Play In A Rock Band And Be A Guitar Hero

Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 1:31 pm in General Gaming, Rants · Comments

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The second installment to the Guitar Hero series was no doubt the one that propelled the franchise into the mainstream, thus paving way for the rhythm action genre to enjoy huge commercial success. Everyone and their hamster were strapping plastic X-plorers around their neck, being seduced by the challenging tones of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird. But with the surge in popularity of glorified fisher price guitars came criticism directly aimed towards rhythm action.

Perhaps most notably, Nickelback’s frontman, Chad ‘do-you-like-my-perm’ Kroegar, blamed Guitar Hero for the lack of new talent in the US. In his interview with MTV, he urged kids to “Set down the ‘Guitar Hero…’”, and to “…learn how to play an actual guitar”. This particular news item actually appeared in my feed reader at the end of last year, but a couple of days ago I heard a similar quip from a friend through Facebook.

While I’m not entirely sure about quality (I gave up on Guitar Hero after the third one and haven’t touched Rock Band since the original), it’s been reported that with every new installment of Guitar Hero, sales slip substantially (package Guitar Hero with a decent band like Led Zeppelin instead of Aerosmith, and maybe that would be a different story…). People may be losing interest in the genre with every new release, but I don’t want to see it disappear altogether. And this is coming from a drummer first, a gamer second.

I think the question Kreogard’s statement really provokes is, does the surge in popularity of Guitar Hero and Rock Band really deter kids from picking up instruments? Because they’re too busy playing to a stadium of 400,000 virtual people? I’d go full swing and say it does the opposite. If anything I think Guitar Hero/Rock Band has been a source of inspiration to kids, encouraging them to learn instruments. Not because these games are educational in the techniques of making music, but because they spark people’s interests by introducing them to new (well, mainly old) music.

Let’s be honest, though, as the two aren’t realistically comparable. From a gameplay perspective there are of course basic similarities, but all instruments have been designed as part of a game - and an arcadey one at that - and so have stripped the realistic nature of drums/guitar down to the very minimum.

To reference the quip I mentioned earlier, my friend responded to my mention of The Beatles Rock Band with “… People should go and join a band and do it for real”. The way I see it? If someone is serious about learning an instrument, they will. When has playing a video game ever been about pursuing a hobby anyway? I’m sure Jamie Oliver isn’t pissed about Cooking Mama having an effect on 5 star restaurants launching all across England. In a similar fashion, I’m sure F1 racer, Michael Schumaker, isn’t under the illusion Gran Turismo is deterring the best international drivers from entering Formula 1. I’m also pretty sure you get my point.

So, musician or not, what is your take of the Guitar Hero/Rock Band phenomena? Should people put the plastic Fender down and acquaint themselves with the real thing? Or should we take it for what it really is; a bit of fun? Answers on a postcard. No, wait, answers in the comments.

Tags: Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero III, Rock Band, The Beatles Rock Band

7 Responses to “Play In A Rock Band And Be A Guitar Hero”

Chris Radsby

# September 18th, 2009 at 2:43 pm

I don’t really know, I believe that Guitar Hero/Rock Band is a great way for non-musical people to experience something “like” playing guitar, bass or drums. I play guitar, drums and piano and I loved the feeling of nailing a solo in GH2, it felt great, but I’m the kind of player that immerse myself in games, more fun that way.

It got old quick though, experiencing two or three iterations of the series and the magical feeling was lost.

Guitar Hero is fun, it’s a game that’s all it is, entertainment Guitar Hero is still a great way to learn about timing the strumming on the guitar, keeping the beat on drums as well.

Some guys in Sweden Idol actually played on guitar hero guitars on their audition. That’s entertainment!

Matt Brett

# September 18th, 2009 at 3:58 pm

The short answer - unless you’re playing drums in one of their latest Rock Band or Guitar Hero games, no. You should stick with the plastic instruments.

Playing guitar in one of these games is nothing like playing an actual guitar. Go and talk to an instructor at a music store and I’m sure they’ll have stories of kids coming in bragging about how awesome they are at Guitar Hero, only to quit lessons a few weeks in since they’re not shredding like they thought they would.

Drums are a different story, though. A good friend of mine is a drum teacher and he’s had plenty of new students come to him after sitting down behind a plastic kit in one of these games. The difference, is that they can sit down and play through a song almost perfectly, having never sat behind a real kit before. Sure, they’re lacking the finesse and timing, but that comes in time.

Being a drummer myself and having a young family, I don’t get many chances to sit behind my kit. And that’s where Rock Band comes in for me.

Arnold Sideways

# September 18th, 2009 at 4:54 pm

I totally agree with you Ashley, I’m one of those people you talk about. I got Rock Band with the drums, and it’s inspired me to take up real drumming. Admittedly, I’ve wanted to play the drums long before I played Rock Band, but never have done because of having nowhere to put a drum kit and left it as a “maybe one day” thing. Once I got into Rock Band though it was like that final push that set me off to find a teacher and find somewhere I could get access to a real kit. And I think it’s because Rock Band isn’t *quite* the full thing that encourages you to move on. I asked our music dept at work if I could use their kit, and bought myself an Iron Cobra double bass pedal and have really surprised myself with what I can do.

As for does the game actually teach you anything useful, I’d say yes, on a small scale. Obviously a real guitar doesn’t have buttons or a strum bar, but it does improve your finger dexterity and your timing. As for drums, it taught my brain to make my limbs move independently of each other. It’s amazing how hard it is when you first start to make your right leg and right arm do different things at the same time.

Basically it’s just a slight nudge towards the real thing, it’s certainly not a replacement. The only people who are going to be content to stick to the games and never take up a real instrument are those who never would have had the aptitude for it in the first place, but they find something similar that they ARE good at. And where’s the harm in a game making someone feel good about themselves? These games are pretty much the only ones that have had non-gamers watch me and be genuinely impressed by what I’m doing, regardless of whether it’s “real” or not. And if you ask me it seems a bit rich for someone from Nickleback to complain about lack of talent.

Neil Sweeney

# September 24th, 2009 at 12:51 pm

I think the whole Guitar Hero/Rock Band quashing real music talent can be looked at in two ways.

In one respect, maybe it is causing kids to not pick up a real guitar but stick with the game as they know they are good with it and when they pick up a real one find it too hard to go back to flashing colours on screen.

On the other hand, it could do the same as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater did for skate boarding, and watching/playing these games inspires kids to pick up the real thing and go do it. I know I started snowboarding and skateboarding thanks to gaming.

I think artists are looking at this whole gaming thing in the wrong way and blindly saying it’s causing less people to play the guitar/drums/whatever. Not everybody has the interest to play music but just chill and play games with their friends. Maybe some don’t have the ability or means to be able to practice playing a real music instrument. I doubt there is any strong relativity graph to show a link between the decline in musicians and the increase in Guitar Hero being sold.

Rockers Delight

# September 24th, 2009 at 4:40 pm

@Chris Wow, I can’t believe some of the Sweden Idols auditioned with plastic guitars! Haha. Yeah, the series has grown real old now. A bit stale, but it doesn’t show much sign of slowing down now that they are bringing out games to cater to specific (big selling) bands.

@Matt I’m not surprised your friend has gained students through Rock Band or Guitar Hero. Like I said, I figured kids would be inspired to pick up an instrument if anything. On the flip side, I actually participated in a Guitar Hero party at a pub one night for a bit of fun. You wouldn’t believe how many actual guitarists took to the ’stage’ thinking they could pick it up only to fail miserably within the first 30 seconds!

@Arnold Awesome! You’re absolutely right about the only people being content to stick to games are those who wouldn’t have the aptitude for a real instrument in the first place. My point exactly, which doesn’t help me understand the point my friend - or Nickelback - were trying to make. Why get your knickers in a twist about it?

@Neil At the risk of repeating myself, I definitely think it would go the latter way (kids being inspired). I remember Tony Hawk peaked my interest in skateboarding, though it was more standing on a board, falling of a board, repeat, rinse Your last paragraph hits the nail on the head, my friend!

Arnold Sideways

# September 24th, 2009 at 5:01 pm

One thing that I found odd about Chad’s comments was that I wasn’t even aware there even was a shrinking pool of talent in the music industry. Am I completely wrong or is he just imagining this shortage of musicians in his own head? It’s hard to tell, since I have a very unconventional taste in music (from classical/opera to extreme black metal) and I tend to avoid the mainstream lowest common denominator stuff like the plague anyway, but I haven’t once in all the years I’ve been a serious music fan been stuck for something new to listen to.

Rockers Delight

# September 24th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

@Arnold I don’t follow the current happenings in ‘popular’ music either, and so I’ve not been aware of a distinct lack of talent. I think musicians criticising rhythm action games are doing so from a, dare I say it, elitist position. Sure, if someone is running around claiming they’re the next Kerry King, when in fact this translates to them finishing the final tier on Expert, I’d scoff too. But I personally don’t think that’s what’s invoked Chad’s comments.

Rockers Delight