clip-on tuner, and a mini amp – so in theory, this is all you need.
JOYO DC-15S Rechargeable Modeling Amplifier
If the amp that comes with that mini guitar is too puny for you, check out this gem by JOYO. This thing comes with 9 amp models, and 6 effects, so you can dial in the perfect sound for whatever’s on your setlist – whether you’re chasing that classic chorusey 80’s clean sound, or some punchy punk rock crunch.
The manufacturers report that you can rock out for a solid 8-12 hours on a single charge, and its Bluetooth function allows you to hook it up to your phone to play along to some backing tracks. It also comes with a looper, so you can live your Ed Sheeran dreams.
Busk like the ginger himself and pick up this amp here.
Busking essentials for percussionists
“But I don’t play the guitar!” Way ahead of you. Here are our top picks for those of you who aren’t into string instruments.
Meinl Cajon
The cajon is a famously easy instrument to get started on, so this should be your pick if you’re new to making music. Simply sit on this box, give it a few slaps and whacks, and you’re off to the races.
By hitting different parts of it, you can produce either a bass drum sound or a snare hit, making this the perfect choice for an acoustic band, or playing on your own.
Buy this cajon on Amazon here.
GECKO Kalimba
If you’re looking to bring a zen vibe to the streets, try this kalimba. This one is also perfect for beginners, as it’s tuned to always sound good. You literally cannot go wrong.
If you’re unfamiliar with the instrument, you might recognize it from the outro of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Episodes were punctuated with a slow, calming kalimba riff.
Be as chill as uncle Iroh and buy this Kalimba here.
Busking With Beeps, Boops, Bangs, and Clangs
Finally, here’s a fun one – a combo to get you sounding like a dollar store Mark Rebillet. First, you’ll need a looper. And what better looper for the job than…
Boss RC-1 Loop Station
The classic. The Boss RC-1. Boss are well-known in the guitar pedal industry, being one of the giants for decades now.
Of course, the RC-1 doesn’t only work with guitars. You can input any kind of audio, and it even takes stereo input. You’ve got up to 12 minutes of recording time, and you can overdub in real-time.
Get overdubbing here on Amazon.
teenage engineering PO-12 rhythm
This little thing might look like someone ripped the circuit board out of your high school calculator, but it’s a genuinely capable drum machine. Pair this with vocals from the looper, and maybe another Pocket Operator (like the PO-20 Arcade), and make your own upbeat, loud mixes on the fly.
Pocket Operators sync together, so if you get several of these, you can set them all up to work in unison. Awesome.
Buy your little operator here.
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