guitar hero VS real guitar

[DeathsAmbassador]

How I see it is there is two ways it could happen

#1: he says "Hey guys! I can play Raining Blood on Expert in GH" if you put him down for that than you were being an asshole

#2: he says "I'm so good at GH I can play Raining Blood on expert, I bet I would be able to do it perfect on a real guitar now!" in this case it was him who was being an asshole

Of course the wording of these could vary quite a bit.

 

[Shrapnelwolf]

In my humble opinion, I think that the two are entirely different skills. Matching colors on a plastic guitar is nothing like actually playing a guitar. If it was, I'd be in a band already.

The only time it's appropriate to say "oh yeah, well I can play that on a real guitar" is when the person in question playing Guitar Hero is acting totally smug, and not realizing they're just clicking plastic buttons.

 

[Geoffrey42]

@cleverlymadeup: What's with this 8 beats of death crap? Sure, frequently, music is in 4/4. Pop music is almost always in 4/4. But all music? I've had to deal with too many fucked up meters to let that slide. (alternating 2/4-5/8, for example)

On the topic at large:
Most people have said things I agree with, when saying that in general, no, there's no reason to take someone down a notch for being glad that they're good at Guitar Hero. The only time it becomes worthwhile/justifiable, is if someone is silly enough to claim that their Guitar Hero skillz put them on some sort of comparable scale with guitar players.

On a related note, I see this debate come up all over the place... I have this suspicion that people that play other instruments (like my kindred Trombone players) would not get as fussy about this, were we to have our own ____ Hero variant. What is it about you Guitar players that gets you so irate over this? And, as others pointed out, professional race car drivers, professional athletes, professional soldiers, etc, don't get irate at people for being proficient at simulations of their fields.

@Saphatorael: "game-surrogate to the real alternative"? It is not a surrogate, nor is "actually playing a guitar" necessarily an "alternative", except in the most basic sense of the word, ie "something else you could be doing".

@copiae: I'm hoping that when you say "It's that there is a creative and artistic side to playing the guitar..." you're just using 'the guitar' as a relevant placeholder for "all musical instruments" given the context of the discussion, rather than exhibiting some sort of prejudice?

 

[cleverlymadeup]

@cleverlymadeup: What's with this 8 beats of death crap? Sure, frequently, music is in 4/4. Pop music is almost always in 4/4. But all music? I've had to deal with too many fucked up meters to let that slide. (alternating 2/4-5/8, for example)

i've explained it many times so far and yes the tempo and meter can change, which makes things more difficult but you can get those 8 steps from anything. it's mostly the beat or rhythm of a song

you having to deal with so many "messed" up meters should be able to figure out what the beat or rhythm of a song, if you don't know that then i suggest taking some classes on musical theory and actually learn how to play your instrument, then come back and talk to me

 

[qbert4ever]

Just to clarify, when I said playing "Raining blood" was a huge accomplishment in my first post, I meant being able to FC (full combo, perfect, 100%) it, Which only about 1% of players can do. Sorry for the confusion, but you can not tell me that somthing that about 20 people can do is no comparison to somthing that just about any competent guitarist can do (Note: When I say "guitarist", I'm talking about people that just play for recreation. Comparing Guitar Hero with an actual, successful guitarist is a whole 'nother argument).

Now, before you guitarists get all sniffy with me, yes. I know it is a game, but I am comparing them in the same way you would compare an awesome (American) Football tackle with a slam dunk in Basketball. Two different things, but both are "equal" in terms of skill.

As for the "colored buttons holding your hand", well, that is what makes it hard. Guitar Hero is hand-eye coordination, while guitar is more muscle memory. One does not equal the other, but they are both a skill in their own right.

Now, as for example #1 by end_boss, why the hell would you claim to be good at Punch Out in front of ANYBODY?

EDIT: Also, why do guitarists feel threatened in the first place? If the artists that sold their music to Guitar Hero and Rock Band felt that it was going to dicourage people from learning to play music, I doubt that even half of the would have sold their songs in the first place (there are SOME musicions that aren't sell-outs).

 

[Geoffrey42]

i've explained it many times so far and yes the tempo and meter can change, which makes things more difficult but you can get those 8 steps from anything. it's mostly the beat or rhythm of a song

you having to deal with so many "messed" up meters should be able to figure out what the beat or rhythm of a song, if you don't know that then i suggest taking some classes on musical theory and actually learn how to play your instrument, then come back and talk to me

I apologize for challenging your blanket assertion with an example that, to the best of my knowledge, is an exception to the "rule".

I take offense that you responded by questioning my ability to play an instrument. I'm perfectly capable of finding the beat in a 2/4-5/8 song, it just isn't in an 8 beat pattern, afaik.

 

[end_boss]

Now, as for example #1 by end_boss, why the hell would you claim to be good at Punch Out in front of ANYBODY?

lol! That's funny.

In case you weren't being sarcastic, don't tell me, because I'd rather believe you're not a moron.

Okay, I forget who it was in this thread that said it, but somebody was acting all sniffy, saying that the next time somebody claims to be good at Guitar Hero, he'll hand them a real guitar and tell them to play it.

So, let's flip the coin, then. If you think that Guitar Hero is so easy just because you play a real guitar, then let's see YOU play songs on Expert.

 

[LivemeLifefree]

I agree, despite the fact I play GH and no the guitar, I don't see the point in bragging about a peice of toy.

 

[l33tabix]

I'm good at real guitar and guitar hero. but everyone i know who plays guitar is worse than me so i don't want to be a prick and rub it in, i just say 'oh i've been playing for 8 years and i'm shit' but when i bought GH2 it took a month to do every song in the game and when i got GH3 it took about a week. I prefer trashtalking people who are worse than me because at least when i can five star expert and they cant finish easy tour i have a right to badmouth them. I'm around the 30,000 mark on the leaderboards.

 

[Lerxst]

Is it considered arrogant and/or rude to chastise someone for bragging about being skilled at guitar hero, when you are proficient at the real guitar? I get especially riled up when people brag about playing "raining blood" on expert when I've known how to play the song for 3 years now, and I kinda want to see if I was making more of an ass out of myself than usual.

Perfectly justified in my opinion.

I get sick of hearing people talk about GH and seeing the YouTubes. I've been playing YYZ by Rush for several years now and GH dumbed it down quite a bit.

I remember it took me for friggin' ever to learn Inferno by Symphony X on a real guitar; the last thing I want is for some sun-deprived freak of nature to show me his 1337 GH skillz, whacking a few buttons back and forth.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

why do guitar players then feel the need to rub their unwelcome noses in every guitar hero player's face? not every guitar player does this but for some reason a few of them feel threatened that the only talent they possess is somehow being undermined.

that's because they're douches and realize they're really doing the same thing but on a real guitar and by that i mean just copying what someone is playing and doing it in time with the music

it also has something to do with ego and thinking how self important they are. the cool ones love guitar hero and can tell the difference between real guitar and a video game. it's the ones that think they're something special, which they aren't.

as a good example when they couldn't find the master tapes for "cult of personality" by living color, the band rerecorded it and Vernon made the solo harder because they were gh fans and wanted to make it harder in the game

as for ppl in other fields, do you see nfl players getting mad that you're awesome at madden? that's a big no, they'd only be pissed if you weren't playing at them

are mlb players upset about you doing awesome in mlb 2kX? see previous answer

are nba players upset you can do mad dunks and make shots from downtown in nba 2kX or nba street? see previous answer

are nascar drivers made you can do awsome in the nascar game? nope

it's only guitarists that get pissed about you doing awesome in a video game

As i have said, not every RLG player does thins, but when they do you wonder why they don't play drums...

Thats right, i just generalized Drummers as stupid, and none of you know where to find me, and if you do, then ill bet you cant be bothered to come get me.

don't get me started on drummers, i'm not even sure they are fully functional humans, by far the most mentally messed up member of the band, my friend's drummer used to yell out random and bizarre song dedications among other REALLY strange things, most of which while funny are totally not safe for work, the brain or this forum

they are definately in their own world

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I think most real musicians are slightly angry that now people can get the feel of playing an instrument without really having to work at it, hence inspiring rage at people bragging about their "skill" at guitar hero. Conversely I know many musicians who get a real kick out of Guitar Hero and Rock Band because they're just plain fun.

Though people who "brag" about game skills in general are kind of silly. It is after all, just for fun, and being able to "dominate" all comers just ensures that you'll never have anyone to play with.

 

[Singing Gremlin]

I'm happy for people to know they're good at it. I do, however know a guy who is so far up his own arse his adam's apple is actually his nose pressing against the inside of his neck, all because he can do guitar hero. In cases like that, ANY reason to be annoyed at that kinda person is justified, just because they need a slap. Otherwise, it is a difficult skill and taking some pride in the game is reasonable.

 

[Ian Dorsch]

Guitar Hero is brilliant because it both exposes players to rock music that they might never have otherwise heard and because it can lead to an interest in playing an actual guitar. This is a big reason why Gibson, Fender and other gear manufacturers are attached to Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and why Red Octane and Microsoft sponsored Guitar Player magazine's Guitar Hero 2007 competition.

Guitar players who get all elitist about Guitar Hero and similar games are missing the point. These games aren't competition for the real guitar, and are in many cases a stepping stone to picking up the real instrument.

 

[gibboss28]

Which brings up an interesting point: isn't Guitar Hero more similar to...playing a keytar than it is to playing a guitar?

How d'ya reckon this then?

But anyway. the whole guitar hero vs real guitar argument is a two sided street and on both sides there should be a sign with huge neon lights saying this: "Its just a fucking game"

guitar players shouldnt get annoyed and ridicule people who are proud of what they've accomplished on GH because they're having fun and proud of their achievments.

And on the other hand GH players who claim to be brilliant at the real guitar because they've done N amount of songs on expert on a video game need to be hit over the head with their guitar controller so that the brain switches on.

And with every street there's a road, and on that road driving happily are the ones who dont give a damn and are happy playing the game for what it is.. A GAME.