World Without Guitars looks just like our world. Guitars and closely related string instruments were not invented. It is a “control reality” that serves to guide those who are involved in the design and construction of new instruments. It is also useful for those who are tackling the social engineering necessary for the cultural acceptance of the same.
Guitar Boy, our hero, is visited by Stevie Ray Vaughn in a dream. GBoy is a superb craftsman/electronics guy, and so he makes a Strat-like guitar (yes, and amp to go with it, OK?). He then shows off his new instrument at MakerFaire. He can only pluck at a string to get a note, but he cannot actually play the instrument. Sometimes, he can remember the one chord SRV taught, which allows him to use his left hand to modify the effect of a plick. Although not very impressive, it was a convincing demonstration in the eyes and ears of GBoy. He is thrilled and optimistic.
He knows that picking a note is not the same thing as hearing SRV play it in his dream. But he believes that if people hear one note, they will be able imagine multiple notes and then play them in a pleasing order. He assures them that people will learn how to play it very quickly and the results will be amazing.
Ha.
No deal. Nobody is buying.
He doesn’t care what he says or how beautiful the so-called “guitar” he made, he always responds with the same response: “No one would ever be able to play this thing.”
They say, “No human could learn” and then go on to explain, “To play that guitar’ in the manner you describe, coordinating your so-called “chording hand” with your “picking hand”, and doing that “picking” at a rate of five to ten notes per minute? Is that crazy? It’s not possible for brains and hands to work in this way.
“Besides, even though they could, why would anyone want to?” Your music sounds horrible.”
As if that wasn’t enough, there’s another problem with the GBoy invented ‘guitar. It is made from the wrong materials. Surprisingly, many people have an inborn prejudice against the technology behind the instrument.
They say that they hate wire and wood.