By: Staff - Posted on Friday, Nov. 30, 2007

Being a rock star was a lot easier when Guitar Hero was the only franchise in town. Once you had a Guitar Hero controller, you could depend on your trusty axe to work on all future Guitar Hero games on the same game console. However, guitar compatibility has become a major question now that Rock Band has joined Guitar Hero in the genre. You can't mix and match controllers with games anymore now that we have two competing game franchises with different guitar designs. We put together guitar compatibility charts for each major platform to show you which controllers work with Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

Xbox 360 Guitar Compatibility

Xbox 360Guitar Hero IIGuitar Hero III: Legends of RockRock Band

Fender Stratocaster (RockBand)		NoNoYes

Gibson Les Paul (Guitar Hero III)		YesYesYes, no effects switch

Wireless Gibson X-plorer (Guitar Hero II)		YesYesYes, no effects switch

The Guitar Hero III Gibson Les Paul and the original Gibson X-plorer from Guitar Hero II will both work as lead or bass guitars in Rock Band on the Xbox 360. However, they don't have the built-in audio switchers to activate echo, flanger, and other guitar sound effects.

While the Xbox 360 RedOctane controllers play nicely with Rock Band, we can't say that the Rock Band guitar returns the favor. The Rock Band Fender Stratocaster will not work with Guitar Hero II or Guitar Hero III.

PlayStation 3 Guitar Compatibility

PlayStation 3Guitar Hero III: Legends of RockRock Band

Fender Stratocaster (Rock Band)		NoYes

Gibson Les Paul (Guitar Hero III)		YesNo

As you can see, there isn't much cross-game guitar compatibility on the PlayStation 3. The Guitar Hero III Gibson Les Paul controller works only with Guitar Hero III, whereas the Rock Band Fender Stratocaster only works with Rock Band. The problem is that the Rock Band package includes only one guitar. This means that many aspiring groups will have to make do without a bassist until Harmonix begins selling individual guitars.

Wii Guitar Compatibility

WiiGuitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Gibson Les Paul (Guitar Hero III)		Yes

The Wii only has Guitar Hero III right now, but we made room for a chart in case Rock Band becomes available.

PlayStation 2 Guitar Compatibility

PlayStation 2Guitar HeroGuitar Hero IIGuitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80sGuitar Hero III: Legends of RockRock Band

Fender Stratocaster (RockBand)		NoNoNoNoYes

Wireless Kramer Striker (Guitar Hero III)		YesYesYesYesYes

Wireless Guitar (Guitar Hero Encore)		YesYesYesYesTBD

Gibson SG (Guitar Hero I & II)		YesYesYesYesYes

We don't have Rock Band for the PlayStation 2 yet, but we'll update the chart once we get the chance to run the game and the guitar through the compatibility gauntlet.

Update: Rock Band for the PlayStation 2 is now available. The PS2 Fender Stratocaster didn't work with any of our Guitar Hero games, but the wireless Kramer and the original Gibson SG guitars worked fine with Rock Band.

195 Comments

  • SnapBlaze

    Posted Jun 4, 2009 9:56 am PT

    update please

  • bi0_n13

    Posted Jun 3, 2009 5:30 am PT

    Yeah Think Its time to update this, Is there a forum tread with a similar topic??

  • MattyWoah

    Posted Apr 10, 2009 1:50 pm PT

    Damnit. I bought Guitar Hero 2 and the Rock Band Guitar separately. Screw this. Why the hell would the people who made these games do this?

  • boxofwit

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 11:49 am PT

    update?

  • Romper72

    Posted Jan 14, 2009 3:30 am PT

    Update the list - and you can add drums too!

  • SaurabhAV

    Posted Dec 26, 2008 2:31 pm PT

    FIX THIS CHART!!!

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Dec 4, 2008 5:26 pm PT

    Well, glad I got some info I needed to know, but an update is needed.

  • _karttu_

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 6:50 am PT

    Yeah, an update is long overdue.

  • fuitamo

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 3:57 pm PT

    yesss pleaseee an update on compatibility with gh worldtour, gh aerosmith and gh on tour decades will be much appreciated

  • asmodeus_z

    Posted Nov 17, 2008 10:14 pm PT

    Need more info on compatibility for GH:Aerosmith and GH:WT for the xbox 360 as well.

  • shinigami617

    Posted Nov 3, 2008 11:59 pm PT

    UPDATE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • redrunner89

    Posted Oct 27, 2008 11:09 am PT

    think this needs to updated

  • konn3r

    Posted Oct 24, 2008 11:37 pm PT

    what bout les paul for ps2

  • konn3r

    Posted Oct 24, 2008 11:35 pm PT

    what about les paul fo ps2 rockband

  • requul

    Posted Oct 19, 2008 6:56 am PT

    TissueShoe has it right. What about The World Tour Guitar and the Rock Band 2 Bass?

  • CIFI10

    Posted Oct 3, 2008 2:52 pm PT

    the rock band guitar suck anyway, i hate how the strumbar is and i'm a left so the rock band guitar messes me up unless i get a rock band lefty guitar (which i won't)

  • TissueShoe

    Posted Oct 1, 2008 9:06 pm PT

    Well an update would be nice...

  • devilgirlp666

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 5:52 am PT

    I wanna know about wii... where is the chart of wii's compatibility?

  • gslimjim08

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 5:50 pm PT

    my real question is will the new rock band 2 controller set be fully backwards compatible to guitar hero world tour, and if so how will the guitar be fully backwards compatible if rock band has 4 buttons on the guitar and guitar hero has 5 on the guitar. and also will the new drum rocker with the cymbal attachment be backward compatible with guitar hero world tour also and how.

  • cammoule

    Posted Sep 20, 2008 3:39 pm PT

    "The Wii only has Guitar Hero III right now, but we made room for a chart in case Rock Band becomes available."
    I can't see it :S Does somebody know if rock band works with guitar hero's guitar... thank you

  • klugenbeel

    Posted Sep 15, 2008 12:41 pm PT

    So where is the RB2 and GH World Tour, isn't this now officially out of date?

  • avarice789

    Posted Sep 14, 2008 10:12 am PT

    so does the Wireless Guitar (Guitar Hero Encore) work with rockband it just says the original one does but it doesnt say sh1t about the Wireless Guitar (Guitar Hero Encore) cuase this is pissing me off!!!!!!!!!!

  • PikminGuts92

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 3:11 pm PT

    Please update this!!!!
    There was a patch released yesterday for PS3, so now the les paul from gh3 will work with RB!!!

  • snake2215449

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 10:20 am PT

    This requires an update because Rock Band is here for the Wii and also Guitar Hero Aerosmith has arrived.

  • snake2215449

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 10:19 am PT

    PS2 is the winner yay!!!

  • cristhiansj_1

    Posted Sep 1, 2008 5:47 pm PT

    PS2 win.

  • dunny55

    Posted Aug 24, 2008 11:57 am PT

    they need to update this

  • norabbitnofun

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 5:35 am PT

    What about cross-platforms compatibility for instruments?
    - Can someone buy a Wii drumkit for RB1 and use it on a PS3?
    - Can I buy a 360 rock band instruments set and play it on the Wii?

  • thejoert

    Posted Aug 8, 2008 4:21 am PT

    mariorulesalot: Please note that the info in this list might not be up to date. The post is marked at 'By: Staff - Posted on Friday, Nov. 30, 2007'. Which is almost a year ago

  • mariorulesalot

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 6:16 pm PT

    Rock Band for Wii is already out.

  • jjlinder

    Posted Aug 3, 2008 11:55 am PT

    Does anyone know about the compatibility with GH2 and GH3 and Guitar Hero World Tour for the Xbox 360?

  • DJ_Dinesy

    Posted Aug 1, 2008 4:06 pm PT

    Does it matter if the guitar doesn't have the effects switch coz i have 2 GH3 guitars and i wanted to no if i should but the rock band with the guitar. What does the effects switch do?

  • Dbwee

    Posted Jul 31, 2008 7:46 pm PT

    OH THANK GOODNESS!!! I wanted the les paul to work for rock band sooo bad! now that i know it does time to go get one. wooooooo!!!!!!

  • blazewind191

    Posted Jul 23, 2008 4:57 am PT

    that's a relief. GH3 controllers are compatible w/ RB for X360. now time to search for the cost of a GH3 controller....

  • Super_Lazy_Boy

    Posted Jul 16, 2008 10:41 am PT

    They forgot the Nyko Frontman. It works with guiar heros 1, 2, 3, and encore, dont know about rock band, probly not.

  • guitarmaster85

    Posted Jul 9, 2008 11:38 am PT

    if you wanted to play guitar hero 1 or 2 on the ps3,what guitar would you use

  • chrissypere

    Posted Jul 8, 2008 12:17 pm PT

    Will The PS2 Or PS3 Guitar Hero Controllers Work With The 360's Rock Band?

  • guitarmaster85

    Posted Jul 4, 2008 2:38 pm PT

    no,the rock band wii guitar isn't compatible with guitar hero

  • delorean529

    Posted Jul 1, 2008 6:55 pm PT

    They need to update the charts!

  • xxNob

    Posted Jun 29, 2008 7:27 pm PT

    Does anyone knows if the rock band wii guitar is compatible with the guitar hero games in the wii?

  • Everall

    Posted Jun 24, 2008 1:58 pm PT

    is the rock band controller wired or wireless

  • veeblefester

    Posted Jun 23, 2008 6:28 am PT

    does anyone know if the wii les paul (gh3) or strat (rb) work with the opposite games? oh and its not a new guitar coming out with gh aerosmith. its jst the les paul with a new faceplate.

  • pete_merlin

    Posted Jun 21, 2008 1:41 pm PT

    theres a linited edition guitar coming out with aerosmith

  • OscarTheGrouch5

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 2:33 pm PT

    @Stain

    I don't think guitar hero Aerosmith will have a new les paul for ps3, so your prolly out of luck. Maybe a new guitar will come out with GH world tour in the holiday season but that doesnt mean it will be compatible.

  • Stain

    Posted Jun 16, 2008 10:17 pm PT

    Has anyone heard if the GH:Aerosmith guitar will work with Rock Band (PS3)? I cannot seem to find that info, although it looks like it is the same guitar as GH3 but with a different faceplate.

    Thanks!

  • GodLike500

    Posted Jun 16, 2008 9:09 pm PT

    In case anyone's wondering, I have the "Wired" Gibson X-plorer (Guitar Hero II) and it also works with Rock Band on the 360. I'm thinking there's no difference between the wired and wireless version of the guitar, I just wanted to add my 2 cents in case anyone had doubts. And the wired Fender will not work with GHII, I don't know about the wireless one. I noticed they didn't specify wired or wireless for the Fender.

  • RotJ

    Posted Jun 16, 2008 8:54 am PT

    The PS2 and PS3 Rock Band instruments are identical and interchangable. If you bought the PS2 special edition and want to upgrade to the PS3 version, all you need is the game disc. To use PS2 Guitar Hero guitars on Rock Band or Guitar Hero III for PS3, you need to buy the $20 Universal PS2 to PS3 Converter from The Ant Commandos.

  • Cowman

    Posted Jun 12, 2008 3:59 pm PT

    THIS IS SO OLD AND DATED.... THIS NEEDS UPDATING FOR THE WIRELESS FENDER GUITAR THAT HAS BEEN RELEASED!!!!

  • bigdc

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 5:57 pm PT

    yes they are but you have to buy a ps2/ps1 to usb converter $2.65 on ebay.

  • Kawlyn

    Posted Jun 9, 2008 12:31 pm PT

    If the PS3 rockband guitars are compatible with the PS2, shouldn't PS2 Rockband compatible guitars be ok with the PS3?

    Not that it matters to be, I went a bought a second guitar anyway.

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