Are you a Musician or a Guitar Player?

[Wyzsard]

Originally Posted by hannigan

Does this have something to do with Boolean logic ?

All guitar players are musicians but not all musicians are guitar players .

exactly

[bargoedboy]

Originally Posted by gitlvr

I would call myself a musician. Not because I play multiple instruments. Or because I can read music(at least on a basic level). Or because of having had instruction(very little).
But because, when I play, I'm trying to fit what I'm doing into the music, or song, that I'm playing. In other words, I'm trying to play what makes the song sound good, not what makes me look good. I'm also trying to play with the other musicians in the group, not alongside them. In other words, trying to play what complements and fits with what they are playing, or what their particular style/approach to the song is.
On rhythm guitar, to me that means playing nice, full chords, in time, and trying to support the singer, not step all over him/her. On lead, playing the notes that fit the music, and choosing them carefully. Playing 5 or six that sound good and keep the flow of the music, rather than 10 or 15 blisteringly fast notes just to say, "Hey, look at me. Ain't I great".
On the bass, basically the same thing. Play the notes the song calls out for. Sometimes that's more notes than others, or more complicated technique. Sometimes(often times) it's just "keep it simple".
All of this also applies to the other instrument I play(piano).
To me, the definition of musician is someone who focuses more on the music itself, as opposed to the particular type of instrument in his/her hands. MHO, of course.

Spot on for me too. great post.

[Justinvs]

Being a musician implies dedication to your art, practice and a serious attitude toward what you do.

I'm definitely not a musician.

[Controller]

Originally Posted by gitlvr

I would call myself a musician. Not because I play multiple instruments. Or because I can read music(at least on a basic level). Or because of having had instruction(very little).
But because, when I play, I'm trying to fit what I'm doing into the music, or song, that I'm playing. In other words, I'm trying to play what makes the song sound good, not what makes me look good. I'm also trying to play with the other musicians in the group, not alongside them. In other words, trying to play what complements and fits with what they are playing, or what their particular style/approach to the song is.
On rhythm guitar, to me that means playing nice, full chords, in time, and trying to support the singer, not step all over him/her. On lead, playing the notes that fit the music, and choosing them carefully. Playing 5 or six that sound good and keep the flow of the music, rather than 10 or 15 blisteringly fast notes just to say, "Hey, look at me. Ain't I great".
On the bass, basically the same thing. Play the notes the song calls out for. Sometimes that's more notes than others, or more complicated technique. Sometimes(often times) it's just "keep it simple".
All of this also applies to the other instrument I play(piano).
To me, the definition of musician is someone who focuses more on the music itself, as opposed to the particular type of instrument in his/her hands. MHO, of course.

Now where did you get all those crazy ideas?

[gitlvr]

Originally Posted by Telesavalis

Originally Posted by Wrong-Note Rod View Post
my sister in law is like that; she has a music degree from a university in Tennessee, and is a classically trained pianist. She can play Chopin, Mozart, Brahms, Debussey, all this crazy difficult stuff... if she has the sheet in front of her.

Once I had her over to the rehearsal room, I started playing guitar, Honky Tonk Women by the Stones, and asked her to just throw down on the electric piano along with me.

she asked for the sheet music, I said, "there isnt any, its just three or four chords, just jam along"... she couldnt do it.


My older sister is exactly the same....a classical pianist for 50 years and cannot play a single thing by ear other than Chopsticks. She can play any sheet music you put in front of her but once I asked her to play "Imagine" with me and she was totally lost. "Imagine"!!!! how much simpler can it get? Baffles me that she cannot play without the music in front of her. And it baffles her that I can hear any rock tune and play it by ear on the guitar without music in front of me. ( within the limits of my physical dexterity capabilities anyway)

This reminds me of the conversation I had with the piano player from a sister church who visited our church recently.
I play mostly by ear, and am self taught. I do read music on a basic level, but cannot sight read at speed, and probably won't be able to for a while yet. What I basically do is go over the music for whatever hymn I'm going to play, until I get the melody down solid. Then I basically just do my thing with it on the piano, making sure to keep the melody correct. My playing is filled with sevenths, octaves, and other embellishments that I think make the music more lively and sound fuller.
She, on the other hand, plays strictly what's on the page. She reads music well, and sight reads at the drop of a hat, but can't play without the music in front of her.
She says to me, "I'd love to be able to play the way you do,". To which I reply, "I'd love to be able to do what you do".
One of these days, I hope to be able to do both.

[James Lutz]

Originally Posted by gitlvr

I would call myself a musician. Not because I play multiple instruments. Or because I can read music(at least on a basic level). Or because of having had instruction(very little).
But because, when I play, I'm trying to fit what I'm doing into the music, or song, that I'm playing. In other words, I'm trying to play what makes the song sound good, not what makes me look good. I'm also trying to play with the other musicians in the group, not alongside them. In other words, trying to play what complements and fits with what they are playing, or what their particular style/approach to the song is.
On rhythm guitar, to me that means playing nice, full chords, in time, and trying to support the singer, not step all over him/her. On lead, playing the notes that fit the music, and choosing them carefully. Playing 5 or six that sound good and keep the flow of the music, rather than 10 or 15 blisteringly fast notes just to say, "Hey, look at me. Ain't I great".
On the bass, basically the same thing. Play the notes the song calls out for. Sometimes that's more notes than others, or more complicated technique. Sometimes(often times) it's just "keep it simple".
All of this also applies to the other instrument I play(piano).
To me, the definition of musician is someone who focuses more on the music itself, as opposed to the particular type of instrument in his/her hands. MHO, of course.

Dear Higher Power,

Clone this person and send him to every band in every club that exists.

Thank you,
One who is so over all the self important egoist overplaying musical masturbationists with no respect for the song AND fellow band mates

[Lee Harvey]

The difference to me is..

How much are you willing to suffer for your craft?

Are you willing to be homeless, living on the road 365, eat Bologna on hand and give up a steady job to have your craft heard?

If the answer is yes.. your a musician.

If the answer is no... your a guitar player..


A big part (like it or not) of being a musician is a certain amount of failure and suffering to reach your goal.

[Warm Gums]

Its pretty simple for me..

Some one who has a basic competency on their instrument ,this varies from gig to gig but ALWAYS involves playing with good time, and intonation.

Who shows up on time ( early is on time on time is late) prepared, with their gear how ever basic in good repair, and in approiate dress.

Who maintains good humor, respects the music, supports the frontman (if it is not them) interacts with the audience and other musicians in a courtious manner, and speaks well of others off the gig when warranted,while keeping negative comments to a minimum.

[Chud]

Originally Posted by octatonic

Distinction without a difference.

That depends on what type of definition you agree with.

Originally Posted by hannigan

Does this have something to do with Boolean logic ?

All guitar players are musicians but not all musicians are guitar players .

Exactly, but one could also make the distinction between someone who "plays guitar" and someone who is a "guitar player." The first implies an action someone engages in, the second implies an internalized identity.

The two main distinctions being talked about here are both right and both wrong depending on whether you prefer a hierarchical or categorical distinction between guitar players and musicians.

The hierarchical distinction calls a musician something greater than just being a guitar player. The categorical distinction just distinguishes a specific instrument that a musician plays.

My personal thoughts on the subject are that a person can call themselves a musician if:

A) They play one or more instruments with some level of proficiency (including vocalists), regardless of whether they can sightread or whether they actually have an explicit understanding of the theory that they apply when they play

B) If they really really really want to. I just don't have to listen to the music that they make.

[Tele Fan]

I am a maker of fine noise.

[Hiker]

There's musicians, and there's players. If you don't know which category better describes you, you might be described as "player." Musicians are (or seek to be) well rounded in many, many aspects of music. Players are more narrowly defined, and to my way of thinking (IMO), players run along a narrow path(s), or in circles with their musical interests, approach, and delivery.

As an oversimplification, musicians are interested in a world of aspects, genres, and what makes up music. Their time (not their interest) limits what they do with it. However, many players could care less about what makes up music, or what comprises the whole ball of wax. You can study it, play it, or combine the two.

If you're not interested in seriously studying music, you might be in the player category.

[1955]

When you get asked that again, respond by saying you are John Rambo. Or John J.

[Crawz]

Musician-Guitarist-Pianist
I apply and receive them equally.

[mpearce]

For the longest time I worked to be the best guitar player/musician I could be. I don't care about that any more. Now I work to be the best performer I can be. What I work on guitar-wise now are skills that will enhance my performing rather than trying to be a hot guitar player.

-Mike

[6stringelectric]

If someone asked me that question, I would think by "musician" they meant someone who had a lot of knowledge and skill with music theory, sight reading, and that sort of thing - as well as being skilled at playing a instrument, quite probably more than one instrument.

And "guitar player" would mean someone who was skilled at playing guitar - whether they knew any music theory or not.

My answer would be that I'm not really either - I consider myself more of a performer/entertainer who uses my voice and guitar in the process...

[kbraker]

I'm not even a guitar player, I just play guitar....

[mickeydean]

i'm an entertainer.

[dsutton24]

I'll gladly admit to hacker. At one time I was pretty good, but time, injury and arthritis have taken their toll. Not complaining in the least, my first love has always been the 'how does it work?' aspect of things. The natural progression for me would be toward repair, restoration and building. Not that I'm a wizard there either, but I have fun! And I've got a bunch of cool stuff.

[twintwelve]

I'm an obsessed guitar player

[cband7]

Neither. I'm a wannabe hack who enjoys trying to coax something musical out of an instrument that doesn't sound like (to quote Frank Zappa) "a couple of quarts of beer would fix it so the intonation would not offend yer ear".


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