Welcome to FrugalGuitarist.com's coverage of the 2008 Dallas Guitar Show.

Ahhhh…springtime. The temperature is warming up, love is in the air, and it’s time for the annual Dallas Guitar Show. This year marks the 31st anniversary of the Dallas Guitar Show and as usual the show was full of enough guitars and gear to choke a horse and a hoard of performances of six string wizardary.

This year, the show moved the main stage from warehouse to outside which dramtically improved the sound for the featured performers. However, with a single entry in and out it was extremely difficult to get out to see the most popular performers. Yngwie Malmsteen was the featured performer on the main stage and other highlights included Johnny Hiland, an abbreviated performance by Dave Grissom, and guitar show favorite Rhett Butler. There was however one thing I’ve never seen in prior years before…

Guitar Hero made it’s debut this year at four different booths and the crowds were bigger at times than for some of the performers. This presents an interesting dilema. Can a simplified guitar virtualization cultivate the seed of interest within someone and drive them to learn how to actually play? The line was even further clouded at the Peavey booth where a gaggle of teens waited their turn to play the game with full size and weight controllers into a game console disguised as an amp head. I spoke with Michael, a teen waiting his turn at the Peavey booth and he summed it up as follows,

FG:Do you play Guitar Hero a lot?

Michael: Yeah.

FG:But you play guitar as well?

Michael: Yeah.

FG:What’s the difference between Guitar Hero and guitar?

Michael: Guitar Hero is a lot easier.

FG:Does Guitar Hero make you a better guitarist?

Michael: It depneds on what kind of guitar player you are.

FG:What’s youre favorite song to play on Guitar Hero?

Michael: Through the Fire and Flames [DragonForce]

FG:…on guitar?

Michael: Sweet Home Alabama

Well, they say a picture is worth 1000 words so without further adue; click a link below to get started…