How many people in the United States play guitar?

<NAMM/Gallup conducted a survey in 1997 and found that there were over
16 million guitar players in the US.
Source: NAMM/Gallup
http://namm.harmony-central.com/Newp/SNAMM97/Other/Memphis.html

It is estimated that there are 20 million guitar players in the U.S.
Source: Take your pick:guitars for beginners. By Bill Berry.
http://www.pcgazette.com/countyfare/2000/may00/guitar5-26.htm

A survey by CARAVAN found that 43% of adults could play an instrument.
13% could play the guitar. Younger adults aged 18 to 34 were more
likely to know how to play an instrument than older adults (51%).
Males are more likely than females to player the guitar (17% vs. 9%).
69% of people would like to learn to play an instrument. 
29% would like to learn how to play the guitar.
Males and adults under 55 years are more likely to want to learn to
play the guitar - 35%.
http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:diljk8hL8QIJ:opinionresearch.com/us/omnibus/newsletter/Saray-Spring_2000.pdf+respondents+guitar+piano+%22most+popular%22+play&hl=nl&ct=clnk&cd=4

There are about 50 million guitar players in the world.
Source: BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A668081

Gallup survey 2003
54 percent of household have at least one member who plays a musical instrument.
http://www.namm.com/pressroom/pressreleases/2003Apr21.html

This presentation gives a breakdown of the type of customers at Guitar
Center stores.
Professionals 16%
Aspiring professionals 43%
Hobbyists 41%
Source: Guitar Center.
http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/10/105057/gtrc_wblair_presentation_604.pdf>


<Search strategy :>

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<respondents guitar piano "most popular" play>
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<Hope this helps.>

How specific would you like us to be? To the nearest 1000? Also, what
constitutes playing guitar? Knowing your power chords? Or just simply
picking up any guitar and strumming it blindly?