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 360 | Guitar Hero II | Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock | Rock Band |
|---|---|---|---|
 Fender Stratocaster (RockBand) | No | No | Yes |
 Gibson Les Paul (Guitar Hero III) | Yes | Yes | Yes, no effects switch |
 Wireless Gibson X-plorer (Guitar Hero II) | Yes | Yes | Yes, 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 3 | Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock | Rock Band |
|---|---|---|
 Fender Stratocaster (Rock Band) | No | Yes |
 Gibson Les Paul (Guitar Hero III) | Yes | No |
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
| Wii | Guitar 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 2 | Guitar Hero | Guitar Hero II | Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s | Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock | Rock Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fender Stratocaster (RockBand) | No | No | No | No | Yes |
 Wireless Kramer Striker (Guitar Hero III) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
 Wireless Guitar (Guitar Hero Encore) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBD |
 Gibson SG (Guitar Hero I & II) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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.
139 Comments
is this the same in europe...? cuz i have gh3 on 360 and dont wanna spend loads on a new guitar...
X
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im gonna buy the wii rock band if you can use the les paul
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Rock Band is announced for Wii. When you gonna add rhat
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bah i wanna play GH3 with the StratoCaster... oh well
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thats cool to know
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so the original PS2 Guitar Hero 1 and 2 red and black guitars work for the PS2 Rock Band?
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i know the rockband guitar works with gh3 (ps2), thats what i use!
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It's been reported by many that the GH3 Les Paul sometimes doesn't hit notes on time or register very well on Rock Band. You can be holding down a button and strum and it will miss at times. Randomly it seems.
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Wow that was a dumb article, I mean, they could have just wrote, HEY! Rock Band guitar doesn't work with Guitar hero! KTHNXBYE! and it would have been as informative.
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Rock on
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I hope the wii guitar works with Rock Band....
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Hmmm... so I am hoping that Wii GH3 controller works with Wii Rock Band... the track record looks good.
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Not really mrhuntin it just has the most games and all GH games are fully compatible
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Glad the GH3 wireless xbox guitar works for rockband, thats all I care to play on that game anyways is the guitar! Saves me from having to buy a RockBand guitar, since I can simply use the GH3 wireless Less Paul from GH3
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i want guitar hero 4 on ps2....
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so playstation have the best compatibilty,YES
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Is it possible to hack the PS3 Les Paul to work with PS2
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rock band will be available for the wii! June 22nd this year!
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TO: MORELLER
I do not believe that the GH2 Xbox 360 controller works on the PS3. I am only basing this knowledge on the fact that the Xbox 360 controller doesnt work on the Wii, so my assumption is that it will not work but do not quote me.
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Quick question: Does the GH2 Xbox guitar work on Rock Band for PS3. I've the GH2 guitar for Xbox and a friend of mine wants to buy the PS3 version of Rock Band, And he doesn't want to buy the whole package. Since the GH2 Xbox uses USB and the PS3 has USB ports, then i don't see the problem (ok, it does need to be compatible with the game of course ...).
Perhaps I should just borrow him the controller and see if it works on XMB ...
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Lokar, I feel for you completely. And no, hitman498, Lokar just lives in the real world, I'm sure, like most people. Guitar Hero is a fantastic game, but it's pretty expensive. *can't afford it herself either* T.T
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it sucks the ps3 guitar doesnt work with GH 1,2
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Can't wait 4 rock band on Wii!
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It's a shame these things all cost an arm and a leg. I'd love to play either of them, but if you're not a kid whose parents are going to shell out the money, good luck.
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Kragmose
I agree i mean my Prob is i play RB for awhile with that Controller and then i go back to GH and i SUCK ROCKS!!!!! Same thing when i play GH
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Damn Harmonix and Activision, why can't they just fix the PS3 compitability issue. They're acting childish tbh
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will a ghII xbox 360 (usb) guitar work with rock band for PS2??
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Can i play Guitar Hero 2 on 360 with my 360 controller?
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is the 360 guitar with a usb plug cross compatable with the pc game?
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I find the guitar hero guitars better than the Rock band guitar because I cant really play the Stratocaster.. Theres no click on the strum bar...Me needs click to play.
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Those games are awesome,but I am happier now because I know I can take my GH3 guitar over to my friends for rock band. Thank you XBox 360!
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I really wish the Gh3 guitar for PS3 worked with GH2, GH1 and Rock Band...especially Rock Band! Make it happen!
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i have a question please answer.is there a ps3 giutar that works with gh1,2,3.please tell me thanks
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does the guitar hero 3 guitar for ps2 work with rock band? because i found that some other sites say that it does not.....somebody please tell me if it works
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I have a wireless guitar and it works perfectly. I don't see how it would change between guitars but any way it does work. I personally like using it more then the rockband guitar because it doesn't give my arm such a work out but I guess we all have different opinions.
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kinda F up that the ps3 guitars only work with the game they came with
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Can you use the Wireless Guitar (Guitar Hero Encore) for PS2 with rock band?
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ps2 rockband guitar works fine with gh3
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can you use Xbox 360 guitars with the PS2 because they both have USB ports?
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The Wii Guitar will probably work with Rock Band since Activision can't block it out with a patch. All I care about is that the Drum Kit is separate now, so I can finally just get GH3 with the guitar and a drum kit with rock band instead of the whole $270 for buying both.
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Will the PS3 RB guitar work with the PS2 versions of GH?
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perfect thanks!
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perfect thanks!
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Wireless Guitar Encore works well with Rockband
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Ok, thak u so much, i heard some rumors about all this, but i have Wii and i hope both games can be compatibles in future
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This is great, thanks!
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my gibson works this will be fun lets make a mosh pit then we set =}
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