noun
Refers to a person who plays a stringed instrument (e.g., guitar, shamisen) or a keyboard instrument (e.g., piano). Often used in contexts like ギターの弾き手 or ピアノの弾き手.
彼はバンドのギターの弾き手だ。
He is the guitar player in the band.
この曲には熟練したピアノの弾き手が必要だ。
This piece requires a skilled piano performer.
奏者 is a more formal term for an instrumental performer, often used in classical or traditional music contexts. 弾き手 is more casual and specifically implies playing a stringed or keyboard instrument.
演奏者 is a general term for any musical performer. 弾き手 is narrower, focusing on the act of playing a specific instrument.
Compound of 弾き (hiki, the continuative form of 弾く 'to play a stringed instrument or keyboard') and 手 (te, 'person'). The reading ひきて follows standard rendaku rules.