Comments on: Guitar heroes dismiss Guitar Hero game

Legitimate guitarists are depressed that video games are the only thing getting kids into playing musical instruments.

[Mergatroid Mania]

This is news? Of course any good guitar player would say the same thing. I play myself, and I can't help but smirk at people when I enter a store and they're playing this dumb game thinking their cool. Duh, learn to play a real instrument.

[wangbang]

It's "news" because Jimmy Page and Jack Stripe spoke at a press conference. What's with you people who constantly have to post, "This is news?" like you're some know-it-all who can't be bothered by anything other than what you think are the most important things.

[dlowe402]

Actually, No, this is not news. It is a BLOG about some comments made by musicians on a video game. If you want "NEWS" go to CNN. Guitar Hero and Rock Band are GAMES. That is it. They are entertaining which is the sole purpose of a game. These were not meant to teach anything. I have bot and my kids love them. I will admit that playing the games gave my daughter the interest in guitar and she began learning. She loves it. Hardly ever plays the game anymore because she would rather play her real guitar. I know this is not typical of all people and that it is also not the intended outcome of the developers. Several bands would not be heard of if it were not for the games but who's fault is that? What about the interest in music that Jack White is so upset about? I believe it is up to the musicians to fight to get their form of art out there if they want it heard. If they are upset with MTV and the Labels then they need to do something about it instead of whining that kids need to hear of their music in a video game. At least they are hearing it. How about these famous musicians traveling around to schools and teach kids about their passion instead of crying that the schools aren't doing enough. It's a money thing, music doesn't make the schools money but sports do which is why they are quicker to cut music than sports.

[ckh1272]

@Mergatroid Mania--Someone sure thinks highly of themselves. It's a video game so lighten up. A musician ragging a music game is like a professional marksman ragging a shooting game. In the end, it's just a game so gripes really don't hold a lot of water IMO. Let someone enjoy the game if it makes them happy. There's too much uptightness going on as it is.

[darkxeno]

As schools cut music programs, MTV plays no music videos, and Ticketmaster gouges customers for concert tickets

Well how about some of these former music icons send some cash to the schools for help out schools with their music programs, two people stop watching the gay shows on MTV and people stop buying concert Tickets from Ticketmaster as the numbers go down so will the prices cause demand causes a rise in price, no demand means they have to lower prices.

[Mergatroid Mania]

You don't need school or music programs to learn to play guitar. All you need is desire and perseverance. Some talent helps too.

[darkxeno]

Very true Mergatroid Mania, but still it would be nice if our schools here in the US created any type of desire or perseverance for anything in today's youth.

[hmdz105]

I always played Guitar Hero to enjoy music not learn it. It is silly to think that Guitar Hero teaches us anything about how to play an instrument.

[erictbar]

agreed. But I think that there is a group of people who think they can play guitar or drums just because they can play Guitar Hero. I tried to learn guitar after playing a lot of Guitar Hero, and to do that I tried to forget everything I learned about playing an "axe" (what some call the fake guitars in guitar hero). I still have yet to learn guitar, because, as Mergatroid Mania said, you need desire and perseverance, which I don't have enough towards learning music, but just because I can play a song or 2 on expert in Guitar Hero, I *never* go around saying I can play the guitar.

[ckh1272]

If anyone actually thinks that playing a music GAME will make them a musician, they are delusional at best. Most people are just trying to have a little fun. I really think most people are just getting way out of focus on this one.

[JustMe222]

Just can't envision Page's career of genius ported to this very silly, albeit popular game. Way to not cave in like all your peers Jimmy.

[ckh1272]

He only caves in to Cadillac (remember those ads) and P. Diddy (worst rip of a Zeppelin song ever). Music is just a business and Jimmy Page would not be able to keep a straight face while ragging other musicians for doing the same thing as he i.e. selling their music for monetary gain. I think the best perspective one can get from the business of music is to listen to "Hooker with a *****" by Tool.

[Remo_Williams]

In Guitar Hero player defense, *not* knowing how to play guitar would probably help with Page's technique. Sloppy is an understatement, but with love, like when we say Monet's paintings are splotches.

Dragging out White Stripes is weak; at least dig up Dave Davies and get the primary influence of the White Stripes in the article.

As for the game itself, yes, guitar playing is definitely a huge compromise in technique, but there's no excuse for drum parts not corresponding exactly to transcription. If you take away tuning, you're left with pure playing, and it's a huge potential market for all future percussionists.

And in closing, what would a Dave Rosenberg article be without another chance to praise himself. Ooh, you can play the drum parts of "Good Times, Bad Times" while riding a unicycle and inventing a new Internet protocol.

--#

[daverosenberg]

I can't ride a unicycle, but I am awesome in every other way you mention.

[pjscullion]

Hey Dave, I'm a drummer too! We should start our own giant percussion show!

You know, I've been playing drums for 13 years, been teaching myself guitar for 4 years now. I want to say I can't recommend the Rock Band drums for people who want to learn, but it really does help people with timing (somewhat, once it's calibrated) and hand-eye coordination. It doesn't help people learn to improvise, or what piece makes what sound (cymbals vs. toms, etc), but it does improve rhythm and timing. On guitar, I can see that these qualities don't really mean much... guitar players are supposed to follow the rhythm sections, etc. And there's no improv, because someone else has done the improv for you already.

So I, I'm hooked on a feeeeelin', I'm high on believin', that Rock Band teaches appreciation, not skills.

[bobmarleypeople]

At college, the Guitar Hero games are popular with both people who can and can't play instruments. Yes there are die hard musicians who say the games are stupid and people should play a real instrument. But then these games are there to A) find new music and B) enjoy with friends (if you have any). In fact, in my town, Guitar Hero World Tour has sold dismally because of the bad tracklist, with many people opting to wait for Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero Metallica.

I think Dave's note at the end of the article was the most telling. It's a lot easier getting three of your friends together to 'play' through a number of songs than get three of your musician friends together to jam. Many drummers are not going to drag their rigs around just to play. I agree with pjscullion; it's more about appreciation than skills. It also gives me a chance to play with my kids and expose them to the music I listened to when I grew up in the 70s and 80s. In turn, they get me to listen to some of their favorite songs from groups I've never heard of.

I must confess, though, that I have reminded my kids that while I'll never be cranking at expert mode in Guitar Hero, I can still play the intro to Hotel California on my ax.

[msadr1]

Guitar Hero is a video game... People play video games for fun...

MOST people never learned to play the guitar... Even before Guitar Hero came along. And if that game does get a kid excited to learn to play a real instrument then, great!!! Who is anyone to judge someone just because they're enjoying a guitar simulation game.

Some musicians love to sit on high horses and look down at the "little people"....

[Jive Turkey]

I wonder if pilots get this uppity about flight sims.

[Alphaman63]

Everyone does know that there are video games that let you learn to play a real guitar, as opposed to a plasticy rhythm controller, right? Several companies, including Disney, are working on such, which couple a real guitar to a USB interface, to a computer...

The good thing about the current raft of games is that they might spark an interest in a kid to learn how to play an instrument for real. This is a real low hurdle to getting started in your living room. What other way can you easily get multiplayer entertainment, get introduced to some killer songs, and also incentivize a child to pick up an instrument without feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of years of classes?

Is it a replacement for a real guitar or drumset? No, not even close. But since getting started with Rock Band, my son has since gotten 3 *real* guitars and spent over two years in weekly classes. That was after he quit his first six months of classes 4 years ago, before we got Rock Band.

[Idiotstick]

Like everybody has said, this is simply a game!!!I I lost a little respect for these guys when I heard this in the news a couple times over the past few days. I don't understand why they get upset that FANS enjoy playing and listening to their music. Guitar Hero spreads their music to people that would have never heard it otherwise and broadens their fan base. It's so stupid they get upset that the playing the Guitar Hero CONTROLLER is like learning to play the guitar.

[musician94]

well i have to say Jack and Jimmy are both extraordinary guitarists, but i would think they'd be, well not excited exactly, but a bit more supportive that someone came up with an idea that might just stimulate someone to want to learn to play the guitar