Understanding Guitar

One Beginners’ Efforts

During my time with a guitar, I’ve occasionally (who am I kidding, more then occasionally) ran in to music or practice pieces that have frustrated the living heck out of me.

I really not kidding, there are times where I just about threw my guitar because I just couldn’t take it. (Luckily, I never actually did that; but I have felt like it before.)

While you are learning something new, especially something as complicated as learning to play a musical instrument, you can will become frustrated. It is just a matter of time.

I stumbled upon this great blog post about frustrations, specifically aimed at learning to play guitar. I liked the article and I think it is very worth while to read (regardless whether your instrument guitar).

http://blog.littlerockjams.com/2008/01/21/everyone-that-has-been-frustrated-during-guitar-practice-raise-your-hand.aspx

And the following YouTube video was mentioned in the article above. I thought that the video was funny…

I work around Downers Grove, IL and there is a very good deli [map for deli^] right in a shopping center off of Butterfield road. I sometimes go there for lunch. Next to the deli is the Downers Grove Best Buy, so I decided to stop in and walk around (the Deli Serves huge sandwiches, I love that place!)

Anyway, so I was wondering around the Best Buy and noticed that they had something blocked off… As I walked, slowly what came in to view was a bit surprising. I saw Guitars in the room hanging on the wall like a Guitar Center.

These were real guitars. You know, like you are learning to play. Not Guitar Hero guitars.

I asked the bunch of employees that were standing around talking (common at best buy) when that section opens, and they said tomorrow — well that was yesterday! So it opened today.

I guess they are only doing this in a select few stores. I intend to stop by on Monday when I’m back in the area.

But the question stands, Why is Best Buy selling guitars? I have a theory and I’m going to share it… Why? Because I pay each month to have this blog and I have an opinion so I’m going to share it.

With the craze of the Guitar Hero came the “Guitar Hero Effect” (I just made that up, I hope it sticks). Anyway, what I call the Guitar Hero Effect is where people (mostly kids? [yeah, right]) play the game for a while and then decide that they enjoy the game and then decide that playing a real guitar must be just like the game. They can become a rock guitar hero just like JoCo! And hence, they want to learn guitar. (So they go buy a guitar… etc, etc).

Well, this is Best Buy’s attempt to get in on those sales. I can’t blame them. If I was in their executive team I’d probably would start selling them too. (Wait, I am — I own stock; it sort of like being on the executive team, right? Ok, fine, no.)

Leave a note on what you think. Oh, and would you buy a guitar from Best Buy? I’m on the fence. I don’t think it’d be any different from Guitar Center or Sam Ash… The same mis-information (whether accident or not) would and will proabably be used.