It’s not always as easy as it should be to convince someone to listen to the great guitarists from decades past. While it’s easy to appreciate the talent of these artists, most of them played in a style that simply doesn’t resonate with a lot of modern musicians – particularly younger ones. So while inspiration from the past is extremely important, and something we’ve even posted about, it can be a little bit hard to come by.
Ideally, we can overcome these hurdles with talented musicians. There should be a desire to listen to the Jimi Hendrix’s and Eric Clapton’s of the world, and to experiment with different genres. If you’re an instructor or even a guitarist who needs a nudge, however, there are a few interesting ways to incentivize this kind of exposure without relying solely on an old record.
Mobile Gaming
It wasn’t too long ago that some of the hottest video games out there were Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and their various sequels and spinoffs. The games have since gone out of fashion a little bit, but similar gaming content has actually become more readily available thanks to mobile devices. The most noteworthy example in this new field is a social guitar-playing app from Smule that challenges you to play a virtual guitar on your touchscreen. It’s basically the same concept as Guitar Hero, played out via mobile device. And while it doesn’t mirror actual guitar as closely, it does expose players to a wide variety of music, from current pop hits to classic songs by legendary artists. There are other apps like it as well, and collectively they make for a great way to expose modern musicians to expert guitarists, and possibly find inspiration in the process.
Online Gaming
The mobile arena isn’t alone in promoting great musical artists. Some of the most high profile internet games have done so as well, though in vastly different ways. Specifically, NetEntertainment, a major brand in the slot and casino gaming business, has worked over the past 18 months or so to release and promote the NetEnt Rocks series. This is a collection of multiple big-name rock band branded games, including titles based on Guns N’ Roses and Jimi Hendrix. Now, this sort of gaming isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But if you happen to be into them, they’re an entirely new way to hear some of the best guitar riffs of all time. Experiencing Hendrix, Slash, or other classic guitarists through an online game contextualizes them anew and in some cases can make for a better way for them to reach modern audiences.
YouTube
Here I’m straying a little bit from the point, in that this isn’t necessarily about classic artists. Furthermore, it’s a little bit of an obvious point to make that you can find music on YouTube. What I’m talking about specifically however is the sheer number of covers and interpretations you can find on this medium. Amateur artists are doing incredible things, as I was reminded recently when a video circulated of a man playing a three-necked guitar and totally reproducing Gorillaz’s “Feel Good Inc.” It’s just one example, but it serves as a good reminder that inspiration is out there if only an aspiring guitarist will seek it. You don’t always need classic or even professional guitarists to be motivated. Sometimes it’s just an amateur with a cool idea.
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