Geni Swing Guitars

Fender Mustang

As a fan of both Rockband and Guitar Hero, having new games for both franchises is exciting, there just is not enough hours in the day right now! I am not someone who wants to be a rock star, I am way too old, but as a seasoned guitar player I approached these games with the idea of having fun and playing a computer game, I can play most of the songs for real if I want to, but this was something different.

With new releases of the games things have changed, it seems as though there is now a path to go from being a game based player to actually becoming a real musician, and that for me is what it should be about, especially for kids. The way this is approached is by implementing MIDI into the new controllers, MIDI has been around a long time and despite its limitations it is still used by pros worldwide, basically its strength is in its simplicity, it works.

MIDI is the way musicians communicate with computers, this is how you can program many instruments attached to sound modules and samples to play along with real instruments, and the reason why one person can not only compose, but record and mix an entire orchestra in their bedroom if they wish to do so.

Drums in Rock Band have used MIDI in previous games, but now guitar players are getting their chance to use the technology to really learn to play the songs, not just push some plastic buttons on a toy (although that is still an option). As far a being a realistic guitar playing experience the old games were just a fancy version of air guitar with something slightly resembling a real guitar, now there is a Fender Squire Strat copy that not only plays the songs in the game using MIDI, but also works like a real guitar outside of the game.

The Fender Squire Strat is slightly different from the regular version of the guitar, there are game controller buttons on the front for a start, there is only a single pickup and no vibrato bar like a real Fender has, but this guitar is almost better than the standard one, you can play along in the game and then take the same guitar and play the songs for real with your friends or band through an amplifier. The guitar has real strings and a pickup on it so there is no hiding, users will have to learn how to play, and while they will find the learning curve much steeper than a guitar shaped game controller, the rewards at the end of the day are so much more.

If you are not interested in actually learning to play the guitar, and of course not everyone will be because learning some of the songs and solos in the game will take years for some people to achieve, there is the old controllers that still work with the new game, but also with the introduction of the new game a Fender Mustang styled guitar game controller that has 102 buttons on the guitar fretboard. This is an easier option to begin with, but still takes some practice to get good on, and while it does have strings for strumming but they are not on the fretboard.

The makers of the game have given gamers the choice, take it to the next level and become a real musician, and who knows where that may end and what fantastic adventures you might have? Otherwise if that is not something that interests you then just letting rip on the controller is also still an option.

I am a musician so I am biased, but if I was going to make the effort to learn these songs on a controller, which takes a lot of practice and skill in itself, I would rather really learn an instrument, it really will be so much more rewarding and will give you and others lifetime of enjoyment that will last long after Rock Band games have disappeared.

John Osgood is a writer who specializes in many genres including Music and Musical Instruments.

For the best in Rock Gaming go to: http://www.bandgames.net/bandgames.html

To see the latest Music game reviews check out: http://www.bandgames.net/michaeljacksontheexperience.html

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