# Playing "air" instruments while driving down the highway **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [May 5, 2025, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887 "2025-05-05T04:55:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/1 "2025-05-05T04:55:11Z")
I’m watching “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and the scene with John Candy doing “The Mess Around” with Ray Charles. I’ve played my fair share of air guitar over the years on the the highway (not dangerously like in the movie). Haven’t played a lot of air sax. A little air piano, mostly Mr Bill Paine and Billy Powell on piano. What have you played on the highway? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/2 "2025-05-05T05:03:03Z")
All of the above. But also air theremin. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/3 "2025-05-05T05:18:00Z")
I’ve noticed this board is becoming alarmingly theremin-centric lately. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/4 "2025-05-05T05:30:29Z")
I used to have drum sticks in the car and would play while driving. Carefully and safely, of course. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/5 "2025-05-05T05:39:05Z")
It’s kind of tough playing air guitar while driving, especially while listening to The Who…doing windmills is nearly impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/6 "2025-05-05T05:45:26Z")
Left hand solidly holding the 11 pm position on the wheel. Picking hand by your side. Eyes on the road ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/7 "2025-05-05T17:41:12Z")
I’m a steering wheel drummer. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/8 "2025-05-05T17:59:44Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > It’s kind of tough playing air guitar while driving, especially while listening to The Who…doing windmills is nearly impossible. Get a convertible. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/9 "2025-05-05T18:13:41Z")
Get a Cybertruck and let it drive while you stand back in the bed. You’ll have plenty of room for stage theatrics. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/10 "2025-05-05T18:17:49Z")
Only at a stoplight, with my turn signal on. I tap a drumbeat that perfectly syncs with the turn signal indicator. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/11 "2025-05-05T19:51:00Z")
> [@Mike\_Mabes](#): > > Left hand solidly holding the 11 pm position on the wheel. Picking hand by your side. Eyes on the road ahead. So your steering wheel goes to 11? ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/12 "2025-05-05T23:24:12Z")
Accordion. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/13 "2025-05-06T05:18:16Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@blondebear](#): > > > > It’s kind of tough playing air guitar while driving, especially while listening to The Who…doing windmills is nearly impossible. > > Get a convertible. A sprinter van works too. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/14 "2025-05-06T11:02:50Z")
For sure. When Sirius XM plays a Rush song, I must air drum. Certain Police songs as well. I only go full-out when driving alone, but I try to sneak in a little when others are in the car, mortifying my teen son. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-air-instruments-while-driving-down-the-highway/1017887/15 "2025-05-06T13:35:24Z")
I often drum on the steering wheel, or practice my bass slapping technique on the side of it. Air sax isn’t really possible.