Poll: Is it possible to play a guitar in public...

[triggrhappy94]

...Without looking like a complete douche?
So, I'm sure I'm not the only person who's wondering or has made this observation.
My current situation (feel free to skip to the next paragragh) is that I'm commuting 30 minutes to college every morning. School just started so I'm still trying to work things out and meet people, which is not easy if you're a freshmen living off-campus. The other day I was faced with biding my time in the library for four hours, because there wasn't too much else I could do. I wouldn't mind getting some guitar practice in though, but there's the rub.

Is it possible to play a guitar in public without looking like a massive douche?
We all know those people. The ones who take their guitar to parties or sit out in the middle of the quad and only know how to play Wonderwall (or something like that). Despite knowing next to nothing about music, they still pretend like they do.
Yeah, I don't want to look like one of those people.

Is there some way to avoid it, or is it just impossible not to look like a show-off and a douche?

EDIT:
I don't know if it's just me, but some of the poll answers got cut off.
#1 is "No it's impossible"
#2 "You can if you're carefull"
#3 "What're you talking about, I love those guys"
#4 I have no idea what's going on."

 

[theSHAH]

Practice with disregard of others. As long as you're not in an area where you're bothering somebody and minding your own business, there's nothing wrong with it.

 

[Dags90]

Be a music major who already plays well.

That's the only time I've seen it, anyway.

 

[Loop Stricken]

What, we're NOT talking about jiggly boobs? Bah!

But seriously, just play. As long as you're not bothering people with your cacophony, it's all good.

 

[Launcelot111]

If you're not showing off or trying to lead a singalong and you practice in a reasonably unpopulated corner of campus, you should be fine.

You could also talk with some people at the music department and see if there are any practice rooms available to non-music majors.

 

[lunavixen]

I think it can be done if you're careful, when I was still at uni, i had a part time job at a supermarket, we sometimes had a girl (no older than 14 or so) with a violin busking while her mother went shopping, she played for about an hour, and never repeated a song as far as i know. She used the busking money to buy a better bow for her violin and buy violin strings.

 

[goldenjester]

While not a guitar, there was this guy on my campus who played banjo. Banjo players are, in my opinion, douchier than guitar players. But this guy...he only ever played while riding his bike between class. Somehow, that just made it...okay. I guess if you make it impressive or unique enough, it's fine. It really is just the untalented, popped-collar bros that make it douchey.

 

[Erja_Perttu]

I don't know about anyone else, but so long as you don't play bloody 'Wonderwall' you're fine with me.

I don't know what it is, maybe that songs is just really easy to play but every damn busker on the high street these days is just strumming Wonderwall and it drives me nuts! Play FREEBIRD!

 

[EnlightendDead]

"You're my wonderwall....."
Do that and everyone in the world will hate you and you will never be cool.
Ever.
Play some underrated songs, or songs that are not overplayed.

 

[snakeakaossi]

You can if you wrote your own witty, funny songs that make people happy.

I did and now everyone wants me to sing them, even if there is no guitar around...

Does a-capella count as playing guitar in public if you wrote the song on a guitar?

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

As long as you are not wearing thick rimmed glasses, a low v neck top with your shitty tat showing, a cardigan and skin tight jeans.... then you won't look like a nonce!

I sometimes live near Bath in England, and there are many street performers there... so that attracts lone guys with guitars too... 40-60 year old jamacans singing acoustic reggae is definitely not poncy, and is actually pretty awesome!

The greasy haired, uni drop outs/art students, with all the tats and peircings, who don't really care what people think of them, and have their giutars because they like to have a sing along with there mates are also not gubs!

The only real divs are the ones who take there guitars, as you mentioned, playing one song on repeat, because they are posing tossers!

Also, playing in public, songs should be kept to accoustic raggae, blues, ballads and not soft versions of your favourite rock songs[footnote]Unless, of course, done for comedy purposes, such as Rape Me by nirvana, Song 2 by Blur or Slayer's Raining Blood! Hell... i'd love to see a live accoustic version of Her Ghost in the Fog by Cradle of Filth! [/footnote], or Brit-pop[footnote]Although, of course Brit-pop is rife with songs that are attractive for sing along purposes... this doesn't mean they should be played or sung along to![/footnote]! Also, any song that was written as an accoustic track is fair game... Also the guitarist should also be able to sing as s/he plays, and actually be a good singer! Oh, and songs should be kept, on average, to less popular, more unknown songs, as then you can't hear if they go wrong at any point!

Oh... and all people playing in public should know Stairway to Heaven and Dust in the Wind as popular choices... and should be able to, on demand, play Classical Gas. I know it is a hard tune, but it's a hard world...!

 

[RedDeadFred]

If you're doing the typical, play the same basic progression over and over thing then yes, you are the quintessential douche bag.

If you are playing songs that required practice and they actually sound good, go for it. You're putting good music into people's lives. That's always a positive thing.

 

[rokkolpo]

Be really fucking impressive...

...It's the only way.

 

[PleaseDele]

I'm not sure how I should put this. I guess even douchebags can make someones day. I think there is an enormous chance you'll be considered a douche, no matter how rocking the tune. Though, usually, when the whole crowd yells boo, there is one person silently applauding.

 

[gibboss28]

Yes.

Really there isn't much else to be said.

 

[Littaly]

Well, not if you're really (or at least sufficiently) good at it and play at times when it's appropriate. You can always tell who plays because they actually like playing and who plays because they like that other people know that they like playing, the latter tends to be much more common when you're among people.

 

[maninahat]

Basically, you can if you play a really good acoustic guitar solo - but that requires a lot of practise and an uncommon fondness for Django Reinhardt. Three chord, wishy washy bullshit won't cut it.

 

[Benni88]

I live in town with a music college and there's people playing guitar in public all the time. Some of them play douschey songs, but that's not an issue if they're busking.

The line is drawn for me when you're playing douschey songs but you're not busking, you're swanning about in front of your friends.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

You'd have to grow an enormous beard, wear old and dirty clothes and be sitting down at the side of a street with a can or a hat by your side. A dog can also help.

Congratulations, you are now a hobo.

Calumon: It helps if you can play the guitar.