It's strange, but after a decade of Guitar War, we've found one thing:

Exchanging money is no fun.

Some people have questions. Other people get weirded out. But stay with us a second while we explain why all members pitch in a nominal sum:

The "Why" #1 – We Fork Out Money Ourselves

It would be much easier not to ask for dues. But we have vendors that don't understand this concept, and they seem to want actual money for things like web servers, software improvements, hosting, and so on.

Money out, money in.

We are a cooperative effort that chips in to cover all of our costs.

The "Why" #2 – It's Still Cheaper Than…

Pricing is dirt-cheap compared to expensive music schools, lessons, etc., but the level of competition is just as high and even higher.

For anyone who has scrolled down this far… you are rewarded with The Ultra-Secret Reason:

It would be easier to let everybody and his brother in. Open access, come on in, world. No dues, passwords, log-ins. But we have just three words of wisdom on this count:

• 1. Screening
• 2. Exclusivity
• 3. Predictability

If you don't see the wisdom of this, then you have never witnessed an ugly flame-fest. You have never seen an amateur musician mercilessly ridiculed just for the sake of some idiot's entertainment. Have you ever carefully crafted a question on a forum… only to have no one answer it? Or had a moderator zap your thread simply because you framed it the "wrong" way?

Rest assured you won't find any of that foolishness at Guitar War. What our dues accomplish:

• Encourage and retain determined musicians who want to be here, know how to play, and know how to have fun.
• Discourage the haters, the flamers, and people who don't know how to play well with others.
• Guitar War is an administered service. Yes, it is a cooperative, peer-to-peer service - but with the guidance of a few people we pay to keep everything on track.