# Duel or Duet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 4, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duel-or-duet/694801 "2014-08-04T16:57:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cryptic\_C62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cryptic\_C62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cryptic_C62)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duel-or-duet/694801/1 "2014-08-04T16:57:22Z")
I recorded [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxws-jYaxlU) guitar/cello piece last week, and I’m curious: Would you describe this piece of music as a duel or a duet? ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duel-or-duet/694801/2 "2014-08-04T20:43:38Z")
Moving the thread to Cafe Society, where music lovers abide. And Dudes. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duel-or-duet/694801/3 "2014-08-04T21:23:12Z")
A duel is where you attempt to kill the other person at the same time they are trying to kill you. A duet is when two people sing together. I’d say since this is a musical piece, the second term describes it better. “Dueling Banjos” was just artistic license. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duel-or-duet/694801/4 "2014-08-04T21:41:28Z")
I think you posted the poll as a sneaky way of getting people to listen to your music. And I’m glad you did; that was good stuff. But I didn’t see or hear anything “duel”-istic about it. I don’t know whether “duet” or “duo” or something else is the more “proper” or “conventional” term for a performance like that. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duel-or-duet/694801/5 "2014-08-04T21:50:53Z")
I agree with **Thudlow** , I feel like this is obviously a duet and just way to plug your music. A good rule of thumb - if you’re playing at the same time in a way that’s supposed to sound good together, it’s a duet. I think a musical piece can only really be a “duel” if the two sides take turns, and are obviously set up in a “my part sounds better” sort of confrontation. Such as [The Devil Went Down to Georgia](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6RUg-NkjY4), Tenacious D’s [Beelzeboss](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOBKxUT9Da4) or Metalocalypse’s [The Duel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBYQAR8fG1w). **DrCube** : how about [this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgAlQuqzl8o)? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duel-or-duet/694801/6 "2014-08-04T22:21:47Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > But I didn’t see or hear anything “duel”-istic about it. I don’t know whether “duet” or “duo” or something else is the more “proper” or “conventional” term for a performance like that. “Duo” would refer to the performers. (Simon & Garfunkel were a duo.) A piece of music composed or arranged for two performers, or a performance of such a piece, is a duet. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duel-or-duet/694801/7 "2014-08-04T22:38:23Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > “Duo” would refer to the performers. (Simon & Garfunkel were a duo.) A piece of music composed or arranged for two performers, or a performance of such a piece, is a duet. I think you’re correct about common English usage, but I have seen references to, for example, [Mozart’s String Duos](http://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Complete-String-Trios-Duos/dp/B0000041EK).