Are you sick of being an expert on Guitar Hero but barely a novice on your actual guitar? If you ever want to play “Through the Fire and Flames” by DragonForce for real, you’re going to have to do a lot more than play the game over at your friends’ house every week.
While Guitar Hero lays a foundation of coordination that you need to play the guitar, you’ll need to devote a lot of time and dedication before you can play those licks on an actual, 6-string instrument and not a plastic controller.
It doesn’t take a genius to realize that there is a huge difference between the plastic guitar that the game provides you and the real instrument you bought years ago. In place of buttons, you’re going to have to hold down and strum strings, manipulating your fingers in (at first) incredibly awkward positions. In the beginning, even an F chord might be too much, as the strain to depress the fret in the right places can be hard on your joints. Your fingers will also probably hurt, as you haven’t developed the calluses that other practiced guitarists have.
After a while, these things will come to you. Making your practice a regular habit can make calluses develop and your fingers flex faster. If you can make it a daily habit, then you’ll accelerate your learning curve until you’ll have mastered the easiest song on Guitar Hero. You’ve got to start somewhere, after all, and once you have a song like “Heart Shaped Box” in your repertoire, you can have the confidence to tackle another.
Turning your practice time into a fun and interesting part of your day is a guaranteed way to convince yourself to stick with it – even when you think you’re not learning anything. Sometimes, learning new skills just takes plain time. Having access to the best equipment is certainly one way of ensuring you actually look forward to your practice.
Not sure what you need as a beginner guitarist? You might want to stay away from advance peddles and accessories until you have a better handle on your instrument, but certainly you’re going to want a basic kit to keep you going.
Search the internet to see what advanced guitarists suggest. Most popular music stores online will have everything that they suggest. A lot of beginners find a digital tuner to be incredibly helpful until they’ve built the auditory memory of how each string should sound, and of course you could never have too many strings. Add to that a guitar stand, strap, and plenty of picks, and you’re well on your way to having the equipment you need.
With enough dedicated practice, you can one day mimic the playing of Herman Li. Until then, exchange some of the time you spend playing Guitar Hero with time devoted to learning the guitar. Eventually, you’ll be able to surprise your friends with the real rendition of all their favorite Guitar Hero songs.
