Video: Guitar Wizard -- it's like Guitar Hero, but useful

Ever wish you could actually learn real guitar skills when spending hours upon hours on Guitar Hero? Yeah? Click on through to check out Guitar Wizard, and if you're curious as to what it's all about, check out our previous post on it here.

[mcheddadi @ Jan 7th 2008 12:42AM]

I think she just went from being the hot new tech reporter, to being the obnoxious new "Hi! I'm veronica belmont" girl from CES

[AJ @ Jan 7th 2008 12:53AM]

Umm..NO..she is still hot..lol

[Veronica @ Jan 7th 2008 12:58AM]

Man, you'd better not go watch my back catalog then... I've started almost every video I've ever done for the past three years that way!

[Jens Stalder @ Jan 7th 2008 1:09AM]

Ahhh she actualy responded... ...How scarry... ...wa are being watched.

[Jason Staten @ Jan 7th 2008 1:07AM]

umm... still hott

[James M @ Jan 7th 2008 1:52AM]

Yes because after all, saying hi and who you are is very obnoxious lol Who would do something like that??

I think this is a cool concept, since there are a lot of gamers into Guitar Hero. This can certainly be useful for those who want to invest there time into actually learning how to play, while having that similar feeling to playing a game.

[Joe @ Jan 7th 2008 3:30AM]

Doesn't Veronica Belmont work for Cnet?

[Nick @ Jan 7th 2008 12:46AM]

I see this product in my future. I may have been terrible at Guitar Hero, but hopefully I can learn something useful with this.

[Zadillo @ Jan 7th 2008 12:47AM]

Any word on what exactly the digital interface is? Is it like those Roland MIDI pickups, or something else entirely? I do think it's a nice touch that they say this can be added to any guitar, rather than requiring some specific guitar.

[Firebird @ Jan 7th 2008 1:07AM]

From the previous post it uses a midi interface, so yeah its something similar to the Roland system. What is unclear is if the unit goes straight to real midi, or functions the way the Roland system does using a more complex and proprietary interface that can be converted to 'normal' midi later on with an expensive box or two.

[Meltz @ Jan 7th 2008 12:54AM]

I'm not dissing this game - or guitar hero for that matter (I'm an addict myself)...but i just miss the good 'ol days of reading music.

[Zadillo @ Jan 7th 2008 1:16AM]

I don't think there's anything keeping someone from eventually learning to read music down the line - this seems like a good way though to at least get people playing on a real guitar, and I think the big benefit would be that the skills you would develop would actually have practical usefulness. When it does come time for someone to learn to read music, they at least will have a good foundation in the guitar fretboard, etc. I can think of plenty of guitarists who started out just by having someone else show them some chords and notes, etc. without any framework in notation, etc...... some of them of course never learned to read music, but those that do at least have something to build off of.

[matthewgerber @ Jan 7th 2008 2:32AM]

The game progresses and teaches you to read sheet music later.

My 8 year old daughter received the Piano Wizard kit for Christmas and loves it. We're looking forward to the Guitar Wizard kit for my 6 year-old son. I'm thrilled to hear that they will be doing the software and MIDI pickup separately so we can get him a student-sized guitar (the company web site indicated that a Washburn guitar would be included in the kit, but made no mention of size).

[Joe @ Jan 7th 2008 3:44AM]

I agree (and I too am a GH addict), so many people are looking for quick ways to get into guitar just because it's such an attractive, romanticized and wildly popular instrument. You don't see a "Clarinet Wizard" coming out. Ultimately, guitar is just like any other instrument: if you just know some licks, solos and chords, then you can't really call your self a "guitarist" and the best way to actually learn the instrument is to learn to read music and develop the skills gradually. Sure, stuff like this or just playing around on a normal guitar will get you ahead quickly, but it's awfully hard to progress from there and be a legitimate musician.

I have a friend who "plays guitar" and he tried out for band at college. He impressed them with some technical skill on some solos, but he couldn't read music all that well, couldn't play some simple scales when asked, and he didn't actually know anything about music theory or proper form and techniques. He got emphatically turned down. There's only so far you can get by pretending.

[brewin @ Jan 7th 2008 1:07AM]

So when will it be out? I'd definitely buy this.

[Johnny @ Jan 7th 2008 1:11AM]

Wow. That's neat. I wouldn't mind dropping some cash for that product.

[Kozzi @ Jan 7th 2008 1:16AM]

Anyone here looking for a new kidney ? So much stuffs I want to buy :(

[Jeremy @ Jan 7th 2008 1:16AM]

This seems like a good step towards turning Guitar Hero into something that's not completely useless. I think this might be a little complicated in terms of the software interface (a little cluttered if nothing else), but it definately has potential.

[abadtooth @ Jan 7th 2008 1:32AM]

I actually just got a stratocaster... heck with this :P

[brandon @ Jan 7th 2008 2:03AM]

i think that it is great that they gave a hot leftover castlevania character a chance to report at ces.

[wompa164 @ Jan 7th 2008 10:26AM]

Stop torturing yourself man! You'll never afford it!

[Skurtix @ Jan 7th 2008 3:01PM]

...Now..eh..

[Rboyett @ Jan 7th 2008 12:05PM]

I'm totally sold on this. I want it and I want it now...

However I'm not putting any heart, start, triangle, or whatever stickers on my Fender Jaguar.

I guess I'll have to go dig out my old squire and restring it...

[Eric @ Jan 7th 2008 12:28PM]

The guy should have played it and let us see and hear it work, not just talked about it.

[Rickasaurus @ Jan 7th 2008 3:41PM]

Wow, only $300 with a midi guitar?! I would buy this today were it available.

[Dave Kurtiak @ Jan 7th 2008 2:47PM]

If anyone is looking to really learn Guitar, eMedia Guitar Method is a great software that will teach you how to play, read music, read tablature, etc.
Check it out at www.emediamusic.com.

[Josh @ Jan 8th 2008 2:11PM]

I don't find her obnoxious at all :P every video that starts with "hi, I'm Veronica Belmont" always seems to keep my attention...

This is a pretty interesting thing. I was wondering why nobody released a REAL guitar learning tool sooner.

hot.