The Solo Buttons...

[PsycoCheerio]

As many i went to play today at the tour, nothing new i can really tell you that hasn't been said...

although i know that at one point there was a dispute (again) about the mic...in the USB hub, the controller is only used for the menus and the mic adjustment.

Anyway, the point of this is that no one really has said much on the solo buttons, I used them a fair amount of times (I was there for about 6 hours and had maybe a 5 minute break at most the entire time, so about 5 hours and 55 minutes of play time)

First few times i tried to use the buttons i failed about 70% into the solo, the switch was a bit difficult at first took maybe until my 4th song to get used to it. It really wasn't difficult to tell the frets apart after awhile, although i still got lost even during my last song, but only for a note or two...Main thing was sometimes I'd try to strum out of habit which would make me lose my combo, and any part that had a large repetitive spot of notes i had to use two fingers to alternate to keep up...

I mean occasionally I would mess up and fail, but for the most part after 3 hours or so it wasn't terribly difficult...

Anywho, solo buttons feel awesome to use, kind of a jumble of words there...i can clear anything up if you ask me...

Anyone who is really worried about the difficulty, don't be...the solos are still really hard on some songs, and it felt that the game was a little less forgiving on when you can hit your HO/PO's...

I played every song, except ("Wanted Dead or Alive") at least 4 times...all the instruments...

I still LOVE the Strat...wasn't that hard to get used to again (played a bit at PAX)

Drums I say are insanely fun (duh) Medium was the hardest i could complete a song without failing on...other than "Main Offender" and "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" which I could play on hard...
On a side note - one drum set they had set up was the same one used at PAX - they are damn hard to break is pretty much what I'm trying to say here...

Singing...fun, if you are doubtful now...try it, it's awesome...
(singing and drums were fought over the most i gotta say...)

Umm....not sure what else...Mr. HMXSean was there, doing what he does...cool guy, glad i got to hang out with him again...

I probably forgot stuff...ask questions if you got 'em...

EDIT: Remembered something...

The "Star Power" is called Overdrive, and the white notes give you energy which enables you to use your Overdrive...

[Apples]

Anyone who is really worried about the difficulty, don't be...the solos are still really hard on some songs, and it felt that the game was a little less forgiving on when you can hit your HO/PO's...



YAY.



That is all.

[Brock_Landers]

I probably forgot stuff...ask questions if you got 'em...

Did you see to Fabio? That's the important thing!

[PsycoCheerio]

I saw Sean...West Coast has no Fabio...we have the upgraded Fabio

[Xzyliac]

Best all around song in the setlist and hardest guitar song on the setlist. My two wonders. Answer!

[PsycoCheerio]

Actually i enjoyed Detroit Rock City the Most, and the hardest guitar song was probably Wanted Dead or Alive...but the solo in Black Hole Sun was teh hardest solo...

[Feigned]

I didn't really get used to the solo buttons, I really only used them on the end solo's where you're basically just going crazy. I can't wait to see what kind of crazy stuff people can pull off switching back-and-forth between the different buttons.

We had Fabio up in Chicago, he was pretty cool. I hung out with John most of the day though.

[Leo_10th]

how do you handle the chords in the solo sections? do you just have to tap with the solo buttons on the 2-finger chords or do you gotta strum?

[R0ck3r]

I didn't really get used to the solo buttons, I really only used them on the end solo's where you're basically just going crazy. I can't wait to see what kind of crazy stuff people can pull off switching back-and-forth between the different buttons.

We had Fabio up in Chicago, he was pretty cool. I hung out with John most of the day though.

I can almost guarantee that everybody will get used to the solo buttons. For example (forgive me), when playing a real guitar sometimes you have to switch from completely different ends of the guitar. In a little time, it will become a lot easier than you expect.

[Nazriel]

Little thing about Overdrive:

If you successfully go through more white bars (Energy), your Overdrive is filled up more and continues, you don't completely miss out on the Energy just because you are in Overdrive. It is cool to keep a continuous Overdrive streak going if the Energy notes are frequent enough. :)

[Bakkster]

Little thing about Overdrive:

If you successfully go through more white bars (Energy), your Overdrive is filled up more and continues, you don't completely miss out on the Energy just because you are in Overdrive. It is cool to keep a continuous Overdrive streak going if the Energy notes are frequent enough. :)

Hooray, no more missing star power!

[Nazriel]

Hooray, no more missing star power!

Exactly. Don't have to feel like being nit-picky about using it because you know there's a series of notes coming up. Just rock on and keep going. :)

[sporkBrigade]

Hey, awesome that you tried the Solo buttons! It's disappointing how few people give it a whirl. So are you able to use the solo buttons for the whole song? Like, not the HO/PO part, but just strumming and using the solo buttons, can you play the song from beginning to end without switching to the normal set of buttons?

If so, I don't see the point of using the normal buttons at all. Might as well just use the solo buttons 100 percent of the time.

[PsycoCheerio]

I tried using them the whole time on a song, but when the solo came aroudn it didn't feel nearly as awesome...you CAN but it just looks and feels cooler when you switch between teh higher and lower fret buttons...

[Magnet]

Did you try any tapping with the solo buttons? I imagine it'd feel almost like playing the piano with the hand that you normally strum with.

[PsycoCheerio]

Yea, I did a few times, it felt a little weird the first time but if you can get to knowing where the fret buttons actually are i think it works better, although i did have a tougher time transitioning back after...

[tf5_bassist]

Very freakin' cool! I can't wait to give the solo buttons a whirl, as I didn't on the tour (I didn't really get much play time, and most of it was drums). Good to hear that it starts becoming a fairly natural transition. :D

[Feigned]

Yes, you can use the solo buttons during the whole song, but I don't really recommend it. When you're not playing a solo, you still have to strum. Also, the buttons are really thin and cramped, so you wouldn't want to spend a ton of time playing them (at least I wouldn't). Don't get me wrong, they're awesome for solos once you get the hang of it.

[Nazriel]

Looks like I was beat to get back to this, heh. Yes, you could use the solo buttons with strumming for the entire song, but for stylistic purposes, I would recommend going back and forth between them. :D

Discovering how to distinguish the solo section was sort of an epiphany I had while playing guitar with some others. The board was solid blue instead of the usual black, and I noticed it didn't have the swirly psychedelic pattern that sometimes pops up; and on a whim I tried one of the solo buttons without strumming. I was like a child with a new toy, overjoyed and trying to get both of my hands there and used to it while continuing the song.

Definitely will take getting used to, given the smaller buttons involved and training yourself to use them/use both of your hands to hit the five frets, but I think that potentially it could make fast/complicated solos easier as you'll be able to have all five frets ready to push without needing to pull out super-fast finger magic with one hand. :)

[Insignificant_Other]

So am I hearing that the "solo" buttons actually toggle back and forth automatically at various points in the song between "normal" buttons you strum with and "solo" buttons that you don't strum with?

If that is the case then I'm happy. I was thinking that stylistically on some songs it would be cool to play and strum variously low down and high up the neck depending on the notes, but if the solo buttons were always "hot" then that wouldn't really work well.

[TheRocker]

Glad to hear the Guitar isn't as easy as i thought :D and i can't wait to use the Solo buttons oh yeah and the effects :D

[PsycoCheerio]

Oh the effects, I think i got to play with all of them...I know i played with the echo effect alot...sounds pretty awesome...

On a totally side thought...Bang Camaro Mode is AWESOME! Especially when you are doing vocals...

[Bakkster]

On a totally side thought...Bang Camaro Mode is AWESOME! Especially when you are doing vocals...

If that's not the official name, I'm commandeering it! :cool:

[ZkDotNet]

I was there too. I saw Sean and, who I believed to be, Psycho... didn't really get a chance to say hi to either though. I'll see Sean again when he's in Portland this Saturday.

I don't have much to add to everything that's been mentioned. I failed my first expert song on guitar (Detroit Rock City) almost instantly cuz I couldn't hit the trills. I found hitting HOPOs to be pretty difficult for more than a three note run. I didn't think it was always painfully obvious which notes were HOPOs, and which weren't. I did much better on the other songs I tried, although I did lose my place on the frets a few times. It will take time to get used to it, but I no longer feel any tinge of regret for preordering it.

The drums are great. But, I gotta say pressing the kick pedal definitely worked some muscles that aren't usually worked. I also felt there was more resistance than a real kick pedal (which I got a chance to use at the Experience Music Project the next day), but overall I drove my wife crazy by saying how much I want to play again (even though it was only a week away).

[PurpleHaze]

I didn't think it was always painfully obvious which notes were HOPOs, and which weren't.
This comment worries me a little, as I've been thinking the same thing when watching the videos. I've even tried playing along to a few of the clearer videos (come on, you know you've all been doing it too ;) ), and it definitely did seem tricky to pick out which notes were HOPOs. Maybe it's just a question of getting used to it, maybe it's much clearer on a large TV - but my impression from the videos is that size difference alone might not be enough. Perhaps some coloration as well, brighter?, would help.

[Feigned]

Yes, they toggle back and forth. You know when it's a solo because the "fretboard" changes colors. At this point you can use the solo buttons without strumming. Any other time you can use them, but you'll have to strum.

[PsycoCheerio]

This comment worries me a little, as I've been thinking the same thing when watching the videos. I've even tried playing along to a few of the clearer videos (come on, you know you've all been doing it too ;) ), and it definitely did seem tricky to pick out which notes were HOPOs. Maybe it's just a question of getting used to it, maybe it's much clearer on a large TV - but my impression from the videos is that size difference alone might not be enough. Perhaps some coloration as well, brighter?, would help.

It took me a few songs to get used to it, but after that is came pretty natural, just like when i learned them in GH...it's a practice thing...

Also it says SOLO "x"%...