Silly Question

[Dave T]

Practiced for close to an hour this morning and the arthritis in my shoulder is bothering me now so I'm setting in front of the computer instead of playing.

I love classical guitars. The sound, the appearance, the way they play and even the music they are most noted for, classical and the sub-set Flamenco. All I own are "classicals" or at a minimum all nylon stringed guitars. Two real classicals (a Goodall and an Alhambra) and two near vintage, nylon stringed Martins.

Because of age and the above referenced arthritis, I am never going to play classical music let alone Flamenco. What I do play are a couple short Bach pieces, a few traditional/folk songs and mostly Christian music (hymns, Christmas carols and spirituals).

My silly question is, what do I call myself. I am by no means a classical guitarist yet I play classical guitars almost exclusively. The closest I can come for a label is a nylon finger stylist. Trouble is, when you tell someone that they look at you like you've spoken a foreign language (LOL).

So I'm throwing out the question. What do you call someone who plays classical guitars but doesn't play classical music?

Inquiring minds want to know!
Dave

[Dave70]

Originally Posted by Dave T

. What do you call someone who plays classical guitars but doesn't play classical music?

Open minded!

I'd say 'fingerstyle guitarist' probably fits pretty well.

[riffmeister]

Originally Posted by Dave T

What I do play are a couple short Bach pieces, a few traditional/folk songs and mostly Christian music (hymns, Christmas carols and spirituals).

You play some Bach? That makes you a classical guitarist!

[PointBlank]

Originally Posted by Dave T

So I'm throwing out the question. What do you call someone who plays classical guitars but doesn't play classical music?

Willie Nelson

[randalljazz]

"musician"

[DJ in FL]

Independent thinker!

[GuitarsLover]

So I'm throwing out the question. What do you call someone who plays classical guitars but doesn't play classical music?

unclassical guitarist

[Dave T]

Originally Posted by GuitarsLover

unclassical guitarist

Hey GL, I like that one! (LOL)

Dave

[john bange]

I still say, this catagory should be split in to two separate subjects
"classical"
"nylon string"

while I would love to be able to play classical guitar, I am a folkie who plays a nylon string guitar.

...just an idea the moderators have already told me they don't care for...

[Dave T]

john, I see your point. When people talk about crossovers and some electrified models that just happen to have nylon strings, it's so far from "classical guitar" that it deserves it's own name…not that I have a clue other than your idea of simply "nylon".

Dave

[john bange]

makes sense to me...when I look at the thread headings under classical right now, I don't know what half the subjects are about. I think the classical side of this discussion is very focused and specialized. There are so many guitar players out there using nylon strings who love listening to and appreciate the talents of classical artists but, play Chet Atkins or Willie Nelson or Zac Brown...Peter, Paul and Mary...John Denver....the list goes on and on and on...with a heavy, thumbnail driven, Cotton pickin', alternating bass beat.
I think there should be both a classical and a nylon string discussion group

so there...I've said it!...call me a radical

[k_russell]

You play a classical guitar. I say that makes you a classical guitar player. What you call yourself is up to you. I think other people should call you Dave.

[MrSteve]

I say you call yourself...

Dave, the guitarist!

You can then fill in the blanks with your sense of style and musical taste

[vts]

Jeez, "nylon finger stylist"

Seriously though, why narrow it down to one term? Just say you play guitar.