I’m old enough to remember musicians getting mad over Guitar Hero. But they always seemed to miss the point. No one has suggested that the video game controller will replace the instrument that has been strong since the 15th century. Guitar Hero is a fun game, and if it persuades a new generation to pick up the real thing, it is a net positive for the Universe. The same feeling I had when I saw the LiberLive C1 on the ground at CES 2025. If the future of the guitar is in danger, it has nothing to do with the existence of the “first stringless smart guitar.” And really, referring to the thing as a guitar at all seems to miss the point. Learning instruments is difficult, time-consuming, and can be frustrating. Take it from me, decades-long terrible guitar player. Like Guitar Hero before it, it shouldn’t be serious to suggest a product like this poses an existential threat to the guitar (besides, the rise of non-guitar pop music is putting a lot of weight on it). There’s something fun about an instrument that you can just pick up and play. In fact, in a weird way, being a guitar player probably works against me with the C1. You have to reorient your brain to embrace the simplicity of the instrument. There are several chord names associated with the keys on the neck side of the instrument. Holding one of these while “strumming” the paddle on the C1 body plays the chord. And that’s really all there is. No notes are played and nothing even remotely resembles shredding. You can, however, strum and sing along with the song in the app. It is effective karaoke with added dimension. It’s fun, it’s portable, it’s $699, it lasts six hours on a charge. And it won’t replace the guitar anytime soon. Check out more CES 2025 coverage, including…
