Guitar Hero vs the Guitar

physichull

physichull

physichull

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I've got to say that after reading this article on the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8242749.stm

I find myself totally agreeing with the musicians. For all the time that kids/adults play on Guitar Hero and such like, they could have actually learnt to play the guitar for real.

As a guitar player myself, I find the comments made by Guitar Hero's maker totally deplorable in his "guitar is too hard so give up and play guitar hero instead" type of attitude.

Would you agree?
 
some people use it as a stepping stone, obviously guitar hero is easier so more people can just jump right in, but for those who really enjoy it and do well on it, making the move to a real guitar is a sensible step. but I agree with the stupidity that some people get perfect scores on the hardest songs etc, and refuse to try a real instrument.

the cost of guitar hero/rock band is near enough the same price as a low end starter guitar anyway
 
physichull said:
As a guitar player myself, I find the comments made by Guitar Hero's maker totally deplorable
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Which comments in particular?

Either way, just because you learn to play an instrument doesn't mean you're better than someone who chooses to play videogames.
 
Because Guitar Hero lets you play your favorite songs instantly, not so for a real guitar.

Most people just don't have the required pacience, or in many cases just doesn't want to sit through lessens etc when they can switch on the console and play right away.

Guitar Hero is fun, I don't personaly own it but I can certainly agree on that, some people don't want a hobby, they just want a game.
 
I think his view is a bit naive, despite me agreeing somewhat.

Just because people are playing guitar hero doesn't meen people could be learning, the idea of the game is just that, its a game.

Im sure it's more of a stepping stone than anything else.
 
I'd say the oposite is true. I can think of quite a few of my friends who've loved playing guitar hero and then gone on to actually try learning the real thing.
 
Real guitar for me

I am coming up to one year since i picked up a real guitar for the first time. One of the best decisions I ever made - its so rewarding. Im still a guitar noob but have made some real progress in a year and would advise anyone to give it a try.

You can be banging out some 3 chord tunes within a couple of days so my advice would be to buy a guitar (for the same price as console + game), and rock on man.

Watched that South Park Guitar Hero episode the other day, lol.

Oh yeah. First post BTW, Hello everyone :)
 
If people wanted to play guitar they would have already - they are not playing Guitar Hero because for some reason they can't afford a guitar and are fulfilling a desire to play guitar 'properly' by playing GH/RB instead of a guitar - they are playing the game because it's fun to play the game.

Maybe that adults/kids don't actually want to play guitar but just enjoy the challenge of the console game?
 
Guitar hero should just be a bit of fun on the side

If you're serious about it pick up a guitar

if you're serious about guitar hero, get a life.
 
Fenris said:
Because Guitar Hero lets you play your favorite songs instantly, not so for a real guitar.

Most people just don't have the required pacience, or in many cases just doesn't want to sit through lessens etc when they can switch on the console and play right away.

Guitar Hero is fun, I don't personaly own it but I can certainly agree on that, some people don't want a hobby, they just want a game.
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Yup, my view exactly. :)
 
I think it would be interesting if guitar hero/rock band got a few instrument makers on board and put in discount vouchers or something for entry level instruments into the game boxes, would surely encourage even more people to take the step to a real instrument
 
Completely different IMO. I'm above average at Guitar Hero among my mates but I'm also learning to play an acoustic. I'm not very dedicated to learning so progress is slow but it has nothing to do with the game. I've only got World Tour and completed it on hard, maybe putting in a good few hours just to pass the tracks.

Thing is, playing an instrument properly enables you to express yourself, it's a completely different experience to doing well at a game. It's not like everyone who plays Guitar Hero sinks days practicing is it? You get a few, but then you might as well say people playing MMORPG's could've learnt an instrument in the time they've wasted on the game.

If people didn't have the interest in playing a guitar before playing, it's not going to change because of the game. Blame lack of encouragement as a child/at school.

What next, slate Gran Turismo/Forza for turning people away from real motorsport?
 
Abraham said:
I think it would be interesting if guitar hero/rock band got a few instrument makers on board and put in discount vouchers or something for entry level instruments into the game boxes, would surely encourage even more people to take the step to a real instrument
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Thats a really good idea actualy.
 
If I want to play a video game, I'll play a video game

If I want to play guitar, I'll play my guitar...

Rock band etc seem like some mutant offspring of both that should have been aborted at birth...

Having said that I remember before the console version existed me and some mates must have spent about 5 quid each a time whenever we went to London on the arcade machine we found that was basically guitar hero without real music tracks...

I refuse to play it because a) consoles suck and b) I'd rather spend the time getting better on a real instrument (play e.guitar, c.guitar, e.bass and a.drums) but I'm sure it is fun I just don't want to hear people talking about it all the time like it is some sort of credible skill...
 
physichull said:
I find myself totally agreeing with the musicians. For all the time that kids/adults play on Guitar Hero and such like, they could have actually learnt to play the guitar for real.
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Really? As a guitar player would you say you are pretty good? Can you tell us how many hours you spent to get as good as you are?

Furthermore how can anyone agree with him, he has presented no empirical data whatsoever. At this moment in time it is only an opinion. Would have been nice if he actually had any basis behind his remark.
 
The comment about not being able to afford a guitar is simply not true. There are many cheap entry level guitars out there and some of them don't sound at all bad! It's not so much Guitar Hero I disapprove of in particular, its more the attitude attached synonymous to giving up, lazy, not willing to put any effort in. I take your point that it is only a game, but surely the satisfaction gained from being able to properly play all the songs on guitar hero is more worthwhile over getting a top score for pressing buttons?
 
disagree completely

I am the most non-musically inclined person ever. I've tried guitar and piano, and am a retard at both.

Guitar Hero though... those little buttons... I can do.
 
Skyfall said:
Really? As a guitar player would you say you are pretty good? Can you tell us how many hours you spent to get as good as you are?

Furthermore how can anyone agree with him, he has presented no empirical data whatsoever. At this moment in time it is only an opinion. Would have been nice if he actually had any basis behind his remark.
Click to expand...

It's the point he's trying to make though, it's annoying that the attitude of 'this is too hard to bother learning' is so rife. I think kids are getting lazier and lazier, people should be encouraged to challenge themselves and extend their abilities, not always take the easy route out.

GH should be offered as a separate activity to playing a real instrument rather than an alternative as a lot of people seem to place it.
 
I can and do enjoy both for very different reasons. Rock band is instanly rewarding acessible fun, playing a real musical instrument isn't it takes time, practice and can be a real struggle at times (Put your hand up if you enjoyed that first week of Barre Chords!) The time I've spent playing Guitar Hero isn't the same time as I spend practicing my Guitar the two are completely different and require very different physical and mental states.
 
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