Teacher Discussion Forums

Hi everyone. I have a grammar quesiton which my student asked me several days ago. We use the article 'the' for musical instruments. For example, 'play the guitar'; 'play the piano'; 'play the violin' etc. Is it possible to say 'play guitar'; 'play piano'; 'play violin'. The grammar reference book indicates that we have to use 'the'. However, I tried to type 'play guitar' or 'play piano' on Google and have found that it seems that we can say 'play guitar' or 'play piano'. I am a little confused how to tell my students. Thanks for your answers.

"I play xxxxx in a band" would always be OK, I think.

In other contexts, I have this feeling that the more prim and proper the instrument, the more you need "the"!

ACtually it may be more to do with how prim and proper the band is than the instrument.
Sometimes 'the' is plain wrong:
He plays lead guiter
He plays jazz piano

Do you play an instrument?

Yes, I play the guitar.

Really, I want to learn to play the guitar.

Oh, I play bass.

Oh I want to learn to play the acoustic guitar.

David Bowie: Ziggy played guitar

Radiohead: Anyone can play guitar


I agree, it's just that "without the" is a bit more rock'n'roll and "with the" less.

From Cobuild: The first time I play guitar to a song is usually the time it goes on to the tape: Barney pretends to play guitar: David Johansen... could never play guitar as well as Tom Verlaine: How would you like to play guitar in stadiums for three weeks: He pauses only to play guitar, maybe to get his breath back (he is 46): If Alex Patterson had learned to play guitar, then this is what The Orb would sound like: Hey, you're the singer out of Anthrax'. And I'd say, `No, I play guitar': play guitar now brother:- I realised I wanted to play guitar when I heard Dream Syndicate:played guitar with the mighty Look Blue, Go Purple, while drummer Dominic Stones used to play guitar in both Snapper (alongside David Kilgour) and Bird Nest Rays: I used to play guitar to her to get her to sleep: and more

There was only one unrocky "play guitar" namely : Learn to play guitar at The Smithsonian: and that's probably the institution thinking it's being groovy or right-on.

QED

So "play the bass" sounds more like an acoustic upright between-the-knees bass , or a fish:

With the lighter tackle most of us use today it is important to play the bass carefully

I know the feeling, my tackle is definitely lighter.

All these explanations, and "play guitar" and "play the guitar" still seem the same to me. I must have missed something in my musical language experience.

Hey all!

Could the difference be regional? I'm with Lorikeet here, both sound fine to me. I tend to say "play the guitar", but the other has probably leaked from my lips in one or another conversation....

peace,
revel.

could be a confusion way back when with 'play music' and 'play an instrument', play piano music or guitar music. The 'music' part was omitted and it became easier, acceptable and thence usage.