How well do you have to play an instrument to say that you play it?

[MisterGobbles]

So today, one of my friends started giving me drumset lessons. I'm normally a guitarist so I figured it'd come in handy sometime, but why I am taking is irrelevant to this thread.

But afterwards, for some reason, it got me thinking: how well do you have to be able to play something in order to be considered a "guitarist" or a "drummer" or whatever term applies to the instrument you play? One could argue that being able to play a simple beat on drumset doesn't make you a drummer, any more than being able to play a chord on guitar makes you a guitarist.

But what is the line? I myself don't really have an opinion, but what do you guys think? What is the point at which you personally consider someone able to say that they play something?

 

[Mr.Pandah]

I can play the guitar, but I'm not a guitarist...Does that help?

 

[Kpt._Rob]

This falls under the category of ponderances that are generally taught with "the problem of the heap." It basically says that if you have a heap of rice, and take away one grain of rice at a time, at what point in time does it cease to be a heap? There really doesn't seem to be a definable clear cut line between who is and who isn't a musician, I'm afraid this is a question without an answer.

 

[gorillahertz]

I think the "line" is crossed as soon as you start making money or get at least one fan. Getting payed to STOP playing doesn't count.

And pets cannot be counted as fans.

 

[ApeShapeDeity]

If you're good enough to play for an audience that isn't your mum, you can play, whether that makes you a good musician or not, well.

If other musicians want to hear you play, then you're a good musician. That's how I see it. Ergo, I suck.

 

[Nautical Honors Society]

If you get paid to do it then thats when you can consider yourself a "drummer, bassist, guitarist" etc, otherwise you just play the instrument.

The same goes for actors. You can only call yourself an actor if you are getting paid.

 

[Sacman]

I dunno I never really considered myself a guitarist until recently and I've been playing for a few years...<.<

 

[GodofCider]

So today, one of my friends started giving me drumset lessons. I'm normally a guitarist so I figured it'd come in handy sometime, but why I am taking is irrelevant to this thread.

But afterwards, for some reason, it got me thinking: how well do you have to be able to play something in order to be considered a "guitarist" or a "drummer" or whatever term applies to the instrument you play? One could argue that being able to play a simple beat on drumset doesn't make you a drummer, any more than being able to play a chord on guitar makes you a guitarist.

But what is the line? I myself don't really have an opinion, but what do you guys think? What is the point at which you personally consider someone able to say that they play something?

In the same manner that playing a game, does not make you a gamer; whereas there is some division along the way in which you self identify as one.

 

[MisterGobbles]

If you get paid to do it then thats when you can consider yourself a "drummer, bassist, guitarist" etc, otherwise you just play the instrument.

The same goes for actors. You can only call yourself an actor if you are getting paid.

That I would have to disagree with. There are plenty of community theater actors and such that don't get paid to do the things they do (although most of them have been paid before for their acting), and plenty of musicians that don't get paid either.

 

[BonsaiK]

So today, one of my friends started giving me drumset lessons. I'm normally a guitarist so I figured it'd come in handy sometime, but why I am taking is irrelevant to this thread.

But afterwards, for some reason, it got me thinking: how well do you have to be able to play something in order to be considered a "guitarist" or a "drummer" or whatever term applies to the instrument you play? One could argue that being able to play a simple beat on drumset doesn't make you a drummer, any more than being able to play a chord on guitar makes you a guitarist.

But what is the line? I myself don't really have an opinion, but what do you guys think? What is the point at which you personally consider someone able to say that they play something?

I guess from my perspective it would be this: would I hire them to do that? Would I feel comfortable with getting them to play whatever that thing is on an album I was working on? If the answer is "yes" then they qualify to me as an "[insert instrument here]ist". Otherwise, they're still learning.

In other words, not "are they being paid", but "could they potentially be paid"?

 

[Paksenarrion]

I play a variety of air instruments, and am paid with like currency.

 

[Nautical Honors Society]

If you get paid to do it then thats when you can consider yourself a "drummer, bassist, guitarist" etc, otherwise you just play the instrument.

The same goes for actors. You can only call yourself an actor if you are getting paid.

That I would have to disagree with. There are plenty of community theater actors and such that don't get paid to do the things they do (although most of them have been paid before for their acting), and plenty of musicians that don't get paid either.

Yes, but we are talking technicalities. If somebody asks someone what do they do and they respond "oh I am a musician" or "oh I am an actor" and they currently aren't getting paid then they are wrong.

 

[lacktheknack]

Once you're good enough to play something that entertains non-family members, you're a musician.

 

[Sightless Wisdom]

I would say if you can't consistently learn and play songs composed for your instrument or with a band, you can play said instrument.

 

[efeat]

I would say the point where you turn into an ist is when you stop playing with the instrument, and start playing the instrument.

That's a wonderfully vague statement, I know, but it's one of those things that will just click for you when you reach it. For me, the turning point was when I realized that I was sitting down at the piano and simply playing songs. I wasn't practicing theory or technique or just fiddling around with the instrument, I was playing actual songs that people would recognize as such.

Of course, being technically capable with an instrument does not intrinsically mean you are capable of making enjoyable music >.>

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

I usually call myself an entertainer.

I don't know why I have this deep-rooted hatred of calling myself a guitarist or musician, but it's probably the same reason I don't call myself a writer despite having over a million words in fiction stories alone and being near the end of a Creative Writing course at uni.

Somewhere in my head I think people that label themselves by the instrument they play are confining themselves. I'll do anything that gets a crowd interested or excited or laughing or whatever. Whether that means playing guitar very well or writing a cliched pulp novel, as long as people are entertained, I'm happy.

Thus, I am an entertainer.

 

[Ham_authority95]

I didn't start calling myself a "bassist" until I joined my second band, but I'll call anyone a *instrument*ist as long as they can play songs and could join a group.