Play Music, Inc. Releases Play Guitar with Ross Bolton CD-ROM
January 1, 1997Play Guitar with Ross Bolton is a Windows® 95 CD-ROM that teaches basic guitar. Beginning with the essential elements of the guitar itself, the lessons then turn to playing techniques, presented in four main sections: open-position chords, open-position melodies, movable chords and movable melodies. Each playing lesson is followed by an original tune that uses the techniques that were just learned. At the conclusion of each main section, the guitarist learns to play one of four famous songs: Your Song by Elton John, Rumble by Link Wray, Proud Mary by John Fogerty or Rebel Rouser by Duane Eddy.
For each chord and scale lesson, Bolton demonstrates the fingering of the chord or scale in a video, allowing the guitarist to see the shape their hands must form. Every video has looping buttons for continuous repeating of a section. Chord diagrams in each chord lesson display the fingerings and play the sounds of the chords. An Animated Fretboard (see below) demonstrates the scales. The original tunes that follow each playing lesson range from blues and rock to folk and ballads. Bolton perfoms each tune in a unique, two-hand demonstration video. These videos have two audio tracks: one containing guitar playing and the other containing guitar playing plus a voice-over lesson in which Bolton explains the finer points of the tune. The tunes are also demonstrated on the Animated Fretboard and shown in a chord chart. Music glossary animations that teach the fundamentals of notation, melody, harmony and rhythm are linked into the chord, scale and song lessons throughout the CD.
The lessons for Your Song, Rumble, Proud Mary and Rebel Rouser contain music videos of a band playing the songs. These videos also contain a second audio track of the rhythm section playing without guitar, allowing the guitarist to play along with the band. The recordings closely match the original arrangements, supplying enjoyment and inspiration to the aspiring guitarist. Like the original tunes, the song lessons are taught through the use of the two-hand, multi-track demonstration video, the Animated Fretboard and a chord chart.
Play Guitar utilizes the power of MIDI, with an Animated Fretboard that displays the fingering positions used to play the riffs. Animated dots, containing finger numbers, displayed on a fretboard graphic, are synchronized with the sounds of the PC's MIDI synthesizer playing guitar and accompaniment. A tablature window displayed below the fretboard scrolls in synch with the music, as well. The Animated Fretboard is rich with features for improving the guitarist's playing abilities. The tempo can be adjusted to slow down or speed up the track, looping controls can isolate several bars of music for repetition and a mixer panel can be used to mute or isolate the guitar or any other instrument.
Play Guitar with Ross Bolton is based on the concept that the best way to learn to play music is by playing. With a clear progression through the playing lessons and the original tunes, Play Guitar will quickly develop basic guitar playing skills in a fun and exciting new way!
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows 95, 66 MHz 486 (Pentium recommended), 3MB Hard Drive Space, 8 MB RAM, 256 color SVGA Graphics, Double Speed CD-ROM Drive, 8-BIT Soundcard with a MIDI Synthesizer, Mouse. For more information, visit their web site at www.playmusic.com. |
