My brother has an acoustic guitar, but it just sits there in its case. He won it in a raffle, which I think is wonderful, because it gives him an opportunity to learn music that he wouldn't have normally gotten, since he usually only spends his money on video games. But he gave up on it, and not because he didn't enjoy it. It's because he had trouble learning and got frustrated, and I think that's such a shame.

As I mentioned, he loves video games. And recently I lended him my PS2 so that he could get Guitar Hero. Now he's considering picking up his guitar again, so I'd really like to take this opportunity to help and encourage him. But first I have to try and motivate him, which is easier said than done. He's the type of guy who doesn't want to do anything unless it's his idea.

I've tried everything I can think of. I play the ocarina, and have told him that it would be fun if we could play together. I've even tried the subtle approach, telling him that we don't do enough things together, and it would be nice if we could share a hobby that doesn't involve a tv screen. But I just can't seem to motivate him. He's lazy, and he even admits this himself. And he even agrees with me, that he could use another hobby, but it's hard for a lazy person to get started on anything that involves work.

You may say I should just leave him alone, that I shouldn't push this if he isn't interested. But all he does in his free time is play video games. I think it'd be really good for him to pick up a constructive hobby, and this would be a good opportunity. Any ideas on how I can work with this frustrating guy?

Tell him he can either learn to play it or you can beat him with it. Either way, it'll see some use. I'll be the first to say I play way too many video games but even I break off once in a while and play my piano for a while. ...sure, they're all songs from video games, but that's not the point! XD

Ask if you can play it. As long as he says yes then it can only get better.

You know, I have almost the same problem with my brother! My brother used to be a game addict(freak) The only thing I could ever do was to sit down and teach him the guitar. He has a really creative mind, and so hes really good at drawing, and even composing music... And he can hardly read it. He is actually quite good at bolth of them. I keep telling him to ask Mom for guitar lessons, to improve his guitar and composition skills. But i guess he doesnt have much time for that with playing soccer and all. I soppose the best thing you can do is to ask your parents to stop buying him video games. And no new game systems either. Other wise maybe he will grow out of it, or maybe he is just not cut out for music. maybe he should try to get outside more, and play a sport. I suppose no one else in the family plays a instrument?

maybe your mother or father could take away his video games, and tell him he can play after he's done practicing the guitar?

Here is the problem: you start out no good, and the guitar is only so entertaining if you can't play anything on it. So, give him some basic things to learn. And normal won't do it. I don't want to see your reply saying you got him the tabs for Smoke on the Water, or Iron Man. There are a bunch of beginner songs that nobody thinks of that are really cool, such as I Love Rock n' Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, or Back in Black by AC/DC.

If you want your brother to play along with you and your ocarina (beauty of an instrument by the way, could you please link me to a site that sells good ones?) then chords aren't going to cut it. He's going to need to learn to finger pick. Some good songs to practice finger picking would be Tears in Heaven, Eric Clapton, or Simple Man, Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Nate: hush yo mouf. Video game music is the best :D

Trade the guitar in for a trumpet, then I can give him some lessons =D

Trade the guitar in for a trumpet, then I can give him some lessons =D

Blegh, trumpet...they tickle your lips ^_^

Good ideas, but here's the problem. He's old enough to buy his own games. Probably should've pointed that out. Although that makes him old enough for me to beat him with it at least.

Finger picking does seem a good place to start. Now to find some simple songs that he can work with.

That reminds me, I noticed something a while ago. Just for fun, and also to see if I could play the melody (I can't, boo), I had turned a midi of Magus' theme from Chrono Trigger into sheet music. I LOVE that song. So I showed it to my brother, and he really liked it. In fact he loves a lot of the same game music that I do, mostly the epic rpgs like Final Fantasy, the Chrono series, Valkyrie Profile, etc. Stuff that we grew up with. If I could find a simple song of that genre for him to work with, then that might actually get him off the couch for a minute.


beauty of an instrument by the way, could you please link me to a site that sells good ones?

It sure is. And so easy to play and maintain. The only problem is that it lacks range, so I hope to someday own a triple ocarina. Can't find anyone who even makes a double though. Here's a couple sites if you're interested.

http://hindocarina.com/ These are just gorgeous, and I hear they have nice sound quality. I don't have one though, because.. well, I have a budget.

http://www.mountainocarinas.com This one's my favorite, because they make it a priority to make it easy for beginners to learn, even children. And they're much more affordable.

Good ideas, but here's the problem. He's old enough to buy his own games. Probably should've pointed that out. Although that makes him old enough for me to beat him with it at least.
take away the system then.

Ahh, they don't tickle your lips... your lips just get kind of puffy after playing it for long periods of the time. =)

In my opinion, the trumpet has one of the best tone qualities of all musical instruments (amongst some others). Plus, I think it's relatively easy to learn how to play a trumpet, as opposed to say... the violin.

Tone quality? Let's talk about the recorder or ocarina lol.

i think if he is not interested,
you should not force him
the Game Addiction should wear off eventually
I used to play like a FREAK!
Pokemon , Mario , TETRIS?! .... you name it, ive played it
but i am not as interested in games as i was before
its good that you worry for your brother
thats really nice of you
BUT if he shows interest,
then you should definately encourage him!
but not force him

oh and, Whats an ocarina?

Haha, then you're not a freak yet, because you haven't touched the zelda games =)

Haha, then you're not a freak yet, because you haven't touched the zelda games =)

oh dear, dont get me into those games ever again....
so many hours in front of the playstation...
the puffy eyes...
*shudders*

so many hours in front of the playstation...
/facepalm.
Do you mean your nintendo?
~Sigh.

/facepalm.
Do you mean your nintendo?
~Sigh.

I played both
but not so much anymore

Zelda is a classic!

:topic:

Anyway...

I never said I wanted to force him. Which is why I haven't tried to take anything away from him. That'd just make him resist. Please read my first post again.

What I need is a way to draw his attention away from the video games, and to something more constructive. And since I know he likes his guitar, that's what I've chosen.

Your just going to end up irritating him if you do anything. If he's happy with his games then leave him to it.

The only thing that managed to draw my attention from videogames is anime... and vice versa. Pretty tough competition =)

How about you pick up your brothers guitar, learn a song he'll definitely love (maybe from his favorite videoGame), and sit in a room close to him playing it so that you get his attention. That way it's his decision to come to you and learn that song, and he prolly won't stop till he fully learned it.

Might work, just a theory.

What about sell it. ;)

hmmm... tell him that no matter how good he might be with the ladies ( if at all) it wouldn't hurt to learn guitar. try to presuade his other intrests... unless he's like 10 and doesn't like coodies...

hmmm... how about showing him some zelda themes that can be accompanied by guitar while you work the ocarina...?

hmmm... tell him that no matter how good he might be with the ladies ( if at all) it wouldn't hurt to learn guitar. try to presuade his other intrests... unless he's like 10 and doesn't like coodies...

hmmm... how about showing him some zelda themes that can be accompanied by guitar while you work the ocarina...?

hmmm... tell him that no matter how good he might be with the ladies ( if at all) it wouldn't hurt to learn guitar. try to presuade his other intrests... unless he's like 10 and doesn't like coodies...

hmmm... how about showing him some zelda themes that can be accompanied by guitar while you work the ocarina...?


Yeah, that might work. I'm a girl, but for some reason I could imagine how the guitar is a 'chick magnet' as my brother calls it. XD

But if your brother really does play lots of games, try getting him a video game music book or something. Once he tries to learn game music, and if he ends up liking the guitar, i'm sure he'll try to learn harder stuff.

Yeah, that might work. I'm a girl, but for some reason I could imagine how the guitar is a 'chick magnet' as my brother calls it. XD


ahahaha! 'chick magnet'... ahahahahha! XD

OHOHOH! i know! lets HYPNOTIZE HIM and make him like the guitar!!!
or we could use plan B!!! plan B always work!! ... somehow! ok, lock him a room with nothing but a guitar! then he'll be so bored that he has to play the guitar!!! YAY!!! ahahaha! ok.... i think im going out of my mind! hehehe... evil plans! :shifty:

Gotank, A Fellow Trumpet !. Argh... Everyone Criticizes The Trumpets Amazing Power...

Tsk, Tsk.