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Jon Whitley, 23, has 10 years of guitar-playing experience under his belt and was recently admitted into the Berklee School of Music, one of the most prestigious music schools in the country.

But after less than a minute into "Spanish Castle Magic" on "Guitar Hero," he is booed off stage.

"Dude, you're going to see me flop bad," he says before the words "Song Failed" flash on screen. "I got maybe two notes on there. Just give me a real guitar."

Just like expertise of the popular video game doesn't necessarily make for a skilled guitar player, proficiency in the stringed instrument doesn't guarantee a high score on the virtual stage.

Though many people who are players of both the game and the real thing, say guitar skills transfer to "Guitar Hero" easier than they do vice-versa, the plastic controller still takes much getting used to.

During a recent afternoon of "Guitar Hero"-playing at Smith and Whitley Music Company in High Point (co-owned by Jon Whitley's father Jerry Whitley), several experienced guitarists tried their hand at the video game. Their initial efforts didn't win them many fans in the virtual crowd, but they made steady improvements over several rounds, eventually scoring near perfect scores - at least on the beginner levels.

For the guitar players what took most getting used to was the fact that, on the easier levels anyway, they didn't have to play every single lick of a song.

"They just seem to be using the quarter notes, and leaving out the eighths and sixteenths," Tim Fogarty, an instructor at Smith and Whitley said after playing "I Wanna Be Sedated."

Nevertheless he scored a 67 percent accuracy rate.

Jeff Swanson, who teaches at the Music Loft in Greensboro, didn't fare so well when he tried playing "Killer Queen" getting booed off about half way through the song. On his third try, however, he scored a 90 percent accuracy rate.

"It's deceiving at first because you're not picking all the time. It throws you off," he said. "But if you just listen to it, you can really get into the groove. At first I wasn't listening, I was just watching the colors. What helped me the other times was I listened to the song a little bit more. It was fun and I think it's good that it sets the stage for kids wanting to play. But you still need more talent for the real thing."

Fogarty gave the game a few more tries, earning scores in the 90s. But before he puts the controller down, he decides to give the expert level, with more notes coming down at a faster pace, a shot.

"Now you're going to see me really goof it," he said.

Sure enough 30 seconds into "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" he gets the boot.

Student Mallory Walsh asked if he plans on trying any more expert level riffs.

"No," he said. "That'll hurt my brain."

Contact Robert C. Lopez at 691-5091 or robert.lopez@news-record.com