Is the guitar dead? Despite video games and technology, the guitar will always endure

As someone who has been playing the guitar for years and has a deep appreciation for all types of music, I can confidently say that the guitar will always be cool. Sure, there are plenty of other entertainment mediums out there that have gained popularity over the years, but there's just something about the guitar that makes it stand the test of time.

F*** TikTok. Why the guitar will always rock

Nowadays, there is no end to alternative entertainment. Video games, TikTok, Netflix, Twitch, YouTube... and even in music the guitar has almost vanished from top chart hits. Plus, who has the time anymore to put thousands of hours into something and persevere beyond the difficulty of being a beginner?

When I needed some extra money a few years back, I worked as a teacher in a secondary school. What I saw was incredibly optimistic. Kids still enjoyed guitar. While guitar sales may have gone down, there is still a considerable core group that play it and play it well. I started a 'Guitar Club' and it became one of the most participated activities at school. Why would these kids stay after school hours to play guitar (when they could be playing football or watching TikTok? Because, like football, guitar is still cool.

For starters, the guitar is incredibly versatile. It can be played on its own as a solo instrument, or it can be used as part of a band to create a full, rich sound. It can be used to play just about any genre of music, from rock and roll to folk to jazz to pop. It can be used (as taught in my course) to be a guitar and a drum in one!) The possibilities are endless, and that's part of what makes the guitar so enduringly popular. It also has a return on investment in terms of a skill that grows throughout life. For example, if you dedicate 10,000 hours to a video game, that game may be taken down from servers or non-existent in 5 years, however, the guitar is a skill that you can enjoy and improve throughout your whole life. The guitar is also symbolic of a bygone era of cool. Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, ACDC, these bands and guitar riffs continue to find relevance with a modern audience. Despite technology changing, teenagers haven't changed much, and they still find solace in the messages of guitar-centric music.

But the guitar's popularity goes beyond its versatility. There's just something about the sound of a well-played guitar that speaks to the soul. Whether you're strumming out a simple folk song or shredding through a heavy metal solo, the guitar has the ability to evoke strong emotions in listeners. It's a powerful tool for self-expression, and that's something that will never go out of style.

Plus, there's just something cool about being able to play the guitar. Whether you're performing on stage in front of a crowd or just jamming out with friends, there's something special about being able to create music with your own two hands. It's a skill that takes time and dedication to master, but the sense of accomplishment that comes with it is unbeatable.

So don't let anyone tell you that the guitar isn't cool or that it's not relevant in today's entertainment landscape. The guitar will always be relevant, and it will always have the ability to bring people together through the power of music.

If you want to listen to some of the dirtiest guitar riffs ever, check out my latest guitar album. Stream it here for free! Keep rocking, Tatum!