Rock Band 3: Pro Guitar controller - Page 2

**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.

Torque · 01-16-2011, 11:35 AM

Well, in the grand scheme of things I am will to give the facsimile a go. At worst I have an expensive game peripheral for a game I enjoy playing, and at best, I can teach myself to play a musical instrument.

Lumenskir · 01-16-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Well, in the grand scheme of things I am will to give the facsimile a go. At worst I have an expensive game peripheral for a game I enjoy playing, and at best, I can teach myself to play a musical instrument.

There needs to be a tag for "Give me advice even though my mind is already made up" threads.

Melfice · 01-16-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torque

and at best, it will help me with chords and the likes.

Fixed that for you.

Did you know the neck of the Mustang is shorter than that of a real guitar, and as a result there are less frets on the thing?

Listen, I don't play guitar, aside from that one time I made a fool of myself. I wish I could say I was drunk, but I don't drink...
Anyway, I've only barely begun playing the Mustang, and comparing that with the feel of that real guitar... it's completely different. It could be a great tool to use next to proper lessons and a real guitar, but it's no substitute.

You'll need either the Rock Band Squier or a different teacher for that.

EDIT: Also, screw you Smartypants. Ode to Joy is a totally cool anthem.

Meister · 01-16-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumenskir

There needs to be a tag for "Give me advice even though my mind is already made up" threads.

Yeah and then we can apply that to threads where the thing someone's already made up their mind about is in fact the same as the thing they asked about in the OP.

Torque, you might want to follow this thread on the Rock Band forums, they have MadCatz reps occasionally posting there. (The Rock Band forums are otherwise terrible and I advise against venturing into any other parts.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by McTahr

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.

They do offer additional cymbals these days and RB3's Pro mode makes those useful in more than a cosmetic way by telling you when to strike a cymbal and when a pad, but the hand placement thing is a common complaint. And of course there's still no hi-hat pedal and you're limited to the given setup etc. so there definitely is a lot of criticism you can heap on pro mode's teaching capabilities. My guess, speaking as basically a guy who plunks away on the bass sometimes and is otherwise musically uneducated, is that it's probably as decent as anything for teaching you some basics and help you strum/drum/play along somewhat recognizably in a casual campfire environment, which sounds like a decent start.

Torque · 01-16-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumenskir

There needs to be a tag for "Give me advice even though my mind is already made up" threads.

Funny, I don't... oh wait there it i- nope... no not there either.
Weird. I don't remember asking for advice anywhere in my OP.
I wanted to know where I could get one, not whether it was worth it. Yes, I added an unneccessary anecdote explaining why I wanted one, but that was for filler, not a desperate cry for "plz tell me wut to do intarwebz"
Consider it a social experiment if you want.
Tell ya what.. If/When I get one I will regularly post my progress, with video or pictures even, if I can manage it, of my progress comparing both the mustang and my real guitar playing.
We'll see if it compares.
Again, at worst, I've bought an expensive toy, and despite a valid, but highly uneducated opinion on the matter, at best a new method of learning a musical instrument.

Professor Smarmiarty · 01-16-2011, 02:35 PM

Let's give advice:
Join a punk band so you don't have to learn to play-it worked for the Clash.

Torque · 01-16-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smarty McBarrelpants

Let's give advice:
Join a punk band so you don't have to learn to play-it worked for the Clash.

20-20-24 HOURS AGO-O-O I WANNA BE SEDATED! *sung at the top of my incredibly loud, but ridiculously awful singing voice*

Lumenskir · 01-16-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Funny, I don't... oh wait there it i- nope... no not there either.
Weird. I don't remember asking for advice anywhere in my OP.
I wanted to know where I could get one, not whether it was worth it. Yes, I added an unneccessary anecdote explaining why I wanted one, but that was for filler, not a desperate cry for "plz tell me wut to do intarwebz"
Consider it a social experiment if you want.
Tell ya what.. If/When I get one I will regularly post my progress, with video or pictures even, if I can manage it, of my progress comparing both the mustang and my real guitar playing.
We'll see if it compares.
Again, at worst, I've bought an expensive toy, and despite a valid, but highly uneducated opinion on the matter, at best a new method of learning a musical instrument.

Torque · 01-16-2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumenskir

Hey man, it's not my fault you completely missed the point and then tried to be sarcastic about it.

01-16-2011, 10:17 AM	#11
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.

01-16-2011, 02:35 PM	#17
Professor Smarmiarty Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: K-space Posts: 9,758	Let's give advice: Join a punk band so you don't have to learn to play-it worked for the Clash.