Play a song on <the> guitar

[Jenny_Ben]

Hello everyone,


My question is:

Do we use the definite article 'the' before 'guitar' as in:

I was playing a song on the guitar a few minutes ago.


Your replies will be appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[owlman5]

I suggest that you use "the guitar" in that sentence. "I was playing a song on guitar" sounds incomplete and a little off to me.

 

[Jenny_Ben]

I suggest that you use "the guitar" in that sentence. "I was playing a song on guitar" sounds incomplete and a little off to me.

Thank you, owlman5, for your reply.

 

[Jenny_Ben]

It may sound a bit different from the original question - Do we use 'the' before 'guitar' in the following case?

I was playing the guitar a few minutes ago.

 

[Hermione Golightly]

I agree, from a BE viewpoint, in this context.
We do often see "accompanied by Blahsy Bloggs on piano and Thingy Jig on drums", and so on, but that is a different context.

 

[Jenny_Ben]

I agree, from a BE viewpoint, in this context.
We do often see "accompanied by Blahsy Bloggs on piano and Thingy Jig on drums", and so on, but that is a different context.

Thank you for joining the thread. So, my sentence is correct from a BE point of view (?)

 

[Hermione Golightly]

Your #4 crossed with my #5.

I was playing the guitar a few minutes ago.

This use would fit with my BE idea of when to use the article.

 

[ain'ttranslationfun?]

In AE, 'the' is more common with the names of musical instruments, too.

 

[Jenny_Ben]

Your #4 crossed with my #5.

This use would fit with my BE idea of when to use the article.

I see. Thanks again.

 

[Jenny_Ben]

In AE, 'the' is more common with the names of musical instruments, too.

That's what I expected. Thank you for your reply.