How Guitar Hero Is Going To Ruin Music

If all the popular music that is out right nows stays on the same course and music is reduced to six chord songs because of generational lack of musical proficiency cause by these games, then god help us all. The next generation of musicians are going to make Britney Spears look like "The Beatles".

[oriol003]

I think the issue is that this games are getting overrated.

[The_Zeitgeist]

Next it will be Rock Band "The Mama's and The Papas"

[StoneySweatLeafs]

agreed to sure

[poindat]

Oh, there was perfect proof of this. Was a chart with all present and future Rock Band and Guitar Hero releases. Was purple.

Well, I can't find it anywhere (anyone?), but it certainly showed how much these games are being stretched out.

[Defectiv3_Detectiv3]

I have yet to meet somebody who thinks they are a guitar god based on there guitar hero skills.

I have met people though that have been introduced and discovered music they would have never considered listening to before. Heck, there are even a few bands I found while playing this game(mastadon)

Honestly though, can we stop trying to find excuses to hate on these games? If anything, rockband is the savior of the music industry, causing people to get more interested in music making and pick up some real instruments. I have witnessed this happen.

Something tells me the writer of this article is some nerd in some death metal garage band who's butthurt because no one understands his pain

Sometimes the biggest sheep are the people who TRY TO HARD to go against the grain.

[deejai]

Great insight Scarboni

[TheAntiFanboy]

I play guitar, drums, violin, and piano in real life. I also play Rock Band and Guitar Hero. Do my skills from one affect the other? No! Does being proficient in one make me proficient in the other? No! Are Rock Band and Guitar Hero replacements for real instruments? Absolutely not. They're video games, and you play them for different reasons that you play a real instrument.

Does playing a racing simulator with a racing wheel peripheral make you a wannabe racer or make people say that they're good at actual racing? Absolutely not. Does playing a light gun shooter make you skilled with guns? No. Is playing Dance Dance Revolution a statement that you're a good dancer? ROFL. No freakin' way on Earth. The same thing applies to Guitar Hero or Rock Band. They are nothing more than video games, but they are also nothing less than a celebration of music.

A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC. Even with my current musical talent, these games have helped me evolve culturally by introducing me to new bands or new songs that I've never heard before. Foo Fighters is now my favorite band, all because I played Everlong in Rock Band 2. I love the damn song so much that I learned how to play it and several other Foo Fighter songs not only on real guitar but even on the other instruments I know (specifically, violin; just FYI everyone, it sounds SWEET).

All criticism against music rhythm games with this argument are foolish, ignorant and uneducated.

(Well... okay, personally I think Rock Band is a music experience and Guitar Hero is music exploitation, but that's just an opinion based on the art style and the developer priorities. *cough read bobby kotick's quote on exploitation cough* )

[TheDude2dot0]

Compare GH's 9 titles to Rock Band's 3 titles. Also keep in mind that Harmonix is only helping some other company with the Lego Rock Band.

[The_Zeitgeist]

Well said. I'm sick of these stupid games!

[oriol003]

Gotta love the drums from rockband lol

[Bnet343]

*sigh* here we go again ... These kids that play don't want to spend their entire lives trying to perfect songs on a real instrument. Maybe they want to do something else with their lives and not have the burden of learning to play a real instrument. I ranted about this a long time ago when Rock Band 1 came out, I'm not going to bother with a wall of text.

[The_Zeitgeist]

Musical instruments are fun and they actually expand your mind. I recommend some of the blue acid and a little pink floyd jam.

[Bnet343]

Okay, here is my example. I want to play Rock Band/Guitar Hero and refuse to play a guitar. Why? Well first this is def. a personal opinion of mines, but I think guitar is an overplayed instrument. Everyone wants to play guitar, not other instruments. That one is def. personal. My main reason. I play keyboard. I do not wanna focus on playing a second instrument. I just don't have a flexible enough schedule to do that.

[iClutch]

they are for fun

[iClutch]

Gh is better

[Xander-RKoS]

I know people who got into playing real instruments from GH and RB...so it's not like it's going to kill music. Besides, it's sometimes more satisfying to actually play and compose songs rather than hit buttons to make a musical track play.

[Phantom_T]

I don't agree with the Rock Band/Guitar Hero milking train,I definetly don't think its going to ruin music.
I mean how,seriously?
These kind of games could teach the very basics,and only inspire people to actually try and achieve something in the music industry which is only a good thing.
And lets say someone DOES play Rock Band one day and think "hey,lets go with this!" does that mean they will actually achieve it BECAUSE of these games? no.
Hard work and talent is still going to be the final say in things like this,Potential and ambition does NOT equal talent.
Y'know what the real problem is? it isn't ambitious kids or people who actually want to try something that once seemed so far out of reach,its elitists who feel the need to bang on about how things are changing too fast and how "it isn't how it used to be",people who feel the need to scoff at anything that catches on just because they want hits on there site,or are just bitter in general.
Christ,im getting sick of these "how this is going to destroy this" and "how <insert company here> failed" doomsday articles almost as much as speculation articles.

[The_Zeitgeist]

Elitists unite!!!!

[njr]

Its like those people that complain about others who find out songs and bands through Guitar Hero. There's nothing wrong about that.

[StoneySweatLeafs]

LOL yea

[grantps3]

god, i hate guitar hero. It warps people into thinking that they are actualy capable of playing the songs in real life (not saying everybody is like that, but were i live...they do)

the game doesnt even have songs that are actualy hard to play in real life or songs that are seriously just breathtaking. All guitar hero does is use songs that dont even deserve to be in a game called "guitar hero". they leave out musical geniuses, but they will throw in sum-41, blink 182, and retarded screamo bands that are just to horrible to listen to.

guitar hero insults me as a musician

[The_Zeitgeist]

Read the article my friend you will especially enjoy it :)

[Rockox]

Real musicians who are insulted by GH and RB need to get over themselves. I've been a musician for over 15 years and I think these music games are awesome. My nephew has started taking drum lessons and will be taking percussion in highschool, and Rock Band played a HUGE part in that.

[GarandShooter]

Next up.....

How 'You're in the Movies' is ruining Hollywood.....

[Lord Vader]

Todays music is already ruined.

Not too many talented ppl around anymore that would *ever* compare to the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, or Pink Floyd.

See "Rap", "Pop" & "Country" for more information...

[HDgamer]

See your biased opinion for more information.

[Defectiv3_Detectiv3]

They are LED ZEPPELIN and SANTANA combined.

Let's see, who else is awesome...
Kings of Leon
Arcade Fire
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Tool/A Perfect Circle
the list goes on

The problem w/ music nowadays is that when a truly great band does come along it goes unnoticed.

American radio stations are more concerned w/ pleasing their sponsors than w/ playing music that people actually care about.

Anything that stands out or shows some individuality is quickly shot down, its harder to market something new than it is to keep pushing the same crap in your rotation.

[Tony P]

^^Agree agree agree.

If you think music is going downhill, you aren't listening closely. There is a literal wealth of music out there and no blanket statement like "music is going downhill" covers every band out there. If you can stop pining for the great bands of yesterday, you'll probably find something to like today.

[tuaamin13]

I agree, music has been going downhill for a while. Most of the artists played on the radio today sound like crap without enhancement. Throw in some repetitive tracks and you have a "song." While there's nothing wrong with electronic beats, they're significantly overused and seem like a replacement for real talent.

I'm also part of the crowd that thinks GH/RB has been detrimental to old music. Yes, I've heard some stuff I wouldn't have normally, but now every time I hear classics I also hear the GH/RB version played by literally EVERYONE in the dorm. 3am you can hear crappy renditions of the songs as people try to play them on hard and fail miserably.

[Defectiv3_Detectiv3]

Those crappy renditions of old songs could just as easily be crappy renditions of new songs - the difference being at least people's musical horizons are being broadened, which in turn will have a positive effect on music coming out today.

I would also say that listening to radio stations is a terrible indicator on the condition of music today. I don't think music is in such a terrible shape, it might be going back underground, but there is no shortage of talented musicians. then again I CANNOT SPEAK FOR HIP HOP/R+B...sorry, more of a motown guy.

And really, it didn't take RB or GH to descicrate music - pop culture has been doing that for ages. Every time I hear a jimi hendrix song I now have to associate that w/ a Dodge Ram, lynard Skynard Sweet Home Alabama? - KFC.

[Ripyealip]

i like rock band more than guitar hero ( lmao just thought id through that in)

Guitar hero and Rock band are both perfect games and really fun.

I score them a 10. but their really isnt that much difference in the game franchises

[Diselage]

Music will continue to evolve and to say a video game that does nothing but allow people to imitate past songs will influence the industry and carve what people will like is ludicrous and full-hearty.

[nbone9]

This is awesome

[nbone9]

Pretty cool

[poindat]

Most of the appeal from these games comes from feeling like you are accomplishing something decent (no matter how much you deny it, someone that is able to play well on expert HAS accomplished something and is no doubt skilled at the game) all the while playing along with some fun music.

That being said, I don't see how it is killing music. In fact (at the risk of sounding stupid), I started learning guitar after, and partly because of, Guitar Hero II.

Plus tastes change over time. Is it a travesty that the Beatles don't have the prominence that they did in the 60s? Have all of our tastes degenerated because few people listen to symphonies for enjoyment anymore? No and no.

Plus, you can't categorize into 'good' and 'bad.' I'm a death metal guy and trance guy, one of my friends is into classic rock, one of them is into rap and alternative rock, and I'm sure a bunch of people (preteens nonetheless) love Miley Cyrus. There is so much difference in tastes that it can't be done.

[Bigrhyno]

Guitar Hero isn't ruining anything. Music has been going downhill long before GH came out. If anything, it is helping introduce kids to some of the old greats.

[Rmagnus]

where games are judge on how fun they are, i mean come on a gmae to ruin music?

[FunkyGroovy]

this guys almost right. listen to most of the music you hear right now, and most of it stays the same. rock and rap are the top styles right now. why? because it appeals and is so simple. in the 16-1800s music was so complicated and could only be learned by the richest people. why? because people were more creative back then than we are now. NOW heres my point. if people continue to listen to rock like guitar hero, they will play rock, and their rock will sound like guitar hero songs, and as long as they keep playing the same style, the world of music degenerates. skill is substituted for good chords. theres a limit to how many chords you can make, and i believe this guys almost right. im not saying guitar hero ruins music, it just influences the person in a unique way thats bad. its all in the persons mind, and most people just dont care. so yeah thats my piece :P

[Baka-akaB]

Gee ruining ? how dare GH and RB revives most rock classics or enlightens the ignorant kids about those !!!

[Dzav]

This guy is hating on the music just because it is simple. Some people believe less is more and that's fine with me because i tend to like simpler songs. Others believe the more complicated a song is, the better it is. However some would call that self indulgence. I think this guy needs to realize that people just have different preferences when it comes to music and they should respect what other people enjoy reguardless if he thinks it sucks.

[Dzav]

I mean he should respect what other people enjoy. not "they"

[Shmotz]

Music is ruining music.

[grantps3]

i dont like GH at all.

it is nice that it gets people away from rap and it lets them listen to some classics, but their song selection needs major work.

guitar hero's songs are 70% metal, which i think is stupid. they dont have guitar legends on it, but they put bands like sum 41, blink 182, and i bunch of other screaming metal bands that dont deserve to be on the game.

im not trying to say that a song has to be complicated to be good. Im just saying that they dont have Pink floyd, Clapton(layla is a must), grateful dead, derek trucks, or john mayer.

and for people who think john mayer is just girly pop music and all of his songs are like "say what you need to say", then your dead wrong. If you like blues check out his songs....I don't need no doctor, I'v got a women, who did you think i was, and good love is on the way. He plays with clapton, derek trucks, john scofield, B.B king, and more.

sorry for the rant about mayer, but i figured i would get a lot of crap from it like i do from people at my school(who also judge him base only off his pop music)

[The_Zeitgeist]

I'm sorry dude but bagging on Blink 182 is dumb. If you were to try and teach someone how to play the guitar, Blink songs would be a great start. While simple in composition, Tom Delonge (Guitarist) is a master of melody. Learning Blink 182 is a simplistic way to show people how to incorporate simple yet satisfying melodies.

And before you get all grr, blah, blah... I like the classics to man. I just think Blink 182 get bad rap for all the wrong reasons.

[Bathyj]

Dammit on GHWT is one of the most fun songs to play on all the games.

[Bathyj]

Man, what a croc.

I've never heard of anyone say "Gee, I'll like to learn guitar. Nay I'll just play GH instead." If anything, it would be the other way around. These games inspire love for music, why would that deter someone from learning a real instrument?

As for constant updates, well, I'd personally pay $300 for a GH that let you import any MP3 but thats not going to happen. So buying my versions of GH is simply buying more songs. Why is it ok to buy more CD's because you crave more music but not to buy more GH for the same reason? So what if its the same game, its a game I like. If they changed it radically it wouldn't be GH would it? Thats like people who complain Tekken doesn't change enough. If it did it wouldn't be Tekken. If you want Streetfighter than get Streetfighter.

And dont worry about music going crap because no ones learning instruments. Musics been crap for a long, long time. All anyone cares about now is the music video and how hot they are. Why do you think they dont have guitar solos often anymore, they have dance solos. Doesnt that tell you something?

But dont worry, for every 50 no talent shills, a real band emerges as well. Cream does rise to the top. Probably they played Guitar hero and were inspired to pick up an instrument. These games actually do open peoples eyes to music. I wonder how many kids would have never heard Paint it Black if not for GH.

My only drama is you should be able to import all the GH tracklist into the most recent release. I have to set up my PS2 to play GH2 but play the others on PS3

[Gun_Senshi]

I'm looking at you MTV

[N4Garbage]

Guitar Hero: Jonas Brothers LOL

[NegativeCreep427]

The music industry started sh*ting all over itself a long time ago.

Its a sad, pathetic time when popular music nowadays is defined by those three Mickey-Mouse, derivative manginas named The Jonas Brothers.

[grantps3]

i would but a copy of GH jonas brothers edition just to burn it.

and about the whole blink 182 thing, i dont mean that they arent good songs. to tell you the truth i was border line obsessed with them about 2 years ago, i can name and sing just about every song sadly, and if i came across a guy (like me) bashing them i would have flipped out.

now i dont like them that much, they put out a bunch of great songs but other than song writing, they werent the most talented group (travis barker may be pretty good,but i dont know drums). I see were your coming from about the begginers learning it, but this is a simulation, begginner can play impossible songs if they put it on easy, but if your talking real life i agree that they are good songs to learn if you are just starting

. i dont mind mind them being in it, but having blink 182 and not having some of the greatest musicians of that era is just retarded. they need more variety

right now its 75% metal/ heavy rock, that is the reason why i hate guitar hero

[eliteowner12]

actually... about driving simulators made in one of the very first comments(sorry I'm too lazy to check haha) if your good in driving in real life, it actually really helps in gt5 and if you get good in gt5, it will give you a good sense of what the car and track is actually going to feel.. though obviously if your pro in gt5, your not going to be pro in real life but you just get a better understanding and the techniques you learned in the game will feel similar to what you do in real life, the only major difference is the weight shifting you feel in the car and well the feel of actually driving at 200 km/h:P but everything else in gt5 at least is actually quite spot on.