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What does it mean, "I can play the guitar?"


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Posted

There are many people who say, I play the guitar.

 

I know that the term, "play the guitar" has many meanings; and each person has a different definition of what that means to them.

 

There are millions of web pages with titles about learning to play the guitar. I am interested in putting together a survey of the top 20 things that people mean when they say they "play the guitar", and then ranking the 20 items from the most popular answer downward, etc. What are some of your ideas?

 

 

http://GuitarMore.com

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Posted

I reckon the top three things people would think of, in order, are

 

- You can pick up an acoustic and strum the chords to a tune that people recognise, ideally sing along

 

- You can pick up an acoustic and "do the blues" ... bash out a vamp and impro over it in an impressive way

 

- You play the electric guitar in a band

 

GaJ

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Posted

IMO the ability to play a guitar or any instrument, is to play a set of notes or chords melodicly and in time.

People who strum a few chords or can 'play' smoke on the water, dont know how to play the guitar. They are just imitating an action

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Posted

Top interpretations for "I can play the guitar.":


1. I'm unemployed, with little chance of employment in the near future.

2. Do you want fries with that order?

3. I know 5 open chords and can play 'Hey Joe'

4. Do you have tabs for that?

5. How can I play really fast?

6. I can play harmonica also.

7. Guitar was too tough so I switched to bass. It's easier 'cause it only has four strings.

8. What are your favorite voicings for a susb9 chord?

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Posted
Top interpretations for "I can play the guitar.":



1. I'm unemployed, with little chance of employment in the near future.


2. Do you want fries with that order?


3. I know 5 open chords and can play 'Hey Joe'


4. Do you have tabs for that?


5. How can I play really fast?


6. I can play harmonica also.


7. Guitar was too tough so I switched to bass. It's easier 'cause it only has four strings.


8. What are your favorite voicings for a susb9 chord?


Rofl
:thu: 7 hehe

9. I don't keep time, I feel it.

10. No I can NOT read music.

11. Whaddaya mean, "Time Signature"?

12. I'll blame tempo issues on the drummer.

  • Members
Posted

Top interpretations for "I can play the guitar.":



1. I'm unemployed, with little chance of employment in the near future.


2. Do you want fries with that order?


3. I know 5 open chords and can play 'Hey Joe'


4. Do you have tabs for that?


5. How can I play really fast?


6. I can play harmonica also.


7. Guitar was too tough so I switched to bass. It's easier 'cause it only has four strings.


8. What are your favorite voicings for a susb9 chord?

:lol:

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Posted

I'll say one great thing about good drummers: without them many of us might be temporally challenged. I had two good drummers in my time: Jason and Gene. Gene actually forced me to learn drums to improve my tempo/syncopation. While my timing (or my drumming) has not always been exemplary, that experience has always helped me forge forward with complex rhythms - even if I'm sorta feeling it while stomping out the basic beat with my feet.

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Posted

I don't think its about technical proficiency, thats too relative and subjective. I think once you've got enough skills and knowledge to play the kind of music you want to play, and your technical abilities are not limiting you or preventing you from doing that, then you can play. Progress from that point on is all about context dependent on to how technically proficient you need to be to acheive your musical goals. We're all still learners.

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