The correct spelling is guitarist

Guitarist is spelled G-U-I-T-A-R-I-S-T. It means a person who plays the guitar. The word comes from "guitar" plus the suffix "-ist", which means a person who plays or practices something.

The most common mistake is doubling the "t" — writing "guitartist" — but that is incorrect. The base word "guitar" ends with one "r", and when you add "-ist", you do not add an extra letter. The spelling stays straightforward: guitar + ist = guitarist.

Key Takeaways

  • Guitarist is spelled with one "t" at the end of guitar, not two.
  • The word breaks down as guitar (the instrument) plus -ist (a person who does something).
  • Common misspellings include guitartist, guitarest, and guitarrist, all of which are wrong.
  • Related terms like bass guitarist and lead guitarist follow the same spelling rule.
  • The suffix -ist appears in many instrument names: pianist, violinist, cellist, and drummer all follow similar patterns.

Why the -ist suffix works this way

The suffix -ist attaches to nouns to describe a person who plays, practices, or specializes in something. You see it in pianist (piano + ist), violinist (violin + ist), cellist (cello + ist), and drummer (drum + er, a different suffix). When the base word ends in a consonant like "r", you straightforward add "-ist" without changing or repeating letters.

This rule holds even though "guitar" is a longer word. The spelling does not become more complex — it stays exactly as it is, with "-ist" added to the end. The same pattern works for other instruments: you do not write "pianolist" or "violinlist". You write pianist and violinist.

English spelling rules for suffixes are consistent across hundreds of words. Once you understand that "-ist" straightforward attaches without doubling the final consonant of the base word, you can spell guitarist correctly every time.

Common misspellings to avoid

Several wrong versions show up regularly in writing, from casual messages to formal documents. Guitartist (with two t's) is the most frequent error, appearing in forums, social media, and even some published work. Guitarrist (with double r) is another common mistake. Guitarest (changing the ending to "-est") also appears, though less often. Guitarists (the plural) is correct, but the singular form is always guitarist.

The reason these mistakes happen is that people sometimes overthink the spelling or assume longer words need doubled letters. In this case, they do not. The word is straightforward guitarist, one "t", one "r". The error is understandable because English does double consonants in some words — for example, "beginning" doubles the "n" — but guitarist is not one of those words.

Related terms that use the same pattern

When you describe a specific type of guitarist, the spelling stays the same. A lead guitarist is the person who plays the lead parts in a band. A bass guitarist (or bass player) handles the lower notes. A rhythm guitarist keeps the chord structure steady. In all cases, "guitarist" is spelled the same way.

You might also see session guitarist (someone hired to record or perform for a project), classical guitarist (someone who plays classical music), acoustic guitarist (someone who plays acoustic guitar), or electric guitarist (someone who plays electric guitar). The spelling never changes — only the word before it does. Each of these terms uses the same correct spelling: guitarist.

The same pattern applies to other instruments. You write "bass player" or "bass violinist", "lead vocalist" or "backup vocalist", "session drummer" or "jazz drummer". The instrument or role comes first, and the person-word stays spelled the same way.

How to remember the correct spelling

Think of the word in two parts: guitar (the instrument) and -ist (the person). You already know how to spell guitar. Then you add "-ist" exactly as it is written, with no changes. Guitar + ist = guitarist. No extra letters, no doubled consonants.

If you are unsure while writing, sound it out: "GI-TAR-IST". The three syllables match the three parts of the word. That rhythm can help lock in the correct spelling. You can also compare it to words you already spell correctly: if you can spell "pianist" without doubling the "n", you can spell "guitarist" without doubling the "t".

Another memory trick is to write out the two parts separately before combining them. Write "guitar" on one line and "-ist" on another. Then push them together. This visual method helps your brain see that no letters are added or changed in the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it guitarist or guitarest?

It is guitarist. The suffix that describes a person who plays an instrument is "-ist", not "-est". Words like pianist, violinist, and cellist all use "-ist" for the same reason. The "-est" suffix means something different — it marks the superlative form of an adjective, like "fastest" or "brightest".

Can you spell it guitartist with two t's?

No. Guitarist has one "t" at the end of guitar and one "t" in the "-ist" suffix, but they are the same letter, so you write it only once. The correct spelling is guitarist, with nine letters total.

What about bass guitarist versus bass player?

Both are correct. Bass guitarist and bass player mean the same thing — a person who plays the bass guitar. Guitarist is spelled the same way in both terms. Bass player is more casual, while bass guitarist is slightly more formal.

Is there a difference between guitarist and guitar player?

No. Guitarist and guitar player are interchangeable. Guitarist is shorter and more formal, while guitar player is more casual. Both describe someone who plays the guitar, and both are spelled correctly.

How do you spell the plural of guitarist?

The plural is guitarists, spelled G-U-I-T-A-R-I-S-T-S. You straightforward add an "s" to the end of the singular form. The same rule applies to other "-ist" words: pianists, violinists, cellists.