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.

201 Comments

  • roda96

    Posted Feb 9, 2010 11:27 am GMT

    plss does anyone know can i play guitar hero legends of rock with my guitar hero world tour guitar on pc!!?!!??!

  • turboregal

    Posted Dec 18, 2009 1:28 pm GMT

    can u use the guitars as extra controller for a 3-4 person game?

  • aijou_

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 4:07 am GMT

    I believe I found the answer myself. It seems that the Les Paul (GH3) initialy didn't work for RB2 but it was later fixed with a patch. Haven't tried it yet. But I hope it's true.

  • aijou_

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 3:02 am GMT

    The official Rock Band 2-site says that the Gibson Les Paul (Guitar Hero III, PS3) Does work with Rock Band 2. Is this a lie??? I hope not cuz I just bought one to use with my Rock Band 2. Would be grateful for an answer.

  • jpsnagi

    Posted Sep 19, 2009 7:52 pm GMT

    UPDATE WITH GH5, ROCK BAND BEATLES THING

  • SnapBlaze

    Posted Jun 4, 2009 9:56 am GMT

    update please

  • bi0_n13

    Posted Jun 3, 2009 5:30 am GMT

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

  • MattyWoah

    Posted Apr 10, 2009 1:50 pm GMT

    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 GMT

    update?

  • Romper72

    Posted Jan 14, 2009 3:30 am GMT

    Update the list - and you can add drums too!

  • SaurabhAV

    Posted Dec 26, 2008 2:31 pm GMT

    FIX THIS CHART!!!

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Dec 4, 2008 5:26 pm GMT

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

  • _karttu_

    Posted Dec 2, 2008 6:50 am GMT

    Yeah, an update is long overdue.

  • fuitamo

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 3:57 pm GMT

    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 GMT

    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 GMT

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

  • redrunner89

    Posted Oct 27, 2008 11:09 am GMT

    think this needs to updated

  • konn3r

    Posted Oct 24, 2008 11:37 pm GMT

    what bout les paul for ps2

  • konn3r

    Posted Oct 24, 2008 11:35 pm GMT

    what about les paul fo ps2 rockband

  • requul

    Posted Oct 19, 2008 6:56 am GMT

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

  • CIFI10

    Posted Oct 3, 2008 2:52 pm GMT

    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 GMT

    Well an update would be nice...

  • devilgirlp666

    Posted Sep 22, 2008 5:52 am GMT

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

  • gslimjim08

    Posted Sep 21, 2008 5:50 pm GMT

    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 GMT

    "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 GMT

    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 GMT

    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 GMT

    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 GMT

    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 GMT

    PS2 is the winner yay!!!

  • cristhiansj_1

    Posted Sep 1, 2008 5:47 pm GMT

    PS2 win.

  • dunny55

    Posted Aug 24, 2008 11:57 am GMT

    they need to update this

  • norabbitnofun

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 5:35 am GMT

    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 GMT

    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 GMT

    Rock Band for Wii is already out.

  • jjlinder

    Posted Aug 3, 2008 11:55 am GMT

    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 GMT

    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 GMT

    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 GMT

    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 GMT

    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 GMT

    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 GMT

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

  • guitarmaster85

    Posted Jul 4, 2008 2:38 pm GMT

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

  • delorean529

    Posted Jul 1, 2008 6:55 pm GMT

    They need to update the charts!

  • xxNob

    Posted Jun 29, 2008 7:27 pm GMT

    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 GMT

    is the rock band controller wired or wireless

  • veeblefester

    Posted Jun 23, 2008 6:28 am GMT

    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 GMT

    theres a linited edition guitar coming out with aerosmith

  • OscarTheGrouch5

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 2:33 pm GMT

    @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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