Tools and Day 09

I know that there are a lot of Mom and Pop stores out there that are struggling to make a profit, especially if there is a music mega-store around the corner.  Many guitarists make their money off giving lessons.  Face it, the only way 99% of guitarists can make any sort of income from their playing is by teaching others.  So I understand when something new comes in and threatens that source of income.  I remember when DVD instructional videos started to actually use the DVD format to make something useful(I own a few DVD's that are just run throughs as if they are just VHS's).  There is this knee jerk reaction where I see a lot of backlash against new teaching tools, and I find it ridiculous.

I've seen forums with lots of guitarists(and bassists) of all types, and whenever anyone asks a question on how to learn this or that, there is a lot of "find yourself a teacher or you'll do it wrong".  That's the #1 go to answer.  I can tell you that nothing is more useless to someone at home seeking advice than to be told to get professional advice.  Then, mysteriously when I go to these advice giver's profiles that they are advertising all over their pages that they are available for hiring.

Just saying, there is a lot of self interest out there.

You go to Youtube and watch the "60 Day Success Stories" for Rocksmith, and in the comments you see these people, "this game is shit, look at the shitty technique this person is playing"  or "if you got a real teacher you'd learn this in 30 days", "so he learned a song in 60 days, I bet he couldn't make his own song that didn't sound like shit".  The usual youtube vitriol.

Then I found this guy on youtube(unfortunately I'm having a hell of a time re-finding him even in my History) where he talks about how he offers a "Rocksmith Course" to his students.  They buy the game, and he uses it in their lesson plans, and I"m thinking "This guy is genius, this is the kind of teacher I'd look for".  One of the things missing from Rocksmith is a live tech you could contact and ask questions to.  It would also give someone better direction on what they're supposed to be doing.  He did not look at Rocksmith as a competitor, he looked at it for what it is, yet another tool to help students learn.  You knowwho IS NOT offering a Rocksmith assisted guitar learning course?  Your competitors.

BTW, I am not payed to do this blog, I don't have advertisements enabled, and I know no one that works for Ubisoft.  I just get angry at the rejection of technology, and when it comes to guitar, there's a lot of that.  Bassists seem to be much more accepting(neo speakers, solid state, class D switching power amps etc etc) of tech and maybe that's why I identify myself as a bassist first, and guitarist 2nd.




Day 09

Had some unique fun today.

I did my new warm up routine(look at day 08), and then I let my girlfriend try out the Guitarcade games.  She is a cellist and a kick ass Guitar Hero player.  I figured that the first couple of games would be fun for her.  Gone Wailin' was her favorite one, she probably could have played that one all night long.  Its day 09 and I still have lots of fun with Gone Wailin.  I mainly chase the "achievements" as you can get super far and not get a lot of points, or you can play for a long time and not really get satisfaction.  It has helped me too.  You get the most reaction by going through the strings, and its fine to do it with a lighter touch.  It has made my strumming much lighter and tighter.  When I first started, I was trying to punk rock it, and then have to retune my guitar after the game ha.

She also played String Skip Saloon, and also complained about the strings being "mirrored" and not like written music.  So I don't feel like a complete idiot. Oh and I did reverse it and try to do a lesson... I didn't like it.  So I'm stuck doing it the default way.  I really can't decide what I would recommend with a new player... it IS easier when doing lessons, but it is opposite how new players will be exposed to non-game written music.

Played some session play for a while.  I really need to learn to do the "funk" strumming.

I am having the hardest time getting a fuzz tone that I like.  I have known for a while I would have difficulty with that because every company makes like 20 fuzz pedals(except for Boss).  Hell, Devi Ever practically made a company out of making fuzz variations.  Currently I am using(and not 100% liking) a Buzz fuzz 2, hi-lo filter to make it decay, and a bass boost 5 EQ pedal in the loop to put some heft back into the signal.  You'll be hearing a lot about my look for my fuzz tone.