Rock stars show you how to play

Posted by Chris Smith on Thu 6 Mar 2008

For all you fumbling fretters out there, fab new site solves your shredding sorrows by learning direct from the stars

Musicians out there will hear us when we say that searching for accurate tablature to learn your favourite song is less fun than flossing your teeth with your e-string.

Showmehowtoplay.com is a new website that allows you to learn a song, as played by the artists themselves - and you can even play along with them.

We've just downloaded the sample video tutorial for Smells Like Teen Spirit, to give the site a bit of test-run. First impressions? It owns more ass than a millionaire donkey farmer.

The nifty Multiplayer showcases a four-way-split-screen with videos of the guitar part(s), bass and drum parts. There's then a shot-within-shot of the instrument being played from a different angle. If you're a drummer you can see what the the kick pedal is doing, as well as an aerial view of the kit. For a bassist you can see what the fretting hand and picking hand is doing in close up vids.

There's the option of a full screen of each instrument, or you can change volume, isolate and control any combinations of vocals and instruments you'd like. Want to just learn the guitar part with just the drums in the background? Easy.

If you're struggling with that Slash-style killer solo, you can slow it down and play at your own pace. Want to, for example, make Bono history? (wouldn't we all?), well you can turn off his vocals and sing shower-style to a perfect backing track as played by the band. There's infinite possibilities within the smart and easy to use interface.

The fledgling site has just signed a deal with Universal Music meaning we can expect specially-shot videos from the likes of Gwen Stefani, Fall Out Boy, Queens of the Stone Age and Jimmy Eat World.

The bands will all have their own profile page with interviews and live sessions, where you can learn songs, download scores and music and interact with the band, kinda combining iTunes with MySpace in that respect.

The site also offers music lessons for beginners and maestros alike. We could go on forever about this, but go and check it out for yourself at the link below.