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Posted by Brian Crecente at 2:32 PM on February 1, 2008
To: Ash
From: Crecente
Re: SSBB Out, Me Bizzy, Head Explodes, Sleepy Time
I had my first guitar lesson last night, which actually only lasted about 15 minutes because I let me son have most of my lesson as well. After watching him learn to hold his guitar by singing Wheels on the Bus, and place his fingers correctly on his guitar, it was my turn. Fortunately, there were no Wheels on the Bus singalongs involved. I am now the master of the D string. Woot!
It's funny, we were practicing together tonight and Tristan kept jumping the gun on when he should strum while following a really basic song. Finally I stopped him, gently holding his hands against the strings.
Do you remember Guitar Hero?
Yes
What happens when you play the note too soon or too late?
It plunks.
Right. That's like this, you have to play it at the right time. That's called rhythm.
He totally got it. Who says games aren't good for something?
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Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
thisbeatisbadass
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
I learned driving from Cruising USA, SF RUSH, and a half a mil Rx7 in GT2. Now Im the champion of the mountain ;-)
thisbeatisbadass
Fierfaerie
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
@Witzbold: that was swift, brutal, and funny. Awesome.
Also, Guitar Hero has helped me so much with manual dexterity in my left hand. I started playing more often in an attempt to make my pinky stronger for softball (I wasn't holding the glove open enough because of my wuss pinky). Now it is strong! And I can comfortably reach the fifth button! I can't pass a hard song yet, but I can reach the button, and that's saying something I think.
Fierfaerie
animatedantmo
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
@MasterSauce: I was so gonna say that XD
animatedantmo
StrangeLove
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
@Witzbold:
Lol. Dr. Jones! Dr. Jones!
Bad date.
StrangeLove
vibe
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
@NeoAkira:
Well, it's kind of like learning to drive from playing racing games, when for most people their experience driving makes them better at the game instead of vice versa.
I guess for a kid it would be a little different. But the principle is still the same.
vibe
RPharazonius: Eats Corn Flakes for Dinner!
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
Crecente, if I may say, you are one of the perfect models of a gaming parent. If the technology-fearing masses were to read the story of any parent, that would be your story.
Then again, "Gaming proven to be completely healthy" isn't a good headline.
Man, mass media sucks.
RPharazonius: Eats Corn Flakes for Dinner!
ThisCharmingMan
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
I'm really glad you're taking guitar lessons man! Your son's a lucky kid. While my parents bought me my first guitar at 12, (I haven't put it down since) my father will never have anything positive to say about me playing music. sigh.
ThisCharmingMan
Torusan
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
Hehe. Crecente said "woot."
Torusan
ceilingFANBOY: got shrinkage
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
@Witzbold: That was quick. I dont think we want fake posters here. That can get old fast.
@Crecente: Did the guitar teacher then shake his head at you? (sad thing is, I accidentally typed guitar hero the first time)
ceilingFANBOY: got shrinkage
NeoAkira
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
@vibe:
HOw is that backwards. He related the more complicated to the more basic to make it easier to understand.
NeoAkira
Roller
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
Hopefully you actually keep up with this.. I know I didn't.
Roller
vibe
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
So you had to relate playing the actual guitar to a guitar-emulating videogame for your son to understand it?
Sorry, but that's just backwards! haha.
vibe
Digitalguardian 4: Mass Effect, Alcohol, and a Giant Robot
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
Did you guys get that email I sent about the awful GTA parody in "Meet the Spartans"?
Digitalguardian 4: Mass Effect, Alcohol, and a Giant Robot
creid
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
I declare thumb war?
creid
Witzbold
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
@Indiana Jones: Goodbye Mr. Jones.
Witzbold
MasterSauce
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
...tell me that ya love me more."
MasterSauce
PGGB
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
@cresente: I am now the master of the D string. Woot!
just wait til your a master of the g-string like me!
ok, really sorry, but when you said that, i had to go for the lame one. it's not my fault, i was allowed to watch mad tv as a kid, honest!
PGGB
Kirbytheslayer: Thinks AAA is a great term
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
I don't think that would work for me.
I always do everything at a slightly faster rhythm than the actual rhythm.
Kirbytheslayer: Thinks AAA is a great term
Desertwolf
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
ahh videogame life lessons, ive been tricked by them... This reminds me of the time i learned about ethers in Final fantasy, then i got to organic chemistry in uni and i learned how horrible they truly are..
Desertwolf
Cable
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
Ah video games, they have their negative and positive effects. :)
Cable
Indiana Jones
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
indiana jones has no time for your useless guitar story. Guitar is for sissy's who can't handle a revolver.
Indiana Jones
MistahJGM
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
Good call referring to something he knew and understood to compare to what he was doing. I stand by the fact I learned to drive a five speed by playing race drivin' in the arcade.
MistahJGM
Fadakar
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
Good for Tristan. If I told my parents that games do help some times they'd probably call me an idiot.
Fadakar
AnTi PRO
Posted 3:59 PM 1/2/08
lol gotta love the real guitar.
AnTi PRO
StrangeLove
Posted 5:59 PM 1/2/08
@Fierfaerie:
I went through a similar strengthening process with my left pinky. The first day I had the game, I played for literally 8 hours straight, and I thought it was going to fall off. Now it's much stronger and adept.
StrangeLove
SwordandSorcery
Posted 5:59 PM 1/2/08
@Witzbold: the humor with which you wield the hammer amuses me endlessly
SwordandSorcery
Spoony Bard
Posted 5:59 PM 1/2/08
GTA taught me how to jack cars! Video games ARE good for something! :)
Spoony Bard
Diamondblade
Posted 11:03 PM 1/2/08
I learned everything I know from Metal Gear Solid.
Diamondblade
ToastedSoul
Posted 11:03 PM 1/2/08
@Master of the D string:
congrats on your first lesson!
now learn the D chord:
[www.justinguitar.com]
then the A and E chords:
[www.justinguitar.com]
finally, rock out to "Wild Thing":
A-A, D-D, E-E, D-D, A-A, (repeat) :-)
[www.youtube.com]
rock on!
ToastedSoul
jacksinn
Posted 2:59 AM 2/2/08
That rocks. My son is almost 2 and at 3 we're gonna let him start fiddle lessons (he tries to play all my instruments so I gave him an old guitar and uke). I'll keep the Guitar Hero explanation in mind for rhythmic value as an alternative to whacking his hands with a metronome :)
jacksinn
Dhurken
Posted 2:59 AM 2/2/08
Ah, the blessings of digital knowledge.
The D-string is the string. Keep practicing!
Dhurken
brandonf
Posted 9:59 AM 2/2/08
That's awesome Crecente. Learning to play guitar is on my list too. Right now I'm trying to learn another language for fun, musical instrument's up next.
brandonf
Kirbytheslayer: Thinks AAA is a great term
Posted 1:59 PM 2/2/08
@Witzbold: Aww..You should've told him the best line:
"Dr. Jones. Again we see there is nothing you can possess which I cannot take away."
It just works so well there.
Either way, it was still pretty funny.
Kirbytheslayer: Thinks AAA is a great term