| On the 14th March 2008, the media and swarms | | | | continual movement of the musical staff provides |
| of fans gathered to watch a 16-year-old boy | | | | a challenging sight reading exercise. |
| from Minnesota called Chris Chike perform on | | | | The bad news for GH junkies is that this is where |
| stage. Although everything was in place for this | | | | the thin musical relevance ends. Whatever guitar |
| monumental evening in rock and roll, on closer | | | | backing track you are using if you were to make |
| inspection there was something amiss. Unlike most | | | | the game accurate to real guitar tuition there |
| debauched rock legends Chris had an intense, | | | | would need to be 132 different coloured buttons. |
| reserved concentration on his face and as | | | | You would also have to press the buttons hard |
| opposed to hurling himself into the frenzied fans, | | | | enough to make a sound and they would be the |
| he was staring intently at a large monitor. | | | | size of your fingertips, whilst negotiating your way |
| The reason for this anomaly was that the young | | | | around six picker knobs. Guitar lessons break this |
| man was in fact not a musical genius but an | | | | process down into manageable chunks. |
| introverted teenager who spent too much time | | | | So what can you do when looking to make the |
| on his game console; he was not performing | | | | transition between the two forms? The best way |
| music but playing a game called Guitar Hero. Chris | | | | is by guitar lessons or multi-media guitar tuition. |
| was breaking the world record for highest score | | | | These are gradual lessons from the basic chords |
| ever on a single track and the masses of | | | | all the way to advanced solos. It takes time, |
| attention illustrate how deeply embedded the | | | | patience and commitment, which might explain |
| game is in global culture. This article examines the | | | | why so many people are taking the easier option |
| cultural phenomenon and compares it to real | | | | of simulation over guitar lessons. |
| guitar lessons. | | | | The concern of the musical fraternity when it |
| Guitar hero works on the basis of the player | | | | comes to GH is not so much with adults who play |
| using a imitation guitar plugged into a games | | | | a bit when they get home from work, but with |
| console which displays images on the screen. The | | | | the youth who are satisfying their musical needs |
| imitation guitar strongly resembles a Fisher Price | | | | by simulating as opposed to creating. Guitar |
| infants toy and has six different coloured buttons | | | | lessons and guitar tuition are so easy to arrange |
| on it. The images displayed on the TV show a | | | | but still youngsters are reverting to their consoles |
| representation of the coloured buttons running | | | | as opposed to bonding with their instrument. |
| along a Musical Staff which ignite when they hit a | | | | There is no real comparison in the musical value |
| certain point, then the player must hit the colour | | | | between a game console simulation and a guitar |
| corresponding button on the control. | | | | lesson although some skills are transferable. |
| Many diehard fans of the game will defend to the | | | | Hand-eye coordination is a feature of many video |
| death that it takes the musical talent to succeed; | | | | games however you would never consider a |
| to which one might say, why not apply yourself | | | | racing game a simulation of driving an F1 car. |
| to actual guitar lessons? There is however, | | | | Guitar tuition is a valuable step in learning how to |
| something to be said in their defence. As there | | | | become a genuine rock legend and it is available in |
| are similar skills used in musical note reading and | | | | many forms, however Guitar Hero is not one of |
| transferring those images, be they symbol or | | | | them. |
| colour orientated, into physical movement. The | | | | |