playing a guitar

Status
Not open for further replies.

tzfujimino

Key Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2007
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
Hello.:)

I'd like to ask if there's any difference between 'playing a guitar' and 'playing the guitar'.
I think the former focuses more on the musical instrument, while the latter focuses more on the music that's being played. Am I on the right track?
Thank you.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
It really depends on context. Please write some sentences showing how you want to use those phrases.
 

tzfujimino

Key Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2007
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Just to add confusion, there is also "playing guitar".
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland

tzfujimino

Key Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2007
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
I bought a nice guitar yesterday.
Now I am playing the guitar.


Is 'playing the guitar' above used correctly?
I'm talking about the specific guitar that I bought yesterday.
Thank you.:)
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
It's correct, but it would be much more natural to say "I'm playing it now".
 

tzfujimino

Key Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2007
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
Just to add confusion, there is also "playing guitar".

May I ask how you use 'playing guitar'?
Could it be used in the context of jazz or pop music?

Practical English Usage Third Edition (page 64)

[...] the is often dropped when talking about jazz or pop, and sometimes when talking about classical music.

This recording was made with Miles Davis on trumpet.
She studied oboe and saxophone at the Royal Academy of Music.
Thank you.:)
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
With musical instruments, articles are often unnecessary. I don't think the type of music makes any difference.

John plays guitar in a rock band.
Last Saturday, I was playing piano in an orchestra.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
My wife is a harpist (amongst other things) and, strangely enough, we always use the definite article with the harp.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top