'Real' keyboard, guitars debut in Rock Band 3

Ivories, harmonies expand group size to seven in latest entry in rhythm game franchise; "Pro" mode to work with keyboard and new guitar peripheral to teach gamers how to play real instruments.

Last month, developer Harmonix teased the fact that keyboards would be making their debut in the upcoming Rock Band 3, with an image of some keys joining the guitar, drums, bass, and vocals symbols appearing at the end of the Xbox Live demo of Green Day: Rock Band. It seems that wannabe piano players will actually get their wish, with confirmation via a report in USA Today that keyboards would indeed be the new instrument in Harmonix's upcoming rhythm game sequel.

This is happening for real.

This is happening for real.

The article also unveiled many other pieces of information about Rock Band 3, including the fact that the game would feature a new Rock Band Pro mode, which aimed to bridge the gap between expert rhythm game players and actual musicians. Central to this will be the new keyboard peripheral and some yet-to-be-detailed full-size guitar controllers, including a fully functioning Fender, according to the article. The Rock Band keyboard will be a 25-key MIDI keyboard--during normal play, only the traditional five keys of green, red, yellow, blue, and orange will be used in conjunction with their corresponding buttons on the keyboard. In Pro mode, all 25 keys will be utilised, with the onscreen note stream shifting "left and right to cover the correct keys." The new guitar peripherals--which as yet don't have any price attached--will be similarly musically functional. The guitars will feature six strings for strumming, while the neck will apparently feature touch sensitive pads that will mimic the instrument's strings.

Harmony vocal parts--which made their debut in last year's The Beatles: Rock Band--will also be included in the new game, bringing the total number of rock-and-rollers to seven in any jam session. Other new additions detailed in the USA Today article include drop-in, drop-out play; the ability to change instruments or difficulty midsong; new animations; an enhanced story; and new ways to sort your Rock Band music collection. "We saw a kind of staleness in terms of gameplay innovation. Really, the main focus of Rock Band 3 development was finding new ways to experience the music and actually doubling down, if you will, on our investment in compelling gameplay," Harmonix project director Daniel Sussman said.

Finally, some of Rock Band 3's 83-song set list were revealed, which included some keyboard-heavy classics, such as Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and '80s tune "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News. Other songs to be revealed include:

"Combat Baby" -- Metric
"Dead End Friends" -- Them Crooked Vultures
"Get Free" -- The Vines
"Lasso" -- Phoenix
"Me Enamora" -- Juanes
"Oh My God" -- Ida Maria
"Portions of Foxes" -- Rilo Kiley
"The Hardest Button to Button" -- The White Stripes
"Been Caught Stealing" -- Jane's Addiction
"In the Meantime" -- Spacehog
"Plush" -- Stone Temple Pilots
"Walkin' on the Sun" -- Smash Mouth
"Crazy Train" -- Ozzy Osbourne
"Here I Go Again" -- Whitesnake
"I Love Rock and Roll" -- Joan Jett
"Just Like Heaven" -- The Cure
"Rainbow in the Dark" -- Dio
"The Power of Love" -- Huey Lewis and the News
"Sister Christian" -- Night Ranger
"Bohemian Rhapsody" -- Queen
"Break On Through" -- The Doors
"Crosstown Traffic" -- Jimi Hendrix

For more on Rock Band 3, be sure to check out GameSpot's upcoming coverage of the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

335 Comments

  • SolidTy

    Posted Feb 1, 2011 12:26 pm GMT


    This game ROCKS, pun intended! Seriously, loving my Rockband 3 and Keyboards.

  • hyruler461

    Posted Jun 15, 2010 9:24 pm GMT

    Man Zeppelin would be awesome, if only they would give up their rights (even getting some of their songs into movies is a hard thing to do I heard.)

  • Shattermage

    Posted Jun 14, 2010 2:31 pm GMT

    I can probably guarantee there's gonna be some Freezepop in there at some point. Haha!

  • pataponplayer

    Posted Jun 14, 2010 8:50 am GMT

    Them Crooked Vultures!

  • supertostadas

    Posted Jun 14, 2010 7:20 am GMT

    November Rain G'nR....????

  • Cleave83

    Posted Jun 14, 2010 5:57 am GMT

    Led zeppelin or pink floyd yes!! also the doors

  • Pajamasammi

    Posted Jun 13, 2010 11:28 pm GMT

    Ohhh how I want to see some Led zeppelin or pink floyd in Rock band =(

  • Seankieran

    Posted Jun 13, 2010 2:48 pm GMT

    Ok keyboard added now...PUT LOCOMOTIVE BREATH IN THE GAME!

  • Toysoldier34

    Posted Jun 13, 2010 12:08 pm GMT

    Meh... I've kinda been done with music games since 2008.

  • DrEvilKoala

    Posted Jun 13, 2010 4:20 am GMT

    And just how much is all this going to cost...?

  • koque777

    Posted Jun 12, 2010 9:15 pm GMT

    MAN!!! When is Rockband gonna include some hardcore...August Burns Red, The Devil Wears Prada, IWrestledABearOnce, Haste The Day...some of the best rock out there full of so much sick guitarists, and drummers...wth! = /

  • SanjuroGT

    Posted Jun 12, 2010 7:25 pm GMT

    this is going to be the best rock band ever actually learning the real instruments in action. yay congrats to the evolution of music games

  • solidine

    Posted Jun 12, 2010 11:24 am GMT

    Learning to play real instruments is pretty awesome, if it works.

  • orestes1981

    Posted Jun 11, 2010 11:16 pm GMT

    @riosteven

    Well, you be able to import the tracks from Rockband 1, 2, Green Day, plus all of the DLC; so, there should be no lack of tracks for you.

  • riosteven

    Posted Jun 11, 2010 4:15 pm GMT

    uh not gonna lie so far im only seeing 3 songs on this i like if i dont see anymore than at least 30 i like im not getting this, guitar hero wins this round tho keyboard is a good idea the setlist fails

  • TheDrunkenLord

    Posted Jun 11, 2010 2:19 pm GMT

    the keyboard controller is just one of those things that I'll never ever understand why anyone would ever buy it... but clearly people will

  • brian_13un

    Posted Jun 11, 2010 1:59 pm GMT

    I Think the price of those Instruments will be Ultra Expensive

  • GrowlanserDX

    Posted Jun 11, 2010 1:45 pm GMT

    it definitely looks interesting..but how much is it going to cost for my interest?

  • lextexrex

    Posted Jun 11, 2010 1:43 pm GMT

    If they are going to include a "Pro Mode," I hope somewhere in the game they teach proper playing technique so that we don't end up with a bunch of kids with sore wrists.

  • Tylendal

    Posted Jun 11, 2010 1:16 pm GMT

    Because a 25 key keyboard is totally a real instrument.

    Well, they're at it, lets add a one stringed guitar, a poorly tightened drum, and a trumpet mouthpiece.