Why don't Guitar Hero players just pick up real guitars? What happens when millions of people play the role of a young black gang member in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas? How are YouTube-based music lessons changing the nature of amateur musicianship? This book is about play, performance, and participatory culture in the digital age. Miller shows how video games and social media are bridging virtual and visceral experience, creating dispersed communities who forge meaningful connections by "playing along" with popular culture. Playing Along reveals how digital media are brought to bear in the transmission of embodied knowledge: how a Grand Theft Auto player uses a virtual radio to hear with her avatar's ears; how a Guitar Hero player channels the experience of a live rock performer; and how a beginning guitar student translates a two-dimensional, pre-recorded online music lesson into three-dimensional physical practice and an intimate relationship with a distant teacher. Through a series of engaging ethnographic case studies, Miller demonstrates that our everyday experiences with interactive digital media are gradually transforming our understanding of musicality, creativity, play, and participation.

Playing Along shows how video games and social media are bridging virtual and visceral experience, transforming our understanding of musicality, creativity, play, and participation.

The best way to learn a musical instrument is to play it as much as possible, and the most enjoyable way is with other musicians in a band setting. Trading songs, interacting with other instrumentalists, and building an ensemble sound help you learn much faster than approaching a new instrument on your own. This play-along series of books and accompanying audio promotes a fun way of learning by providing you with a band to play along with.You can practice chords and rhythm, singing and lyrics, melodies, solos, licks, and back-up playing along with a real band. The accompanying audio includes Dix Bruce on the guitar, mandolin and vocals, Bill Evans on the banjo and vocals, Julie Cline on vocals, and Cindy Browne on the string bass. The songs are recorded just as they would be played at a jam session or performance, withintroductions (kickoffs), vocals and solos. By playing (back-up/melody) and singing along, you will have a lot of fun while you learn. Open solo spaces in the recordings allow you to play the chords and solos from the book, create your own improvised solos, or sing the lyrics while the band provides accompaniment.The book includes fifteen of the most popular Bluegrass, Old-Time and Gospel songs, recorded at slow and regular tempos in the audio. No matter what your ability level is on the guitar, you can enjoy playing along with the band!

The best way to learn an instrument is to play it as often as you can with other musicians. Trading songs and interacting with other instrumentalists and singers will foster learning at a faster pace and promote development of an ensemble sound. This play-along series encourages this kind of fun, collaborative approach to learning an instrument. Aspiring mandolinists can practice chords and rhythm, singing and lyrics, melodies, solos, licks and backup playing along with a real band! The online audio includes Dix Bruce on the guitar, mandolin and vocals, Bill Evans on the banjo and vocals, Julie Cline on vocals and Cindy Browne on the string bass. The recorded songs are performed with introductions (kickoffs), vocals and solos-just how they would be at jam sessions and performances. Solo sections in the recordings allow you to play chords and solos from the book. Create your own improvised solos or sing the lyrics while the band provides accompaniment. The book includes fifteen of the most popular bluegrass, old-time and gospel songs, recorded at slow and regular tempos for players of any skill level. Includes mandolin tablature, chords, solos, backup parts and more. Great for beginning to intermediate players. We'll jam ALL night long!