listen to the guitar, to the sound of a guitar, a strumming guitar, a playing guitar

[TimurThePlayer]

Hello! I'm learning spoken English and English in books, films, movies and video games. Please, help. Thanks!

Which of these are idiomatic?

I was sitting by the fire listening 1) to the guitar.
2) to the sound of a guitar.
3) to the sounds of a guitar.
4) to a strumming guitar.
5) to a playing guitar.

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum.

Please tell us where you found this exercise. If it’s part of your homework we don’t help with that.

 

[TimurThePlayer]

Welcome to the forum.

Please tell us where you found this exercise. If it’s part of your homework we don’t help with that.

Thanks. It's not part of homework. I made it up myself. I don't study at university/college/school etc. I just want to know different ways of saying things. I try to translate from my mother tongue.

 

[Tarheel]

I would probably say I was listening to somebody play the guitar.

 

[TimurThePlayer]

I would probably say I was listening to somebody play the guitar.

Thanks for your reply! I thought the same thing like: I was listening to Mark playing the guitar. But how can I say this not using a person. Just emphasizing the sounds, not the one who's playing

 

[Tarheel]

I was listening to guitar music.
I was listening to a guitar being played.
I was listening to the sound of a guitar.

 

[TimurThePlayer]

I was listening to guitar music.
I was listening to a guitar being played.
I was listening to the sound of a guitar.

Thank you! That's exactly what I was looking for. Can I say: listening to the strumming of a guitar?

 

[Tarheel]

You can say whatever you want to say. I'm out of suggestions.