He plays the guitar vs He plays guitar

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. "He plays the guitar" is more specific and implies that the person plays a specific guitar, while "He plays guitar" is a more general statement indicating that the person plays the instrument in general.

Last updated: April 12, 2024 • 1132 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"He plays the guitar"

This phrase is used when referring to a specific guitar that the person plays. It is more specific and implies a particular instrument.

Examples:

He plays the guitar that his father gave him.
She plays the guitar in a band on weekends.

Show examples from the web [+]

We cannot determine yet whether this sentence was initially derived from translation or not. He plays the guitar very well. added by an unknown member, date ...
As an American, "He plays the guitar" sounds perfectly natural to me. It's what would come out of my mouth (and those of other Americans, in my opinion) if ...
Mar 31, 2019 ... Learn how to use the French sentence "Il joue de la guitare avec ses copains." ("He plays the guitar with his friends.

Alternatives:

He plays a guitar
He plays an acoustic guitar
He plays the electric guitar
He plays the bass guitar
He plays the lead guitar

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"He plays guitar"

This phrase is more general and indicates that the person plays the guitar in general, without specifying a particular instrument.

Examples:

He plays guitar for a living.
She plays guitar in her free time.

Show examples from the web [+]

May 13, 2020 ... Both mean the same thing and are correct. 'He plays guitar' is more colloquial, I suppose.|He plays the guitar every morning.
I would say, "He plays guitar in a band" — i.e., the "the" can be dropped when you're talking about playing an instrument in a specific context.
May 7, 2020 - He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed #LanaDelRey tunez.
He plays guitar while I sing Lou Reed I've got feathers in my hair. I get down to Beat poetry. And my jazz collection's rare. I can play most anything
May 13, 2020 ... Both mean the same thing and are correct. 'He plays guitar' is more colloquial, I suppose.|He plays the guitar every morning.
What Song Does Eddie Shred in the 'Stranger Things' Season 4 Finale? He plays guitar as deftly as he plays our heartstrings. By Ruth KinaneJuly 2, 2022.

Alternatives:

He plays the guitar
He is a guitar player
He is skilled at playing the guitar
He enjoys playing the guitar
He practices guitar every day

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Why choose TextRanch?

Complete Privacy

Your texts are safe and secure with us. We never share your information with third parties.

Affordable Pricing

No subscription fees and rates up to 50% cheaper than other online editing services.

100% Satisfaction

We guarantee that you'll be satisfied with the quality of our service or your money back.

Top Customer Service

Our team is here to help you with any questions you may have. Contact us anytime.

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

He plays the guitar vs He plays guitar