Guitar

/ɡɪˈtɑːr/ noun

Definition

A guitar is a musical instrument with a long neck and usually six strings that you pluck or strum with your fingers or a pick. It is used in many styles of music, from classical to rock.

Etymology

From Spanish “guitarra,” from Arabic “qīṯārah,” from Greek “kithara,” a type of ancient stringed instrument. The word and the instrument family have traveled through many cultures.

Kelly Says

When you play a guitar, you’re touching a very long musical family tree that reaches back to ancient Greece and the Middle East. Even the word carries echoes of “kithara,” an instrument that sounded in temples and theaters thousands of years ago.

Ethical Language Guidance

Gender History

Guitar performance, especially in rock and jazz, has been stereotyped as male, with women guitarists underrepresented and often treated as novelties. This has influenced who is recognized as a ‘guitar hero’ in popular culture.

Inclusive Usage

Avoid assuming guitarists are men; use neutral terms like ‘guitarist’ and highlight diverse players when giving examples.

Inclusive Alternatives

["string instrument","guitar instrument"]

Empowerment Note

Acknowledge influential women guitarists and composers when discussing the history or culture of the guitar.

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