A guitarist is someone who plays the guitar, a stringed musical instrument with a long neck and a hollow or solid body. Guitarists use their fingers or a small pick to pluck or strum the strings, creating melodies, rhythms, and chords.

Guitarists appear in almost every style of music: rock, country, classical, jazz, blues, and folk. Some guitarists play electric guitars that plug into amplifiers to create loud, energetic sounds, while others play acoustic guitars that make softer, more natural tones. A classical guitarist might perform Bach pieces in a concert hall, while a rock guitarist might play power chords at an arena show.

Learning to play guitar takes patience and practice. Beginning guitarists often start with simple songs using just a few chords, but skilled guitarists can play incredibly complex music, sometimes moving their fingers so fast across the strings that it's hard to see exactly what they're doing. Famous guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Andrés Segovia, and Chet Atkins became known for their technical skill, unique styles, and creativity that influenced generations of musicians.