January 11, 2008

It seems like this week, I have heard more questions and comments about the popular video game "Guitar Hero". Which is strange, because Christmas is over and as a guitar teacher, I would expect more discussion on this several weeks ago. So why now? Maybe it's just my luck or purely coincidence. So, with this fresh on my mind, I'm just going to take a logical approach to this and explain myself on the subject.

Personally, I have never played Guitar Hero. I really don't know what the game offers, or exactly what it does for anyone playing it. However, I have a pretty good idea. The only thing I do know about Guitar Hero is that it's probably one of the best-selling video games in recent years. Voila! That's all I know about this video game.

What I hear a lot from people, mostly parents are questions and comments that have to do with Guitar Hero being an aid to learning the guitar: "Does it make you a better player?" , "Will it help you learn guitar?" , "Are they similar?" , "What is the difference?" I really can't summarize exactly the question, but you get my drift? -And therefore, a logical explanation is needed and I'm sure this can be a big debate to some people. I'm going to keep it short and sweet.

First of all, playing Guitar Hero can only make you better at Guitar Hero. Period. If you want to be better at playing guitar, then you have to play the guitar. Really, there is no gray area and there is no in between to this explanation. It's the same thing as the popular adage, "You get back whatever you put into something". -And it's true: a person who invests more time learning how to win at Guitar Hero than playing and practicing an actual guitar will always be better at playing Guitar Hero. That's the return of their time invested!

One point I would like to make that needs to be addressed. This is nothing new when it comes to learning an instrument. What I'm talking about is a term I use for something that diverts students and musicians away from the actual path of learning: gimmicks. Now, if you want to talk about a successful business besides Guitar Hero; walk into any music store that sells instruments and the first thing you will see are gimmicks. Every single music store has these and personally, they would be stupid not to sell them because people spend a lot of money each year on buying things that are supposed to help them play better. I'm talking about crap you can put on your strings to make your hands slide better, hand exercisers that are supposed to build the strength in your fret hand, and even books that catch the eye and really don't have anything in particular to offer. -These are just some examples of the gimmicks out on the market, but I see students buying this stuff all the time.

I'm guilty of buying a few gimmicks in my lifetime. And I know of many musicians in all sorts of gigging bands who still buy them. I think the problem is that in most cases, gimmicks take away from the importance of practice. For a lot of musicians, standing in a music shop; convinced that buying something that says will help make them play better is far more comforting and satisfying than actually spending time to get over themselves and learn their instrument. It's like filling a void, taking the easy way out and missing out on the actual meaning of practice.

If Guitar Hero could make me a better guitarist, then I would be sitting here telling you all about it. Hell, you probably wouldn't hear it from me but it would be in every guitar magazine and posted all over the internet with actual guitar heroes endorsing it. If anything would make anyone better at anything, we would all know about it and we would all be doing it. The only thing I know of that is guaranteed to make a person better at anything is called practice. There is no substitute, special tool, magic pill, elixir, book, or treatment.

One more thing I want to say is that if being good at Guitar Hero, and not wanting to play an actual guitar is your prerogative, then kudos to you. There is nothing wrong with that. Anyway, I need to write a blog on the enjoyment of practice. There is a lot more to be said on that and I think it would complement this one.