How to Sign "Guitar"

To sign 'guitar', mime the action of playing the instrument. Hold your non-dominant hand out to the side as if gripping the neck of a guitar. With your dominant hand, make a strumming motion up and down near your stomach, as if you are strumming the strings.

Examples Using "Guitar" in a Sentence

1

I want to learn how to play the guitar.

Point to yourself for 'I', sign 'want', 'learn', 'play', and then perform the strumming motion for 'guitar'.

2

She bought a new acoustic guitar.

Point to her, sign 'buy', 'new', and then sign 'guitar' while keeping your strumming motion clear and relaxed.

3

My brother plays the electric guitar.

Sign 'my', 'brother', 'play', 'electric', and finish with the 'guitar' sign, perhaps adding a bit more energy to your strumming.

How to Sign "Guitar"
To sign 'guitar', mime the action of playing the instrument. Hold your non-dominant hand out to the side as if gripping the neck of a guitar. With your dominant hand, make a strumming motion up and down near your stomach, as if you are strumming the strings.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
The sign for 'guitar' is highly iconic, meaning its visual form directly represents its meaning. It perfectly mimics the physical, real-world act of holding a guitar by the neck with one hand and strumming the strings across the body with the other hand. Because it relies on universal pantomime, it is incredibly easy for beginners to remember and recognize.
Signing Tips
Keep your movements relaxed and natural, just like you would if you were actually playing a real guitar. Your non-dominant hand should stay relatively still, gripping the imaginary neck, while your dominant hand does the rhythmic strumming motion. You can even adjust the size and speed of your strumming motion to match the intensity or style of the music you are describing in your conversation.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake beginners make is moving both hands at the same time. Remember that the hand holding the 'neck' of the guitar should remain stationary, while only the dominant hand moves up and down to strum the 'strings'. Also, avoid making the strumming motion too small or stiff; it should clearly and fluidly look like you are playing a real instrument.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Guitar" in a Sentence
1

I want to learn how to play the guitar.

Point to yourself for 'I', sign 'want', 'learn', 'play', and then perform the strumming motion for 'guitar'.

2

She bought a new acoustic guitar.

Point to her, sign 'buy', 'new', and then sign 'guitar' while keeping your strumming motion clear and relaxed.

3

My brother plays the electric guitar.

Sign 'my', 'brother', 'play', 'electric', and finish with the 'guitar' sign, perhaps adding a bit more energy to your strumming.

Frequently Asked Questions
Does it matter which hand I use to strum?

Yes, you should generally use your dominant hand to strum the imaginary strings, just as most people use their dominant hand to strum a real guitar. Your non-dominant hand should hold the neck.

How is this different from the sign for 'music'?

The sign for 'music' involves swinging your dominant hand back and forth over your non-dominant arm. The sign for 'guitar' specifically mimics the physical action of holding and strumming the instrument.

Can I change the sign to show different types of guitars?

The base sign remains the same, but you can add signs like 'electric' or 'acoustic' before it. You can also change your facial expression and the intensity of your strumming to show how the guitar is being played.

ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!