“Got three R’s, we’re gonna talk about today” – Jack Johnson in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

You can’t have failed to notice the climate change debate. Scientists and many people are calling for 40% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the next few years. I guess that guitar playing is a fairly small part of overall greenhouse gas emissions but we all have a part to play by making small changes in our everyday habits. So, how can we as guitar players make our contribution?

I decided to try and think up some ways I could reduce my guitar related carbon dioxide emissions. Here is what I came up with…

Unplug

One obvious energy saving comes from choosing to practice and play unplugged more. If you use an electric guitar amp, especially a tube amp, it consumes electricity whose production is a source of greenhouse gases.

If you must practice amplified electric guitar why not use a low power or headphone amp. For individual practice at home this is sufficient and there is some great sounding equipment out there.

Buy Less Gear

Making and transporting new equipment is another source of emissions so before you buy ask yourself if you really need that third or fourth guitar.

Another advantage of buying less gear is that you can save up and buy better stuff that will last longer. Better gear might cost a little more but it will serve you better and longer.

It is often tempting to buy something in your budget now, but think about how well it will satisfy you in ten years. If you spend a few hundred extra dollars that’s only going to make ten dollars or so a month over a period of years.

Buy Used Gear

A good alternative to buying new equipment is to shop around for second hand gear. Many music shops carry traded in equipment or you can try Ebay or small ads. Not only do you save yourself some money you also reduce the demand for new raw materials and manufacturing. So it’s a double bonus for both you and the earth.

And if you have equipment that you don’t use lying around, consider offering it for sale. It could be just what someone else is looking for and you’ll get some extra cash and less clutter.

And remember, if your gear is broken or malfunctioning try a repair specialist before you simply buy a new one.

Share Gear

Another good way to reuse is to share other people’s equipment. Often guitarists buy all sorts of equipment to cover infrequent situations, maybe you can rent or borrow that stuff from time to time instead?

If you’re feeling committed you might consider setting up a local music share in your community. You could club together with other musicians and buy some equipment that is shared between several bands. Or you might be able to get together and negotiate a long term rental deal with a local supplier.

Finally, you could encourage the musicians you know to share and swap sheet music.

These ideas can not only help to reduce your emission of climate change gases, but also reduce the demand on under pressure and often endangered natural resources. Better still they could also help you to save some money and maybe even create a friendly community spirit among your local musicians.