All First-Party Guitars

First-party guitars are produced either directly by Harmonix/Neversoft or licensed to another company (Red Octane, Mad Catz, PDP, etc.) to make guitars in collaboration with Harmonix/Neversoft. They are typically of higher quality than third party guitars and have more direct support from the CH community.

This page lists all known first-party guitars, their qualities, and compatibility information.

Guitar Hero Guitars

Guitar Hero 5

Game: Guitar Hero 5
Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Description: One of the most reliable guitars. The WT and GH5 Guitars feature compatible swappable faceplates.

Windows

PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Guitar Hero 5 guitar receiver, which looks similar to the PS3/PC World Tour one. The two are not interchangeable!
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.

Mac

PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Guitar Hero 5 guitar receiver, which looks similar to the PS3/PC World Tour one. The two are not interchangeable!
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, along with an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Wii: Requires a Mac-compatible wired adapter.

Linux

PS2/PS3: Requires the PS2/PS3 Guitar Hero 5 guitar receiver, which looks similar to the PS3/PC World Tour one. The two are not interchangeable!
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.

Guitar Hero Kramer Striker

Game: Guitar Hero 3
Platform(s): Playstation 2
Description: Has severe input delay in its original form, but is a popular guitar for modding.

Windows

PS2: Requires the Guitar Hero Kramer Striker receiver and a wired adapter.

Mac

PS2: Requires the Guitar Hero Kramer Striker receiver and a Mac-compatible wired adapter.

Linux

PS2: Requires the Guitar Hero Kramer Striker receiver and a wired adapter.

Guitar Hero Les Paul

Game: Guitar Hero 3, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith

Platform(s): Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii

Description: Three official variants, with the white one being Wii-exclusive. The neck is detachable from the body and is known for having a weakpoint at that contact area. A common solution for the issue is hardwiring the neck to the body.

Windows

PS3: Requires the Guitar Hero Les Paul receiver. The PS3 variant has noticeable input delay when used on PC.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.

Mac

PS3: Requires the Guitar Hero Les Paul receiver. The PS3 variant has noticeable input delay when used on PC.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, along with an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Wii: Requires a Mac-compatible wired adapter.

Linux

PS3: Requires the Guitar Hero Les Paul receiver. The PS3 variant has noticeable input delay when used on PC.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.

Guitar Hero Live

Game: Guitar Hero Live
Platform(s): PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, iOS
Description: The only 6-fret guitar. All variants except iOS are identical, and what you need to connect one will depend on the receiver rather than the guitar itself. See the guitar's Receivers & Dongles entry for an overview of available receivers.

Windows

Xbox 360 Receiver: Natively supported, but may require a driver update.
PS3/Wii U Receivers: Requires GHLPokeMachine or GHLtarUtility. Visit this spreadsheet for setup instructions.
PS4 Receiver: Requires GHLPokeMachine. Visit this spreadsheet for setup instructions.
Xbox One Receiver: Requires RB4InstrumentMapper.
iOS Guitar: Requires Bluetooth and a program. See this spreadsheet for a guide.

Mac

Mac support is currently unknown. It's likely that most (if not all) variants are incompatible.

Linux

Xbox 360 Receiver: Natively supported.
PS3/Wii U Receivers: Natively supported as of the 5.11 kernel. For older kernels, set up the hid-ghlive-dkms kernel module.
PS4 Receiver: Natively supported as of the 5.15 kernel. For older kernels, set up the hid-ghlive-dkms kernel module.
Xbox One Receiver: Requires the xpad DKMS kernel module.
iOS Guitar: Unknown.

Guitar Hero SG

Game: Guitar Hero 1 and 2
Platform(s): Playstation 2
Description Three color variants available.

Windows

PS2: Requires a wired adapter.

Mac

PS2: Requires a Mac-compatible wired adapter.

Linux

PS2: Requires a wired adapter.

Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock

Game: Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock
Platform(s): Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Description: The Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 variants can have issues syncing to their receivers. The guitar features detachable wings and has a rare "Battle Axe" variant.

Windows

PS3: Requires the Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.

Mac

PS3: Requires the Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, along with an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Wii: Requires a Mac-compatible wired adapter.

Linux

PS3: Requires the Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.

Guitar Hero World Tour

Game: Guitar Hero World Tour & Guitar Hero: Metallica

Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC

Description: World Tour guitars are known for having weak strum switches that must eventually be replaced. The Guitar Hero Metallica variant is identical aside from a different faceplate.

Windows

PS2: Requires the PS2 Guitar Hero World Tour guitar receiver and a wired adapter. The receiver looks identical to the Kramer Striker receiver, but the two are not interchangeable.
PS3/PC: Requires either a PS3/PC Guitar Hero World Tour or a Guitar Hero Les Paul guitar receiver. The receiver looks identical to the Guitar Hero 5 receiver, but the two are not interchangeable.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.

Mac

PS2: Requires the PS2 Guitar Hero World Tour guitar receiver and a wired adapter. The receiver looks identical to the Kramer Striker receiver, but the two are not interchangeable.
PS3/PC: Requires either a PS3/PC Guitar Hero World Tour or a Guitar Hero Les Paul guitar receiver. The receiver looks identical to the Guitar Hero 5 receiver, but the two are not interchangeable.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, along with an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Wii: Requires a Mac-compatible wired adapter.

Linux

PS2: Requires the PS2 Guitar Hero World Tour guitar receiver and a wired adapter. The receiver looks identical to the Kramer Striker receiver, but the two are not interchangeable.
PS3/PC: Requires either a PS3/PC Guitar Hero World Tour or a Guitar Hero Les Paul guitar receiver. The receiver looks identical to the Guitar Hero 5 receiver, but the two are not interchangeable.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires a Wii remote or a wired adapter.

Guitar Hero Xplorer

Game: Guitar Hero 2 and 3
Platform(s): Xbox 360
Description: Plug-and-play everywhere except Mac. Requires any Xbox 360 breakaway cable to connect via USB, and usually comes with one.

Windows

Xbox 360: Requires connecting via USB.

Mac

Xbox 360: Requires an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.

Linux

Xbox 360: Requires connecting via USB.

Red Octane Mayflash Wireless Guitar

Game: Guitar Hero 1-3
Platform(s): Playstation 2
Description: Known to have bad latency and general reliability issues!

Windows

PS2: Requires the RedOctane Mayflash receiver and a wired adapter.

Mac

PS2: Requires the RedOctane Mayflash receiver and a Mac-compatible wired adapter.

Linux

PS2: Requires the RedOctane Mayflash receiver and a wired adapter.

Rock Band Guitars

PDP Riffmaster

Game: Fortnite Festival, Rock Band 4
Platform(s): Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series
Description: Originally released for Fortnite Festival and Rock Band 4 in 2024. Available at various retailers and PDP's own website.

Windows

PS4/PS5: ~~Requires~~Can be used both wired and wirelessly. Both options lack support for tilt and whammy on PC.
Wired mode requires connecting the guitar via USB and holding down all five frets while turning it on.
Wireless mode requires the Playstation variant's unique receiver. ~~Lacks tilt and whammy support on PC.~~
Xbox One/Xbox Series: Requires the Xbox variant's unique receiver and a dedicated program to work with Clone Hero.

Mac

Not supported.

Linux

PS4/PS5: ~~Requires~~Can be used both wired and wirelessly. Both options lack support for tilt and whammy on PC.
Wired mode requires connecting the guitar via USB and holding down all five frets while turning it on.
Wireless mode requires the Playstation variant's unique receiver. ~~Lacks tilt and whammy support on PC.~~
Xbox One/Xbox Series: Requires the Xbox variant's unique receiver and the xone kernel driver for full support, or Steam input for partial support without tilt and whammy.

Rock Band Stratocaster (RB1)

Game: Rock Band
Platform(s): Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
Description: The base Rock Band 1 and Rock Band 2 guitars are visually identical outside of their neck colors. The Rock Band 1 guitar features a maple neck.

Windows

PS2/PS3: Requires the black PS2/PS3 Rock Band guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Comes in wired and wireless variants. Wireless requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, wired requires a breakaway cable and a USB connection.
Wii: Requires the white Wii Rock Band guitar receiver.

Mac

PS2/PS3: Requires the black PS2/PS3 Rock Band guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Comes in wired and wireless variants. The wireless variant requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, while the wired requires a breakaway cable and a USB connection. Both variants also require an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Wii: Requires the white Wii Rock Band guitar receiver.

Linux

PS2/PS3: Requires the black PS2/PS3 Rock Band guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Comes in wired and wireless variants. Wireless requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, wired requires a breakaway cable and a USB connection.
Wii: Requires the white Wii Rock Band guitar receiver.

Rock Band Stratocaster (RB2 & RB3)

Game: Rock Band 2 & Rock Band 3
Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
Description: The base Rock Band 1 and Rock Band 2 guitars are visually identical outside of their neck colors. The Rock Band 2 guitar features a rosewood neck. An alternative color variant is also available.

Windows

PS3: Requires the PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires the Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.

Mac

PS3: Requires the PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, along with an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Wii: Requires the Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.

Linux

PS3: Requires the PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires the Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.

Rock Band Stratocaster (RB4)

Game: Rock Band 4
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One
Description: Base Rock Band 4 guitar.

Windows

PS4: Requires pairing via Bluetooth and mapping buttons in-game. The PS4 variant lacks tilt and whammy support on PC!
Xbox One: Requires a generic Xbox One controller receiver and RB4InstrumentMapper.

Mac

PS4: Requires pairing via Bluetooth and mapping buttons in-game. The PS4 variant lacks tilt and whammy support on PC!
Xbox One: Unknown.

Linux

PS4: Requires pairing via Bluetooth and mapping buttons in-game. The PS4 variant lacks tilt and whammy support on PC!
Xbox One: Requires a generic Xbox One controller receiver and the xone kernel driver.

Rock Band Jaguar

Game: Rock Band 4
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One
Description: Included in the Rock Band 4 Rivals bundle.

Windows

PS4: Requires pairing via Bluetooth and mapping buttons in-game. The PS4 variant lacks tilt and whammy support on PC!
Xbox One: Requires a generic Xbox One controller receiver and RB4InstrumentMapper.

Mac

PS4: Requires pairing via Bluetooth and mapping buttons in-game. The PS4 variant lacks tilt and whammy support on PC!
Xbox One: Unknown.

Linux

PS4: Requires pairing via Bluetooth and mapping buttons in-game. The PS4 variant lacks tilt and whammy support on PC!
Xbox One: Requires the xone kernel driver for full support, or Steam input for partial support without tilt and whammy.

The Beatles Rock Band: Hofner, Gretsch, Rickenbacker

Game: The Beatles Rock Band
Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
Description: Released with The Beatles Rock Band.

Windows

PS3: Requires the PS3 Beatles Rock Band guitar receiver or the PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires the Wii Beatles Rock Band guitar receiver or the Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.

Mac

PS3: Requires the PS3 Beatles Rock Band guitar receiver or the PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, along with an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Wii: Requires the Wii Beatles Rock Band guitar receiver or the Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.

Linux

PS3: Requires the PS3 Beatles Rock Band guitar receiver or the PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
Xbox 360: Requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver.
Wii: Requires the Wii Beatles Rock Band guitar receiver or the Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.

Rock Band Precision Bass

Game: Rock Band 2 & Rock Band 3
Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
Description: Features a unique split strum bar. Different variants were released for Rock Band 2 and 3.

Windows

PS3 (RB2): Requires the PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
PS3 (RB3): Requires a rare unique receiver.
Xbox 360: Comes in wired and wireless variants. Wireless requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, wired requires a breakaway cable and a USB connection.
Wii (RB2): Requires the Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
Wii (RB3): Requires a rare unique receiver.

Mac

PS3 (RB2): Requires the PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
PS3 (RB3): Requires a rare unique receiver.
Xbox 360: Comes in wired and wireless variants. The wireless variant requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, while the wired requires a breakaway cable and a USB connection. Both variants also require an adapter that can convert XInput into other APIs, such as the Mayflash Magic NS2.
Wii (RB2): Requires the Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
Wii (RB3): Requires a rare unique receiver.

Linux

PS3 (RB2): Requires the PS3 Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
PS3 (RB3): Requires a rare unique receiver.
Xbox 360: Comes in wired and wireless variants. Wireless requires a generic Xbox 360 controller receiver, wired requires a breakaway cable and a USB connection.
Wii (RB2): Requires the Wii Rock Band 2 guitar receiver.
Wii (RB3): Requires a rare unique receiver.

Rock Band 3 Pro Guitars

Game: Rock Band 3
Description: MIDI guitars released for the Pro Guitar mode in Rock Band 3.

Not natively compatible with Clone Hero.