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.
158 Comments
no,the rock band wii guitar isn't compatible with guitar hero
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They need to update the charts!
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Does anyone knows if the rock band wii guitar is compatible with the guitar hero games in the wii?
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is the rock band controller wired or wireless
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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.
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theres a linited edition guitar coming out with aerosmith
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@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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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THIS IS SO OLD AND DATED.... THIS NEEDS UPDATING FOR THE WIRELESS FENDER GUITAR THAT HAS BEEN RELEASED!!!!
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yes they are but you have to buy a ps2/ps1 to usb converter $2.65 on ebay.
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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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As a PS3 owner, I'm upset that we have the least amount of compatibility. Oh well, Rock Band's much better, anyway.
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I'm being dry humped for cash by these bastards! Sodding cheek!
And you really should flag that the GH3 wireless loses synch with Rock Band sometimes.
Thank god I don't have a PS3 though.....I'd be even more annoyed with teh lack of support and options!
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nice!!
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Thats awesome! I have an Xbox 360 controller for GH. I was wondering if I could use the same one for Rock Band! This is sweet news.
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They will have to update this when Guitar Hero 4 comes out. they can screw rock revolution
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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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