A Gambist is a musician who specializes in playing the viola da gamba, a fretted stringed instrument popular in Europe during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. While Gambist is the most common term used to describe such a musician, there are several other synonyms that also refer to a viola da gamba player. These include Viola da Gambist, Gambista, Viola da Gamba Player, and Violist. Regardless of the term used, each one refers to a talented musician who is passionate about playing the unique and historically significant viola da gamba.