IT PRO: Blogs: Dave F: How to be a Guitar Hero

Home

Dave F's Blog

How to be a Guitar Hero

Posted in Open Source Software, the web, music, e-commerce on May 29, 2009 at 3:04 pm

I think I’ve blogged in the past about how easy learning guitar is these days. What with cheap guitars actually being playable, tuners meaning you can get the thing in tune and the usual explosion of multimedia resources with the web being in the lead (especially for free stuff) things are a lot better than in my young day.

However, a real boon is to see a (musical) score and have it played, the notes lighting up as they are sound - how many times have I looked at a sheet of music, listened to the records (sorry CD) and not been able to join the two together?

Power tab is a freebie that does just that. I tried it a while back but due to the vagaries of my PC, the sound was always a beat behind - having the note that isn’t being played highlighted just doesn’t help!

I have therefore coughed up some cash (£50!!!) to buy Guitar Pro 5 which not only does the highlight as it plays it also shows the stave (lines and dots) as well as the tab, and plays multiple instruments (including drums) which you can solo / mute like a multitrack desk. You can also use it to score your own work and all sorts of stuff (I haven’t read the manual - obviously). I’m not on commission but as you don’t know that you don’t have to take my word for it - you can download a trial version http://www.guitar-pro.com/en/index.php and check the Amazon reviews http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arobas-Music-Guitar-Pro-PC/dp/3938259108

Most of the music seems to be “own work” ie people have figured it out themselves and uploaded what they think is happening to the net so you take your chances trusting any given arrangement. Also I’m just using a standard midi and it doesn’t sound great, in fact “pants” might be a better word. If I’m being picky the speed option could be a nice slider not just a half, quater etc speed - but as I said I haven’t RTFM’ed yet.

So between you tube, tab sites and my new toy I might learn a few tunes yet!

And £50? Better spent than on some Guitar Hero game.