guitarist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “guitarist” mean?
A person who plays the guitar.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who plays the guitar.
A musician specializing in guitar, often professionally; someone skilled in the art of guitar playing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Spelling conventions align with 'guitar'.
Connotations
Neutral in both dialects. In American contexts, 'guitar player' is a common, slightly more informal synonym.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English relative to 'guitar player' than in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “guitarist” in a Sentence
[determiner] + guitaristguitarist + of + [band/orchestra]guitarist + for + [artist/band]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “guitarist” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's giving up his day job to guitarist full-time. (informal, rare)
American English
- She's been guitaring since she was ten. (informal, rare)
adverb
British English
- He played the part very guitarist-ly, with lots of flair. (humorous, non-standard)
American English
- She sang guitarist-ly? I don't know what that means. (non-standard)
adjective
British English
- His guitarist skills are incredible. (informal, as noun adjunct)
American English
- They're looking for a guitarist-type musician for the gig. (informal)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The session guitarist's fee was negotiated for the recording.
Academic
The study analysed the technique of 19th-century Spanish guitarists.
Everyday
My brother is a guitarist in a local band.
Technical
The guitarist employed hybrid picking and extensive string bending.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “guitarist”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “guitarist”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “guitarist”
- Incorrect: She is a good guitar. Correct: She is a good guitarist.
- Incorrect: He is a guitarist player. Correct: He is a guitarist. / He is a guitar player.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Guitarist' is slightly more formal and often implies a degree of seriousness or skill, while 'guitar player' is more general and colloquial. The distinction is subtle and usage often overlaps.
No, 'guitarist' is a general term applicable to players of any type of guitar: acoustic, classical, electric, bass (though 'bassist' is more specific), etc. The type is usually specified with an adjective (e.g., 'classical guitarist').
Yes, it can refer to anyone who plays the guitar, from beginner to professional. Context usually clarifies the level of proficiency.
'Guitarist' is gender-neutral. There is no separate female form. You would say 'She is a guitarist'.
A person who plays the guitar.
Guitarist is usually neutral in register.
Guitarist: in British English it is pronounced /ɡɪˈtɑːrɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡɪˈtɑːrɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Lead guitarist takes the solo.”
- “A guitarist's fingers were flying over the frets.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GUITARist = A person who IST playing the GUITAR.
Conceptual Metaphor
GUITARIST IS A CRAFTSMAN (shapes the sound, builds solos).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most precise term for a person who plays the guitar professionally?