Rock Band VS. TAG live

[Kid Metric]

Last night my friends 9 year old daughter was beaming as she showed me her Fender controller for the Rock Band game.
We then came to my pad, where I have a stereo tube amp rig, a few stereo pedals, and a recorder to play along with.
I pulled out one of 6 TAG's that live here, and played over 2 rock backing progressions for the 2 little 9 year olds.
They had never seen anyone play any guitar in person ever, and I played 3 feet from their face.
The look on their face's where priceless. Some delay, volume swells, stereo 4/12's on both sides, they were in shock!
I am afraid I might have spoiled Rock Band for them!
They were jumping up & down, clapping, and yelling "You Rock!"
Every kid playing Rock Band needs to see the real thing, up close.I didn't get that experience until I was 16 years old, and it changed my life.
Maybe Rock Band is spurning a whole new generation of players!
Input, please!
Thanks!

[dannopelli]

Last night my friends 9 year old daughter ...

They had never seen anyone play any guitar in person ever, and I played 3 feet from their face...

Every kid playing Rock Band needs to see the real thing, up close.I didn't get that experience until I was 16 years old, and it changed my life.
Maybe Rock Band is spurning a whole new generation of players!



Excellent thoughts. Thanks for sharing!

I am giving my five year old a Taylor Baby for Christmas. If he gets good and learns to respect his instrument (my grandfather worked with his hands and taught me VERY young to respect my tools), He can have his choice of any of the 17 electrics, including five TAG guitars, that I have. He just won't get the DR Z Stingray!

Oh and we do not have Rock Band at our house.

[michaelomiya]

...I pulled out one of 6 TAG's that live here, and played over 2 rock backing progressions for the 2 little 9 year olds. They had never seen anyone play any guitar in person ever, and I played 3 feet from their face.
The look on their face's where priceless.

incredible story - I've had the same experience w/ my kids, although they've been raised with 412's, guitars, cables and pedals all over the place, and make every attempt at charging for my TAG's whenever they're out.

unfortunately we do have GuitarHero and Rockband, so they've been 'corrupted';) but the 11 and 6 year olds are already realizing the limitations of 'making' music through just a video game. When they come into the studio and hear us singing or writing, they ultimately have the same look of amazement.

I've found that music and kids are like ducks and water. creativity at that age seems endless and they are quite easily influenced. in fact if you ask any of the kids, "who's the best guitar player ever?", they definitely have an opinion and it aint' gonna be "the Jonas bros"!:eek: :D

[guitarzan]

Both of my boys started with Guitar Hero, but now they've both actually started playing- and I bought my 6 yr. old daughter a half-size pink strat for Christmas to get her on board as well.

If they had ended their guitar "career" with GH or RB, I woulda been pretty bummed. But they've both moved on to Father-&-2-Sons guitar lessons and YouTube guitar lessons. Not only does it create time we get to spend together, but it teaches them the value of focused, hard work. And it makes me look cooler since I'm teaching them Zakk Wylde and EVH licks. :)

[michaelomiya]

Cory, how old were the boys when they started playing? I know in this case, size does matter;) in order to properly fret the neck, etc. My 6 yo is big for his age, but not yet big enough to hold a normal sized axe.

[guitarzan]

Cory, how old were the boys when they started playing? I know in this case, size does matter;) in order to properly fret the neck, etc. My 6 yo is big for his age, but not yet big enough to hold a normal sized axe.

They started to take it seriously around last Christmas, so right when they turned 8 & 10. Their hands were obviously smaller but the youngest got a mini Squire strat and the oldest plays my H1 Texas Tele. They share a Roland Cube but they also jump at the chance to play through my rig if I have it out to learn something or woodshed.

I agree with Danno's point, though. I'm now seeing the value in putting quality guitars in their hands so they learn to respect a quality instrument. I usually make time to sit with them and let them enjoy the feel of a good Les Paul or CS strat so they know what to look and listen for as they save for their own instruments.

[mdrs]

I have three sons, aged 16, 20, and 21.

The 20 and 16 yo's both play guitar and drums......and really well. I introduced my oldest to guitar too, but he just didn't stay with it. It may partly be due to the fact that when I bought him his starter axe, it really sucked!! It was really hard to make it sound good.

I made a special occasion out of taking them into NYC to 48th St. and bought them a starter acoustic when each was 8. At that age, IMO, they are just at the point where they can really start playing. They could plink on my guitars prior to that age. And, they observed me playing pretty much every day.

I didn't force any of them. They saw how rewarding playing was for me, and naturally wanted to follow....well, 2 out of three did anyhow!!! LOL

The Taylor Baby is a great starter guitar, as are the Little Martins. Personally, I think acoustic first is the way to go. Once they are showing that they'll stick with it, then it's time for an Andy and the possibility of making significantly MORE NOISE!!..............:D

As an aside, we have all sorts of computers and computer gaming........my oldest, who doesn't play an actual instrument is the best of the three at Guitar Hero and the like!! The other two who do actually play guitar, hate losing to him, but then make sure he knows that Guitar Hero is nothing like really playing!!

[FFOGG]

" I've had the same experience w/ my kids, although they've been raised with 412's, guitars, cables and pedals all over the place, and make every attempt at charging for my TAG's whenever they're out.

unfortunately we do have GuitarHero and Rockband, so they've been 'corrupted' but the 11 and 6 year olds are already realizing the limitations of 'making' music through just a video game. When they come into the studio and hear us singing or writing, they ultimately have the same look of amazement. "

+1