Learning To Play Guitar With A Video Game: Are Guitar Teachers Obsolete?

In 2005 Activision released the music video game Guitar Hero. The premise was reasonably simple. Digitally carve up a bunch of rock tunes into various sized pieces then use a guitar-shaped controller with coloured buttons to "play" the pieces of the song by timing the controller's button pushing with the appearance of coloured icons on the screen. That's a facile description, but the basics of what's going on.

To play any version of Guitar Hero (there are five so far) no musical ability is required. Push the buttons at the right time and the song plays, and you can pretend to be a rock guitarist. Awesome. Rock on dude, even. But remember it's a video game.

In 2008, Activision's competitor Harmonix upped the ante and released Rock Band, adding vocals and drums and a cool Stratocaster-shaped guitar controller (right). The "Strat" is even branded "Fender" with the authentic Fender logo on the wee plastic headstock. Now it is possible to have guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. Just like a real band. And, ironically, the addition of vocals and drums began to close the gap between simulation and reality. You need a modicum of rhythmic ability to play the drums and you have to sing in tune and know the melody to play (sing) the vocal part, kind of like karaoke. But it's still a video game.

Both Guitar Hero and Rock Band have become wildly popular. At first a lot of big name music acts were not on board with the idea of having their music in a video game, but the popularity and the amount of money that could be made off the music licensing changed their minds in a hurry. Artists like Green Day, Metallica, Aerosmith, and even The Beatles have their music in special editions of the games. Rock Band has an in-game store where you can buy and download tracks. In some cases, entire albums are available. For example, now you can play in its entirety (video game play that is) Rush's Moving Pictures album. Rock Band also features the Rock Band Network where independent artists can submit and upload their songs. The tracks are available for purchase and download into the game. It's a great way for new bands to have their music heard, and the financial rewards are considerable if the song becomes a game "hit."

Now the gap between simulation and reality has been closed even more. Harmonix announced the release of Rock Band 3 and the addition of a MIDI keyboard controller (left). Now you can have guitar, bass, drums, vocals, and keyboards. Just like a real band. Get your drunk friends to heckle you while you play and it will really be like playing in a band, especially if they throw beer bottles at you. But what is most interesting, is the addition of the new Pro mode. In this mode, the keyboard controller becomes more keyboard-like and instead of timing the button pushing, you actually have to push the right key at the right time. Like the drums and vocals, a modicum of talent is needed to pull this one off. Wait a minute, I thought this was a video game.

To go along with the new keyboard controller and Pro mode, Fender (maker of the Stratocaster guitar, the real Stratocaster that is) has developed a hybrid controller. Whereas other guitar controllers are stringless and have coloured buttons, this hybrid controller is a full-sized, fully functional electric guitar. Fender has worked closely with Harmonix since the release of Rock Band, so it is no surprise they would develop an instrument like this. Aside from the odd press release, not much information is presently available about the guitar. The Harmonix Rock Band website says the guitar "uses technology built into the neck and fingerboard of the guitar to track finger positions in real time. The guitar also transmits strum data for the six individual strings, allowing the game to give feedback to players as they make the leap from rhythm game rocking to real world skills. Players can unplug from the fun of Rock Band 3 and plug directly into an amp to rock for real."

I'm guessing here - the neck probably lights up on the fretboard to show where to put your fingers, similiar to the Optek Fretlight guitar. But how close is this to really playing the guitar? Harmonix says "Rock Band Pro is available in all modes of Rock Band 3, and features tutorials and a variety of difficulties, including Easy, meaning that real instrument performance is within reach of any player, no matter their experience level." Easy? Does this mean pluck one note and the entire riff plays? Not much of a gap closer there. In fact that is pretty much what the non-stringed controllers do. I imagine the Hard setting is more realistic. I can't say until I've played the controller.  

What does this mean for people like me? Guitar teachers. Are we going to become obsolete? I don't think so. There are other things besides putting your fingers in the right spot. Pressing hard enough on the strings to make them sound without buzzing is one, picking the right string at the right time is another, switching chords and chord positions is another and not that easy I might add. And let's not forget about tuning. Guitars have to be tuned. Then there's music theory. A daunting subject even with a teacher. You get the idea.

So it seems to me that this new hybrid controller, while attempting to close the gap between simulation and reality, will achieve that goal to a certain extent; however, I don't think it will be for everyone. Most likely a person that can already play, or at least make noise on a guitar, will buy one and use it to actually learn to play better. Fingers can get sore really fast and unless you keep up the practice, the ability goes away equally as fast. 

The learning curve on an instrument is incredibly steep. Satisfaction comes slowly, frustration comes quickly. A teacher can help motivate and work through the inevitable problems of technique. And what about feeling? Playing music is also about imparting some kind of emotion into the music. Having had experience with music video games, or rhythm games as they're called, there is no emotive quality whatsoever. I can't see the addition of a fancy hybrid guitar controller teaching someone about dynamics (there aren't any), expression (again, zippo), or interpretation (you're playing the recorded tracks, interpretation doesn't even enter into the picture). And like I said, you have to practice. Practice is the most important factor when learning an instrument. But practice takes time. Time that can be used for other things like shopping or watching a movie or playing a video game where you kill things and blow stuff up. Learning an instrument takes self-discipline, self-motivation, and a desire to get better. In today's fast-paced, Internet-based, instant-gratification world, time is a valuable commodity and not one that is given up easily.

What about the cost? You can buy an entire student electric guitar package complete with Squier Stratocaster, Fender amplifier, strap, strings, picks, cable, method book, and big cardboard box for around $350.00. The guitar doesn't interface with Rock Band 3 though and doesn't light up. Will the hybrid controller be in the affordable range for the average video game consumer? Hard to say at this point. There is no information on price available. My guess is the guitar will sell for around $200.00, in which case it becomes a cheap electric guitar or an expensive video game controller. Take your pick.

Undoubtedly Rock Band 3 will generate interest among certain gamers to actually learn to play an instrument. This is already happening. More music schools are seeing an increase in enrolment for guitar, drum, and vocal lessons as a result of these games. Some gamers want to learn to play the opening riff to "Carry On My Wayward Son" for real, not just pushing the buttons at the right time. In this way, the music video games bring more people into the world of music-making and there are numerous studies showing the benefits of learning to play music. Playing an instrument involves the entire brain. It's good for you. And playing music is a great way to relax.

There won't be a sudden influx of novice guitarists, or keyboardists for that matter, and guitar teachers won't be put out of work once Rock Band 3 is released. In fact, learning to play the guitar using RB3 is not much different than learning with Estoban's guitar method without the hat. But like the other versions in the Rock Band and Guitar Hero franchises RB3 will expose more people to music and might foster an interest in learning to play for real. That's never a bad thing.

And call me, I can help. Remember, it's a video game.

UPDATE: June 16, 2010

The website Engadget has pictures and video of the Squier Stratocaster hybrid controller guitar. Plus pictures of a Fender Mustang controller that features buttons for each string and fret. Both instruments utilize the new Pro setting in RB3.