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View Full Version : How do you pronounce "guitar"?

Slug Moses
04-22-2007, 12:48 PM
I have travelled around quite a bit playing music, and everywhere I go people pronounce "guitar" differently. I had this discussion with a few people the other night and wanted to see what you thought.

How do you say it?

1. Gu-tar.... with a short 'u' sound. accent on the second syllable
2. Ge-tar.... short 'e' sound. accent on the second syllable
3. Git-tar.... short 'i' sound. accent on the first syllable
4. Gee-tar....long 'e' sound. accent on the first syllable

What I have found is that guitarists who play country and bluegrass call it a git-tar. Especially the bluegrass acoustic guys, they always call it a git-tar. But most rockers and blues guys call it a ge-tar. I don't think a metalhead would ever call it a git-tar. That just sounds funny.

I usually say ge-tar or git-tar, depending on the situation. I have gotten in the habit of saying git-tar because my bandmates say it, but if I am around someone else who doesn't play country I usually say ge-tar.

Also, gee-tar is not proper in any way. It is disgusting. The only time you hear that is when someone is making fun of country guitarists.
Lachrymose
04-22-2007, 12:50 PM
Actually, none of these. Short "i", accent on second syllable.
Slug Moses
04-22-2007, 12:53 PM
Actually, none of these. Short "i", accent on second syllable.
That's a new one to me. :confused: Sorry to have left you out of the poll.
Lachrymose
04-22-2007, 12:54 PM
That's a new one to me. :confused: Sorry to have left you out of the poll.

Haha..unless I'm fooling myself. I probably sat here pronouncing it fifty times trying to see if it would fit, but it really doesn't seem to. The closest it would come to what you have is probably 1, but it still sounds like a short i to me.

Edit: By the way, what is the site with your music? I think I listened to it a while ago, but I want to check it out again.
Kellenator
04-22-2007, 01:06 PM
Actually, none of these. Short "i", accent on second syllable.
This is the same for me. It must be the Maryland accent.
Slug Moses
04-22-2007, 01:13 PM
Hmm. I live close to MD and never heard anyone say it like that. Most people keep the second syllable the same sound.

Do you accent the first or second syllable?
Lachrymose
04-22-2007, 01:14 PM
Hmm. I live close to MD and never heard anyone say it like that. Most people keep the second syllable the same sound.

Do you accent the first or second syllable?

Yeah, but you live close to Western Maryland, which is pretty much West Viriginia extended. :p

I have family in Frostburg, and they are by no means indicative of central MD.
Sezril
04-22-2007, 01:44 PM
Would you call me crazy if I said I'm not sure? I think I use both guh-tar and git-tar.

I'm from southern New Jersey, although I've never been one to say Philadelphianisms like wooder (water).
Joey-Clemenza
04-22-2007, 02:57 PM
Are you some kind of learned sociolinguist or just another forum troll talking out of his ass?
Slug Moses
04-22-2007, 03:24 PM
Are you some kind of learned sociolinguist or just another forum troll talking out of his ass?
Who are you talking to? What could possibly be trollish about this?

btw - yes, I am a learned (accent on the 'ed') sociolinguist.
Joey-Clemenza
04-22-2007, 03:52 PM
Who are you talking to? What could possibly be trollish about this?

btw - yes, I am a learned (accent on the 'ed') sociolinguist.

Well I be goddammed.