Rhythm game accessories are often required to play rhythm games available for various consoles, such as the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360. These include dance pads, guitar controllers, drum controllers, microphones and turntable controllers. With the exception of microphones, these controllers can generally be used to control any game (rhythm or otherwise), but have limited inputs, making them impractical for most games.

Rhythm game controllers are generally cross-compatible with other rhythm games. For example, the drum-kit controller included with Guitar Hero World Tour functions properly when used in Rock Band games. Some functionality may be diminished however. For example, Rock Band drum kits only feature 4 drum pads, as opposed to the 5 featured on the Guitar Hero versions. As a result, the in-game track must be changed to accommodate (done automatically by the software).

Guitar controllers

Many officially licensed guitar controllers have been released, mostly affiliated with either the Guitar Hero or Rock Band franchises. These controllers are shaped to resemble guitars but are generally smaller than their real-life counterparts.

Common features among these controllers (with the exception of Rock Band 3's "pro" guitar controllers) are a set of five colored "fret" buttons on the neck (green, red, yellow, blue and orange) a "strum bar" (around where the pickups on an electric guitar would be) and whammy bar (corresponding to its real-life position) on the body. Additionally, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 controllers also feature a d-pad, start and select/back buttons and a Home/Guide button. For navigation within the system menus, the strum bar acts as "up" and "down" on the d-pad (the dedicated d-pad can also be used) while the fret buttons correspond to , , , and "L1" on PlayStation 3 or A, B, X, Y and left-bumper on Xbox 360.

Guitar controllers for the PlayStation 2 may connect either to the system's controller ports or via USB; other than the original SG controllers, most PS2 controllers are wireless via a transceiver dongle. All those on the PlayStation 3 connect to the system via USB; most do so wirelessly via a USB transceiver dongle. On the Xbox 360, guitar controllers may be connected either by USB or wirelessly using the console's integrated 2.4 GHz wireless technology (dependent on the particular controller).

PlayStation 2 SG controllers

The PlayStation 2 SG controller is used for Guitar Hero. Another was used for Guitar Hero II. It is modeled after the Gibson SG guitar.

X-Plorer controller

The Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II came bundled with a newly designed controller known as the X-Plorer controller and modeled after the Gibson Explorer guitar. Like standard controllers, the X-Plorer features an expansion port which allows users to equip a wired headset for voice communication. The controller connects to the system via a USB cable. The controller was sold bundled with the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II, some Xbox 360 bundles of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, or available separately. It was also bundled with the Windows and Mac OS X releases of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.

Guitar Hero III Kramer controller

The PlayStation 2 version of Guitar Hero III featured a guitar controller based around the Kramer Striker guitar.^[1]

Guitar Hero III / Aerosmith Les Paul controller

The PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 versions of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock came with a newly designed wireless guitar controller which was designed to resemble a Gibson Les Paul.

The PlayStation 3 version of the controller connects wirelessly via a USB dongle. The Xbox 360 version of the controller utilizes the same 2.4 GHz wireless technology as the official wireless controller, and as such when used in conjunction with the Wireless Gaming Receiver for Microsoft Windows, may be used with the PC version of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. However, it is not officially supported by Aspyr Media (developer of the PC and Macintosh release), and shows up in game using the same icon as the X-Plorer.^[2] The Wii version connects directly to the Wii Remote via its accessory connector, while the Remote itself is held in a special cavity in the guitar controller.

Both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions feature a d-pad and a Home/Guide button. The Wii version, however, utilises the Remote's Home button, and replaces the d-pad with an analog stick to facilitate use within the Wii's menus.

In addition to all the features of the earlier X-Plorer (Xbox 360) and SG (PS2) guitar controllers, the Les Paul controller features a detachable neck for easier storage and replacement, and customizable faceplates. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions come with a black faceplate as standard, while the Wii version comes with a white one (which also features a rectangular window for Wii Remote access). The controller was also available separately, and bundled with Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. The Guitar Hero: Aerosmith version features a custom faceplate.

Guitar Hero World Tour / Metallica guitar controller

Guitar Hero World Tour features another new controller known as the "Genericaster". Unlike previous guitar controllers, this is not modeled after a real guitar design, but resembles a Fender Stratocaster, hence its name. As well as a new shape, it features a longer, quieter strum bar, longer whammy bar, and repositioned start and select/back buttons. It also features a new, touch sensitive "solo section" on the neck. This is functionally similar to the "solo section" on Rock Band guitar controllers, but is not compatible with Rock Band games.

Like the Guitar Hero III Les Paul controller, the PlayStation 3 version of the Genericaster connects via a USB dongle, which also acts as a two-port USB hub, while the Wii version connects to the Wii Remote accessory connector and the Xbox 360 version connects via Microsoft's 2.4 GHz wireless technology. Also like the Les Paul, it features a detachable neck and customizable faceplates. This guitar was available separately, bundled with a Guitar Hero World Tour "guitar bundle" or "band bundle" (game, guitar controller, drum kit and microphone) or bundled with Guitar Hero: Metallica. Like the Aerosmith Les Paul, the Guitar Hero: Metallica version features a custom (Metallica themed) faceplate.

Guitar Hero 5 guitar controller

The guitar controller for Guitar Hero 5 retains the same basic design as the Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Controller, but with some minor alterations. The strum bar is rubberized, the nuts on the headstock are made from chrome rather than plastic and the "solo section" of the neck is molded differently and is now digital rather than analog.^[3]

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock guitar controller

The guitar controller released for Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is, like the "World Tour" and "5" guitars, not based on a real guitar design. This controller differs from its predecessors however, in that it drops the touch-sensitive strip on the neck, and allows for complete replacement/customization of the body, rather than just faceplates as on previous controllers.^[4]

Guitar Hero Live guitar controller

Guitar Hero Live had a guitar controller with two rows of 3 buttons each. This renders the game incompatible with the older Guitar Hero controllers, as well as making the Guitar Hero Live controller incompatible with older games.

Rock Band guitar controller

The guitar controller for Rock Band is based on the Fender Stratocaster. It features two sets of fret buttons, one for standard gameplay, one for solo sections. It also features an effects switch unique to the Rock Band series of games. This controller connects via USB.

Rock Band 2 guitar controller

Like the guitar controller for Rock Band, the Rock Band 2 guitar controller is based on the Fender Stratocaster. It is an upgraded version of the original Rock Band guitar with a different finish and an integrated light/audio sensor to allow for automatic AV synchronization in Rock Band 2, Rock Band 3, Lego Rock Band, The Beatles: Rock Band, and Green Day: Rock Band.

Rock Band 2 Fender Precision bass guitar controller

Modeled after the Fender Precision Bass guitar, this controller is designed specifically for use in the bass guitar tracks on Rock Band 2 (and other rhythm games).^[5] It lacks the whammy bar found on "standard" guitar controllers, and instead uses a knob.^[5] A second knob is also present to switch between various effects within Rock Band games, and a third knob acts as the start and select buttons by rotating it clockwise or counterclockwise, respectively.^[5] It also features a split strum-bar, allowing more accurate emulation of dual-fingered up-strumming used to play real bass guitars.^[5]

The Beatles: Rock Band guitar controllers

Two new guitar controllers were released alongside The Beatles: Rock Band, modeled after John Lennon's Rickenbacker 325 and George Harrison's Gretsch Duo Jet.^[6] Functionally, these controllers are equivalent to those released alongside Rock Band 2.

The Beatles: Rock Band bass guitar controller

The bass guitar controller released alongside The Beatles: Rock Band is modeled after the Höfner 500/1 "violin bass" guitar which was famously used by Sir Paul McCartney; however, it is configured for right-handed use, while McCartney's was left-handed, although one can use the "Lefty Flip" option to play left-handed.^[7] Unlike the bass guitar controller released alongside Rock Band 2, this controller is functionally equivalent to standard guitar controllers.

Compatibility

Although generally any guitar controller will work with a given rhythm game, this is not the case universally.^[8][9] The following table shows compatibility of various games with appropriate guitar controllers. (Rock Band 3 Pro guitar controllers are only compatible with Rock Band 3 and thus are not shown.)