Jun 09
23

My son is 6 1/2 yrs old and rocks at Guitar Hero. Should he be in guitar lessons?hat would you like to ask?

13 Comments

He is almost done the medium level of both Guitar Hero I & II. He plays songs he has never even heard before (during the encores) at an average of about 90%. I already know that he is gifted (he was reading at 2yrs). Wondering if there are any real transferable skills in the game.

Any ideas concerning this are welcome. Thanks in advance. Faith
It would appear I have offended some of you by posing this question…I would like to appologise. I understand most of you are involved in playing REAL musical instruments. Which is why I thought you would be the best people to ask. Please understand that he never took an interest in guitar until after we got the game. When he found out he was good at the game…he wondered if he would be any good with a real one. Again I appologise if I have offended any of you by what seems to you like a stupid question.

Other than timing no. I've been playing bass since 1992 and those games are completely different from playing a real instrument but definately encourage him to play any instrument he wants. I saw Rush on TV playing their own song on rock band and they failed miserably

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Posted in rock guitar lessons by Brian Nisbet 13 Comments

13 Responses to "My son is 6 1/2 yrs old and rocks at Guitar Hero. Should he be in guitar lessons?hat would you like to ask?"

  • Zafro Lightning (Nirvana Kid) says:
    June 24, 2009 at 3:03 am

    NOOO…

    medium isnt really that hard, and guitar hero has NOTHING to do with a real guitar.

    I have tried playing real guitar, and it is so hard. Thats why i play drums, because its really easy

    If you want to get him into guitar, then now is the time to do it, but I recommend lessons or something.

    edit: oh yeah, lol, i saw that rush failed their own song on rockband lol.

    it wasnt even guitar! neal peart failed his own drum song…
    References :

  • Bill78 says:
    June 24, 2009 at 3:44 am

    Other than timing no. I've been playing bass since 1992 and those games are completely different from playing a real instrument but definately encourage him to play any instrument he wants. I saw Rush on TV playing their own song on rock band and they failed miserably
    References :

  • MooimAlex says:
    June 24, 2009 at 4:21 am

    guitar hero isn't really the same as real guitar. i know from experience. medium isn't really that good. i played songs i've never heard of before on expert and i took a long break from guitar hero.

    i wouldn't force him to take guitar lessons if he doesn't want to. if he does, i encourage you to let him.
    References :

  • JPKA159 says:
    June 24, 2009 at 4:28 am

    yeah definitly! one of my friends started playing guitar at 3 (i started at 10) so hes not too young at all. guitar hero probly built up his sense of rythm and now all he needs to do is get a real guitar. try a fender squier for him, or a first act discovery.
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  • ♫ Lucy ♫ {Dime Sis} says:
    June 24, 2009 at 5:11 am

    No, I reeeeaaallly wouldn't say so. But that's just my opinion. GH and real guitar are very different. And he is only 6. Don't make him if he doesn't want to, would be my advice. However, if he does want to then encourage him and yeah, send him to guitar lessons! It's a great thing to do, so I bet he'd love it!!!!
    References :

  • Metal, Country, Whatever says:
    June 24, 2009 at 5:19 am

    Well i kinda learned opposite…
    I started playing guitar for 2 years before i actually played guitar hero oftenly. If you are really good at rhythms and moving over frets quickly, then its actually easier to play guitar hero. Idk if it works the other way around, but you should get him some lessons anyway. the guitar is really fun to learn and can really get him somewhere when he gets a bit older =)
    References :

  • Willy B. says:
    June 24, 2009 at 5:34 am

    Guitar hero is a waste of time and money. The thing about video games is that they are just games! I have been playing guitar for 11 years and I know for a fact that you would have been better off buying a real guitar. What is the resale value of the game? $50? $40? Less? A guitar, or at least a half decent one will increase in value over time instead of depreciate. Also, if your son gets good at guitar, he can make a very nice living off of it. I started playing when i was six years old, and never stopped. Sell the video game and buy a guitar. You will be glad you did. But, just to make one thing very clear, THERE ARE NO TRANSFERABLE SKILLS FROM GUITAR HERO TO THE ACTUAL GUITAR!!!
    References :
    I am an accomplished guitarist. Wrote and copyrighted sixteen songs, won awards with my high school jazz band, and have taken lessons for as long as I have been playing, and will continue to take lessons for as long as I live.

  • guitar god says:
    June 24, 2009 at 6:06 am

    dude its just a game
    pressing colored buttons is different from playing a guitar
    ur just out of ur mind
    References :

  • Blarney says:
    June 24, 2009 at 6:49 am

    To some degree I guess you could learn something from that game like strum patterns (not really). Anyways if he wants to learn to play guitar then he should give it a shot. Playing a musical instrument has many benefits to it. If he does though maybe start with electric over acoustic if hes into the whole guitar hero thing.
    References :
    me. I also play guitar and piano

  • holly says:
    June 24, 2009 at 7:35 am

    I play a mean game of Tetris. I'm not a contruction worker.
    I'm pretty awesome at Super Mario Brothers. I'm not a plumber that stomps on turtles and can fly when I pick up a magic feather.

    His hand/eye coordination is progressing nicely. You could at least get him a cheap guitar and a few lessons to see if he takes to it and loves it as much as his video games.
    References :

  • americangutiarist848 says:
    June 24, 2009 at 8:21 am

    Although actually playing guitar and playing Guitar Hero is quite different, there are quite a few people out there who, after playing Guitar Hero, started to take guitar lessons. However, if you can actually play guitar, it really depends on the person and not how well they do on Guitar Hero.

    If he wants to take actual guitar lessons, it couldn't hurt to let him try!
    References :

  • Kay-Lily of the Valley. says:
    June 24, 2009 at 8:51 am

    I can't believe you just said this.

    Listen, I'm going to boast for a second.
    I started reading at 1, yeah my IQ is 159.
    I started playing guitar at 4, and my 3 year old nephew can play guitar hero on expert not kidding.
    you can't make a kid that young take lessons if he doesn't want them. You realize his hands will hurt? Playing guitar isn't easy especially on little hands.
    you might want to wait until he approaches you saying "mommy daddy, I want to take guitar lessons"
    not because he can play guitar hero.

    even now, I found myself regretting taking up guitar at such an early age, because my friends that start to learn can't play anything I can, and it's kinda a bummer.

    have him take piano if anything, its the best instrument to start on (I started at 5) and it helps you learn pitches, and makes it easier to tune a guitar.
    References :

  • Man In the Box [Pìñk ƒlø¥Ð] says:
    June 24, 2009 at 9:11 am

    Well, the only thing that guitar hero could even help improve is finger speed. Otherwise, they're totally different. But if he likes music, and he wants to play a real guitar, let him. But please understand, Guitar Hero and real guitar are nothing at all alike. I would recommend getting him a guitar though, if he enjoys it, he can become very good at a young age.
    References :

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