New Tech: Learning The Piano With Rock Band 3

While Viacom Inc.'s

shares don't seem to be influenced by the release of Rock Band 3 – which comes from its subsidiary, MTV Games, and Electronic Arts

– one thing remains clear: this game might have what it takes to revolutionize music electronics. In fact, calling Rock Band 3 a game almost detracts from its core innovation. This is the first music game available that actually succeeds in its effort to teach consumers how to play a real instrument. Though you can play it with a standard guitar controller (which is fun, but isn't much more than a toy), the real thrills come from the game's new keyboard controller. Sold separately for $80 (or in a package with the game for $130), the keyboard covers two full scales. Most importantly, it doesn't just look like a real keyboard – it actually feels like one. After spending a couple of weeks going through the tutorials and attempting to play several of the game's dozens of built-in music tracks, it became clear that Rock Band 3 could very well live up to its lofty expectation. It won't turn anyone into a star pianist overnight, but if you want a fun (and user-friendly) way to learn about chords, rhythm, finger placement, and other, more complex techniques, Rock Band 3 is well worth the price. The only downside is that musical novices (that is, consumers who have never, ever attempted to play an instrument before) may feel lost at times as the game fails to clearly explain every detail. You could say that's part of the challenge – to figure out what you're supposed to do next. But since the tutorial element is supposed to act as a virtual teacher, not as another game mode, the lack of info might frustrate some players. Having said that, Rock Band 3 is still an effective learning tool; next year, the game will be expanded with the release of a real Squier Stratocaster. Scheduled for March 2011, the $280, Rock Band 3-compatible guitar can be used to play every song in the game. It will have its own dedicated tutorial mode, and can be plugged into an amp for real-world jams that don't require a TV or an Xbox 360.