Playing “Rock Band” Is Nothing Like Being In a Rock Band
Earlier this year, my friend asked me to do him a favor. A relative was turning the big 3-0, so the family wanted to do something special. He wanted me to join him and be the musical entertainment for this wild social extravaganza. Free food and booze? I’m in. But this request came at the price of flying hundreds of miles, the airline fare, risking precious collegiate study time, and the intimidating thought of learning 20 to 30 songs in two weeks.
“Don’t worry,” my buddy assured me. “They want us to play mostly Beatles covers.”
The next thing I know I was boarding a cramped airplane, going over the set list in my head, and ready to play our versions of “Get Back,” “Twist and Shout,” and a punky version of “Eight Days A Week.”
When the show ended, I went home a little richer and stuffed with pasta and red wine.
But the best moment was when the surprised birthday girl, slightly buzzing from expensive whiskey, stumbled toward the band and said we were “fucking amazing.”
Suddenly the thought of the early morning plane ride didn’t seem so bad. A person was listening.
The release of The Beatles: Rock Band this week, I’m sure, has hundreds of game aficionados salivating at their chance to be Paul, John, Ringo, or George. But this illusion of music stardom needs to end.
Instead of kids saving their birthday money for an electric guitar or bass, they’re begging mom and dad to shell out huge amounts of cash to upgrade their game consoles. A copy of The Beatles: Rock Band is going for $53.99 at Amazon. That’s if you already have the plastic guitars, drums, and mics. If you don’t, you can get the premium bundle for $249.99, and it includes the “instruments,” a mic stand, a song list, among other things.
When mom and dad finally concede to buy the game, and the disc is inserted into the console, the kids don’t stop until the game is beaten and every song is unlocked. The noisy clicks of the guitar get louder and louder, and the drummer tries to nail down every one of Ringo Starr’s notes that have become nothing more than rubbery thumps.
It is nonsense.
What happened to the obligatory piano lessons? Why are kids trading in their Squier starter guitars for a toy Les Paul or Stratocaster.
You’re not a rock star on Rock Band. And you won’t ever be if you play it all day.
Studies have shown positive effects of learning how to play an instrument. It can sharpen hearing and improve speech.
Some people may say that being a musician is not a cheap hobby. And in a lot of aspects, they’re right, especially if they want to rock out like the professionals with gorgeous guitars from Gibson or Fender that retail over $1000. But for the starting musician there are many options to explore.
You can get a Fender-inspired Stratocaster electric guitar for $79. Yes, you will need an amp. Spend another $39 for a mini, 10 watt one. It’s compact and transportable, perfect for playing music with your friends. At below $120, you’re ready to rock.
Still too pricey? Go on Craig’s List and get an acoustic guitar. No extra expense for an amp. I did quick search for a guitars and there are $50 guitars on sale that will do just fine.
There are plenty of guitar tab forums where you can learn how to play all your favorite songs.
Rock Band and Guitar Hero will release more expansion packs, songs, “limited edition” guitars and accessories. But rockin’ in your parent’s living room will never compare to playing in front of 10 people at your local coffee shop or selling out Shea Stadium. No matter how many notes you score in a row on expert mode.
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While I agree with your premise, I’ve also seen the upside: I spent the last five years in college, a 70% male tech school that is heavily weighted toward engineers and computer majors. Yep, it was nerd heaven, and Rock Band and Guitar Hero were huge staples of just about every house party and dorm room during my last few years in school.
The upside I promised? After a few weeks of heavily playing Rock Band, a few of them were actually seriously shopping for real guitars. One guy got back into playing the piano after years of not touching one. I’ve seen, first hand, how playing these games can get people truly interested in learning to play real instruments.
TRUE THAT!!
I like how you forget to mention you can also just buy the guitar pack, which most people will do, for not much more than the separate game. And I also enjoy reading how you just skip over the fact that anyone that wants to seriously get into playing an instrument will very likely need lessons. Which are hella expensive, much more so than the instrument. Also, someone who wants to do more than practice chords in his bedroom but actually play in front of people, will want more than a 80 buck twanger with an amp that you can’t hear over cigarettes being lit, meaning it’ll cost a lot more than your 120 dollar minimum.
No, Rockband or Guitar Hero are not substitutes for playing a real instrument, I’ll be the first to admit. But they’re not meant for people who want to invest heavily into becoming a musician (which, I might add, will also take up far more time than playing either game). It’s a video game. You’re comparing apples and oranges. You don’t hear anyone complaining that people who use gaming steering wheels should become real race drivers, do you? No, because, it’s comparing two different worlds. Let people who like to play video games play video games, and let people who enjoy playing their instruments play their instruments. End of story.