Guitar Hero vs. Real Guitar

[Phantom123]

Typically, when you do something on Guitar Hero which is hard (Video of a good TtFaF run, FC of some tough song), a number of people will moan and ninny at you to 'learn a real guitar!'. Typically, I ignored this type of chatter, being as I've played Cello for 10 years, and can already play all the songs on guitar hero (Even TtFaF) on my Cello, and saw no relevance to the whining over a game. Recently, I bought an electric guitar, leading me to my opinion of why I would advise a switch:

Real guitars are more fun.

Now, Guitar Hero is an epic game, and buying an electric guitar did not stop me from playing (Because let's face it, it'll take years before I can play a few of those songs, and longer for some of my favorites). However, Real guitar has distinct advantages you might not actually think of, aside from 'real'. The following is written by someone who's already been a musician for 10 years, so some people may not think the way I do, but these are my top 10 reasons I advocate buying a guitar over buying Guitar Hero. Just a reminder, Guitar hero is a game, and Guitar is an instrument. I am not comparing them as if they were anything but, merely explaining fun advantages and such. I don't want you to claim I'm trying to get you to hate Guitar hero, since it's a fun game, and there is nothing around that.

1. Real guitar is versatile

The most obvious thing to see: Real guitar is much more versatile. The uses and things you can do are almost unlimited, and it's a lot of fun stretching your guitar (or any instrument, really) to it's limits, to see what happens. Guitar Hero has hacking custom songs. Guitar has making your own =P Then again, so does guitar hero 4... :o

2. Work

Music relaxes people. You too. Even more then that, it relaxes your work schedule. It's pretty comforting to know that should you feel like quitting a job or you get fired, you have a back-up skill which is both fun and simple. My grades in school aren't tops, but I know that I almost have a college of my choice because of my music. Heck, having college of your choice means your regular work app. will look very good when they see the degrees you've got.

3. Resting

Music is one of the best soothers around. Whenever I'm mad, I can sit down, play a few riffs on guitar or concertos on cello, and I typically feel a lot better. Works much better then sitting down and eating a tub of ice cream, then wondering why I'm OVER 9000 pounds.

4. Social factors

Guitar hero does have social factors. Typically, if you are good at guitar hero, people ARE impressed (Play TtFaF on expert at a party, and watch people applaud!). However, it's both more impressive, and (for you) more gratifying to play a real guitar. You can choose what you feel like playing out of hundreds of songs you know out of memory. When you screw up, there isn't a sound-effect or score multiplier being lost to tell anyone else, meaning you always 100% it. Plus, everyone's heard of the myths that chicks dig guitars (Most of them are false, because if you are actually good at guitar, you will mysteriously grow incredibly long hair, a scary-deep voice, and you'll smell like you've been sitting on a toilet for a month. Which, you probably have, since you should NEVER get up practicing. Even to pee.)

5. Being a better person

Guitar can not make you a better person. Nor can guitar hero. However, it gives the impression of it. You were able to sit down and learn an instrument, and it's not OBVIOUS that you did it to impress people. Therefore, you are talented, and have self-control. Sounds like a good deal to me.
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Obviously, this doesn't work to everyone. As well, some people really don't have time to teach themselves a musical instrument. Heck, some people simply can't. None of this was intended to speak negatively about Guitar Hero, but as a perspective on why some people complain when you play guitar hero. Some are trolls, yeah, but some honestly think you'd just be happier with a real guitar, or you'd be good at it.

[sonicdude164]

I agree with all of this, great post. I like playing guitar hero and all, but real guitar is just so much more satisfying to me. Plus you're not limited to what's on a game disk. You can do whatever riff, song, anything you can think of.

[metroidhunter777]

Yeah, more recently I've been using Guitar Hero as a method to correct tabs. Or at least Rock Band, because we all know of the wonders of Neversoft's overcharting abilities. I'll still play both, but I'll focus more on the real bass and guitar.

[Level_9_Chao]

Not owning Guitar Hero has kept me playing bass (7 years), writing songs, being in a band, and playing (IMO) better rhythm games like Pump It Up to stay in shape.

And I can still do hard mode when I go to friends' houses to look kind of good. :P

[Kaz]

I hate this debate. There's no point, because guitarists and guitar hero fanatics are two completely different types of people. Plus, anyone who's not retarded shouldn't care to argue.

Yeah sure, I love playing my guitar more than playing guitar hero, but I still don't see a point in making an argument either way.

[Level_9_Chao]

I hate this debate. There's no point, because guitarists and guitar hero fanatics are two completely different types of people. Plus, anyone who's not retarded shouldn't care to argue.

Yeah sure, I love playing my guitar more than playing guitar hero, but I still don't see a point in making an argument either way.

If you wanted to argue over which was more productive, versatile, etc. It's an arguable topic, not exactly deep, but everything is arguable. It doesn't make you retarded, it's just kind of a waste of time.

[BOSSNIG]

Yes, Real Guitar>Guitar Hero.