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Post subject: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:05 pm
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Roadie
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Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:56 pm
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i've been practicing the guitar for about 2.5 years. i have two face to face teachers. plus learning from jamplay and truefire dvd's and a few other good sites. i have a good daily practice too.

anyways, i was wondering what folks thought of the fretlight system? i saw it advertised and wondered if it was a good tool to have in tool box?

thoughts?


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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 4:34 pm
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Rock Star
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Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
Use florescent paint to put numbers and letters on your fingerboard, it's way cheaper. To me, that system is along the lines of an artist tracing whatever it is (s)he is trying to create. Granted, I'm "Old School" and I feel to learn correctly, there should be no gimmicks or shortcuts.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:35 pm
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Rock Star
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Now I've seen it all. It's like a player piano. Guitar hero or another gimmick.


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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:14 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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If it had different functions like: MIDI input for virtual instrument control and recording straight to sheet music. People learn all different ways. If it works for you and helps you practice more or more efficiently I could see it as a learning tool for some, but I would want it to do more than just light up where to put my finger. I think if it did not offer many features a person would out grow this type of thing rather quickly. As far as visual aids, I would rather have the guitar communicate on a screen in front of me giving me feedback and instructions. This way I can use good posture instead of bending over (pet peeve). I can't stand to see people bent over like they're looking at their feet. For learning it all depends on the entire system. If it came with a very good instruction approach that was successful, that is where the value would be. All and all it's not rocket surgery just sit down and practice, get a teacher if you're not sure what to practice, and you'll get better. Nothing can replace the time and repetition it takes to become really good.

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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 2:54 am
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Roadie
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Rocksmith.

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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 1:27 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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I kinda think a person shouldn't be playing if he or she can't even envision the fingerboard. It's an easy pattern.

Tips for beginners....

Learn to use your pinky for chording/soloing.
Don't use number tab to figure out songs, ever. It's a completely wrong way of thinking in musicial terms. Ask a friend how to play whatever you need help with...or check online(youtube).
Learn time signatures. Difficult music will seem "playable" after you've learned these. Folks that are against playing "artsy number music" don't realize there's way more than 3/4-4/4 involved...even in pop music.
After learning all that...you just might be the kind of person that can sight read. Give it a try. I can't read nothing.


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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:14 pm
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Roadie
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Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2010 5:56 pm
Posts: 207
thanks for all the replies.

i'm getting the fretlight tool. its not for me i decided.

rocksmith looked interesting since one can use their own guitar. though i don't have an xbox or such. if i get an xbox i'll revist the Rocksmith tool.

in the meantime off to the woodshed


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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:56 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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[quote="Deluxe Matt"]If it had different functions like: MIDI input for virtual instrument control and recording straight to sheet music.


Holy Jeez that's a good idea.


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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 7:36 pm
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Hobbyist
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You would be better off with Rocksmith. You can surf youtube for videos of songs on rocksmith like this one http://youtu.be/jCytRPvwz7w . Ive treid this one and the solo is really hard ( i cant play it), you do have to have some skills to tackle the solos on some of these songs. They have everthing from B.B.King to this http://youtu.be/6JrvsKxQVS8. Its a fun game and teaching tool but no substitute for playing with others


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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:05 pm
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Rock Icon
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There's another cool solution: SIMS LEDs.

Mark King had the SIMS fitted on many of his basses.

Image

Fender made a shortlived Mark King signature Jazz Bass based on Mark's customized American Deluxes.


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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:27 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Mark King has had at least 4 companies use his name for a model. He sure knows how to pick them.

His slapping skills are unmatched.


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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:44 pm
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I guess the SIMS LEDs are used by other famous artists apart MK himself.

I saw Mark playing one of his headless Jaydees in the house band (which included Midge Ure, Phil Collins, Henry Spinetti and Jools Holland among others) backing Eric Clapton and Chris Stainton during the Prince's trust charity bash in 2010.



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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 2:53 am
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Roadie
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Rocksmith.

I was completely ya-boo about it before I tried it for myself. I'd previously played guitar hero and had lumped Rocksmith in the same basket. Mistake.

Having seen a giant Guitar Hero tent at Sonisphere a couple of years ago, overflowing with hairy rockers high fiving each other for having torn through a five button version of Through the Fire and the Flames, I'd come to the conclusion that Guitar Hero was actually one of the worst things that could happen to guitar playing - people were spending hours and hours learning to press five little plastic buttons (and looking kinda dumb in the process) when, had they invested the same amount of time in practising with a real guitar, they'd have been shredding for real.

Rocksmith, on the other hand, helps you get to know your guitar. Don't get me wrong, it's not perfect, but although I don't play it a great deal, it has definitely improved my timing, my accuracy, my knowledge of the fretboard (in terms of scales, relative positions and chords up and down the neck) and it has massively improved my speed and my feel.

How has it done this? Well, for the most part in Rocksmith you are trying to hit a moving target - as you get better at playing something, the game recognises this and ups the difficulty. It also throws a lot of variety at you, so you play stuff you wouldn't necessarily even listen to, let alone play. While doing all of this, you mostly have to look at the screen and you have to listen. The layout takes a little getting used to at first and, because it starts simple, some of the songs will seem really odd, even if you already know how to play them. For the price of a couple of lessons though, IMHO it is the best gizmo out there.

For anyone who fancies giving Rocksmith a try, my one top tip, if you use tab, would be to go into the options and flip the layout so it follows the standard tab layout - it will drive you nuts otherwise!

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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 6:28 am
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Roadie
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what ever it takes for you to learn is fine as long as you dont become dependant on those lights.. they didnt have that stuff in my day..


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Post subject: Re: fretlights system as another tool, your thoughts?
Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 10:32 am
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Rock Star
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I agree, whatever works for you. It's no big deal. It can't teach you feel, technique or timing, but at least you'll learn different positions.

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