Johan Larson Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Anybody know? The search engines don't turn up any decent results. My guess, for what it's worth, is based on how many people got up to play in my high school's annual talent show. Out of 1200 people, there may have been 6 guitar players. That's one in 200. Multiplying by the population of the US (307 million) gets me to 1.5 million. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Larson Posted November 2, 2009 Author Share Posted November 2, 2009 Oh heck, I finally found it. A Gallup/NAMM survey came up with the number 16 million. (link) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 well, that is only 15.9 million more than we need. "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadLife Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Well at least that means there is lots of choices for equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p90jr Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 well, that is only 15.9 million more than we need. well played, sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larryz Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 but we need more than we need to keep the guitar stores/manufactures in business...16 million is a lot of customers for all the pedals, guitars, amps and other junk that we must keep producing in order to help us with our GAS attacks... Take care, Larryz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyalcatraz Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 That number is also probably good for Music Go Round, Craigslist and thousands of pawn shops across the USA. Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx http://murphysmusictx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skipclone 1 Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 No one is going to bother making cool gear-even if most of it is redundant, overpriced, planned obsolescence gear-for 0.5 million guitarists. That`s irrespective of the fact that saying `guitarists` runs the gamut from those who shouldn`t have them (ever), to those who can`t do anything else. Same old surprises, brand new cliches- Skipsounds on Soundclick: www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandid=602491 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Larson Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 Of course, that there are 16 million guitar players in the US means GP has less than one percent market penetration, since they only sell 112 thousand issues per month. I am quite certain their investors have not failed to remind them of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 well, that is only 15.9 million more than we need. My sentiments exactly, especially on college campuses. Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=810593 http://www.myspace.com/dandelavega Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Iverson Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Reminding me of a conversation I had with this French horn player. The young lady told me "there are too MANY French horn players" and I said, "yeah, sometimes I feel that there too many guitarists." Her reply: THAT'S FOR SURE!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duff beer Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 I wonder how many of those 16 million are capable of playing at least one song from start to finish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 I saw a beer commercial once that said every American male tries to learn to play the guitar at least once. Might even be true... Always remember that you�re unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A String Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 I wonder how many of those 16 million are capable of playing at least one song from start to finish? Yeah, you know...I've often used the "ist", or similar, at the end of a the instrument name, to imply the difference between a pro and some one who can simply play. I know hundreds of folks who can pick up a guitar and clumsily strum a G chord and possible fake their way through a D. But are they "guitarists"? No, not really. There are people who can play the guitar and then there are "Guitarists". For example, I can play the drums, I'm actually quite good at it, but I would never consider myself "a drummer". So the question really should not be "how many guitar players are there", but "how many guitarists are there". Craig Stringnetwork on Facebook String Network Forum My Music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billster Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 I saw a beer commercial once that said every American male tries to learn to play the guitar at least once. Might even be true... Everything I need to know I learned from beer commercials But seriously the ones that try to learn guitar are the ones who can't get laid by way of playing football. Buy my CD on CD Baby! Bill Hartzell - the website MySpace?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 well, that is only 15.9 million more than we need. I'll take that as a compliment http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 I wonder how many of those 16 million are capable of playing at least one song from start to finish? Yeah, you know...I've often used the "ist", or similar, at the end of a the instrument name, to imply the difference between a pro and some one who can simply play. I know hundreds of folks who can pick up a guitar and clumsily strum a G chord and possible fake their way through a D. But are they "guitarists"? No, not really. There are people who can play the guitar and then there are "Guitarists". For example, I can play the drums, I'm actually quite good at it, but I would never consider myself "a drummer". So the question really should not be "how many guitar players are there", but "how many guitarists are there". not a drummerist? http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyalcatraz Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 I wonder how many of those 16 million are capable of playing at least one song from start to finish? Me! Me! Me! I'm pretty sure Vai & Satriani can as well... 3 down, 15,999,997 to go! Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx http://murphysmusictx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyalcatraz Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 a drummerist? Remember, a drummerist with 1 bass drum is a "Bashtracian," and one with 2 bass drums is a "Drummerdary." Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx http://murphysmusictx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d halfnote Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Is this part of the census program ? Are we as a group finally going to be recognized for our contributions to USA (& world) culture with some sort of govt. dispensations ? d=halfnote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 But seriously the ones that try to learn guitar are the ones who can't get laid by way of playing football. Oh no, my secret shame is exposed! Always remember that you�re unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Larson Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share Posted November 3, 2009 not a drummerist? If a guitarist is someone who plays the guitar (well), then a drummerist is someone who plays the drummer (well). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyalcatraz Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Then I don't want to meet a therapist... Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx http://murphysmusictx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 not a drummerist? If a guitarist is someone who plays the guitar (well), then a drummerist is someone who plays the drummer (well). that would be the drummers girlfriend http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertbluesman Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 how many guitarists in the US? Far too many dbm If it sounds good, it is good !! http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=143231&content=music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Iverson Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 Back in 1972 or so, my jazz guitar teacher told me "there are 11 MILLION guitar players out there" meaning that none of us should think that "hey, I'm the only guy out there that's BAD"... LOL. Given the population increase since then, 16 million seems about right.... As far as "too many guitarists", I have to say, speaking seriously for a change, that even musical geniuses start out as beginners. I am happy to see people with guitar cases on the subway or street just about every day... any of whom MIGHT be the next Segovia, Wes, Hendrix, Van Halen... name your own heroes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrell Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 Wow... 16 million is more than I would think! How many professional guitar players are there? Sole source of income, that's all they do kinda of people? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Iverson Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Wow... 16 million is more than I would think! How many professional guitar players are there? Sole source of income, that's all they do kinda of people? ------------------------------ Eric: That's an interesting question! And how many semi-pros? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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