Rock Band 3: Pro Guitar controller

Torque · 01-15-2011, 05:36 PM

So, I'm on the hunt for one of these damned things. I've been taking guitar lessons for a few months, and frankly, my teacher is a complete dink. He's teaching me to play "mary had a little lamb", a few bars of "Ode to Joy" and other shit like this. It's poor teaching, and I'm a little fed up with it, so I'm ending the lessons at the end of this month.
So I decided I will dedicate myself to learning the guitar by using the new mustang controller.
Problem is.... I can't find one!
Anywhere!
No one carries it! I know it's out, but there are none in this damned city. Does anyone know why this is?? Any word on if the periferals are having problems or something? Mass recalls?

Doc ock rokc · 01-15-2011, 06:05 PM

I don't even think to those are out yet.

Melfice · 01-15-2011, 06:20 PM

The mustangs ARE out.
It's the Squiers that are releasing later this year.

Also, stick to proper lessons.
The mustang can help next to proper lessons, but it will never teach you the actual string work.

This is not a mucisician slamming Rock Band.
This is me, as a gamer, talking to you - an aspiring musician.

Edit: also, don't dis Mary had a little lamb. Check out Stevie Ray Vaughan's rendition.
Don't dis Ode to Joy either. It's Europe's anthem, I'll have you know.

Professor Smarmiarty · 01-16-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melfice

Don't dis Ode to Joy either. It's Europe's anthem, I'll have you know.

If you ever needed a reason not ot play a song, here it is.

Doc ock rokc · 01-15-2011, 06:29 PM

Learning the basics of anything is essential later on. While also Exploring yourself is how you really learn. So if your felling fed up with the teaching both practice what he is teaching you and start with some of the songs you want to learn.
I would suggest "Smoke On The Water" as a good starter song. try doing it with the finger tabs first then just the notes. Associate yourself with the notes.
I tried learning the guitar but my Disgraphia makes it extra ordinary difficult to play it. however I can play smoke on the water

here see if you can do this

Lumenskir · 01-15-2011, 06:53 PM

From what I've read, the Rock Band guitar is a horrible simulacrum of the feel of an actual guitar. It's got more buttons, but all the 'strings' are the same width there's no actual string to physically thrum against so you might develop some unhelpful muscle memory.

Plus, the fake guitar is like $150. Tough it out with your instructor.

Torque · 01-15-2011, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumenskir

Tough it out with your instructor.

Not going to happen. I took music lessons years ago for the flute, and still play.
This is not a case of "I hate boring music so I'm going to quit".
This is a case of this guy is horrible teacher, and I'm not paying to learn nothing".

I want the guitar controller for almost all of the exact reasons "real" musicians claim they don't like them.
For instance, "String" Thickness: I understand the issue here, whereas you can't use the string thickness to help you gauge which string your finger is on, but being new, I would rather learn to know where my fingers are not by tricks and cheats, but by simply knowing where my fingers are. i.e. playing the flute where all the valves feel the same, you know which note you are playing because you have practiced putting your fingers in the right place.
That is just one example for me though.

I honestly believe as an aspiring hobby musician that this is going to be a great way for new players to learn playing an instrument.
Not to mention that the tutorials appear to teach genuine musical theory, and that I think is just as important as knowing where to put your fingers.
As for the price, well, when you compare the $300 or so price tag for the whole rig; guitar, software and USB midi peripheral, to the price of lessons for however long it takes you to not need lessons anymore I think the unit pays for itself if you can put your time in with it.
Also, for anyone still reading, doc, I would rather burn off my finger tips with a plasma cutter than ever subject a musical instrument to "Smoke on the water"...

edit: Just found out too, that it sounds like EA, or Harmonix is having issues with getting the controllers made, and shipped. Not sure if it's wide spread, or if it's a regional thing though.

double edit: I would wait for the pro Squire controller to come out, but I doubt that it will be coming in a left handed variety which I require as I play left handed.

Doc ock rokc · 01-16-2011, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torque

doc, I would rather burn off my finger tips with a plasma cutter than ever subject a musical instrument to "Smoke on the water"...

...It was a Suggestion. That is how I and My brother learned the guitar. We looked up "easy" songs and tryed to play them. MY brother however is lucky that he is Dyslexic rather then dysgraphic and managed to how to write his own music with a guitar.

Torque · 01-16-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meister

Small correction: MadCatz is having issues with getting the controllers made and shipped. I feel this is such a central problem to the whole Rock Band Pro thing that it's important to attribute fault properly. It's a regional thing in that it affects basically any non-US territory.

You are of course, correct, I meant madcatz.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc ock rokc

...It was a Suggestion. That is how I and My brother learned the guitar. We looked up "easy" songs and tryed to play them. MY brother however is lucky that he is Dyslexic rather then dysgraphic and managed to how to write his own music with a guitar.

I know. I just really felt the need to express how much I can't stand that song.

**McTahr** · 01-16-2011, 10:17 AM

If the integral problem with you learning guitar is your teacher, get a new teacher, or even just self teach.

Janky startup electric guitar - $80 last I checked
Dinky portable amp - ~$30-40
Misc. - $20-30
Interbuttz tabs/notation - Free!

This is a musician dissing on Rock Band instruments (Not the plastic ones, I get it, some people just want to play a game). To be honest, from what I can tell only the drums are a decent surrogate for the real thing, and even then only sorta because your toms don't just pretend to be cymbals every once in a while and IIRC they mix up the hand placement for snare/hi-hat.

I mean, it's possible the mock-up pro guitar they've made is a great way to learn guitar and matches handling perfectly, but given the level of nuances and specifics to the instrument, I'm skeptical.

Edit for anecdote: A self-taught lad such as you aspire to be once walked into a good classical instructor's studio for a single lesson. He walked out knowing that half of what he knew was wrong. End story. My fingering was buggered, among so, so many other things that you would never think of self-teaching or playing the surrogate.

01-15-2011, 06:05 PM	#2
Doc ock rokc ...Really? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: in Theory. Everything works here Posts: 3,961	I don't even think to those are out yet. __________________ I have a Pesterchum its DangerousDoc I am ether fading out of Time, Space, or Reality...Or Simply my Typewriter is running out of ink

01-15-2011, 06:29 PM	#5
Doc ock rokc ...Really? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: in Theory. Everything works here Posts: 3,961	Learning the basics of anything is essential later on. While also Exploring yourself is how you really learn. So if your felling fed up with the teaching both practice what he is teaching you and start with some of the songs you want to learn. I would suggest "Smoke On The Water" as a good starter song. try doing it with the finger tabs first then just the notes. Associate yourself with the notes. I tried learning the guitar but my Disgraphia makes it extra ordinary difficult to play it. however I can play smoke on the water here see if you can do this __________________ I have a Pesterchum its DangerousDoc I am ether fading out of Time, Space, or Reality...Or Simply my Typewriter is running out of ink Last edited by Doc ock rokc; 01-15-2011 at 06:35 PM.

01-16-2011, 10:17 AM	#10
McTahr For the right price... Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,268	If the integral problem with you learning guitar is your teacher, get a new teacher, or even just self teach. Janky startup electric guitar - $80 last I checked Dinky portable amp - ~$30-40 Misc. - $20-30 Interbuttz tabs/notation - Free! This is a musician dissing on Rock Band instruments (Not the plastic ones, I get it, some people just want to play a game). To be honest, from what I can tell only the drums are a decent surrogate for the real thing, and even then only sorta because your toms don't just pretend to be cymbals every once in a while and IIRC they mix up the hand placement for snare/hi-hat. I mean, it's possible the mock-up pro guitar they've made is a great way to learn guitar and matches handling perfectly, but given the level of nuances and specifics to the instrument, I'm skeptical. Edit for anecdote: A self-taught lad such as you aspire to be once walked into a good classical instructor's studio for a single lesson. He walked out knowing that half of what he knew was wrong. End story. My fingering was buggered, among so, so many other things that you would never think of self-teaching or playing the surrogate. __________________ Gone.