Developer: Harmonix
Developer: Harmonix
Developer: Harmonix
Publisher: MTV Games
Publisher: MTV Games
Genre: Music
Release Date: November 20, 2007 (US)
Release Date: May 23, 2008 (UK)
Release Date: November 7, 2008 (AU)
T for Teen: Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes
PEGI: RP
Rock Band (Special Edition)

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Developer: Harmonix
Developer: Harmonix
Developer: Harmonix
Publisher: MTV Games
Publisher: MTV Games
Genre: Music
Release Date: November 20, 2007 (US)
Release Date: May 23, 2008 (UK)
Release Date: November 7, 2008 (AU)
T for Teen: Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes
PEGI: RP

Rock Band (Special Edition) Walkthrough & Strategy Guide

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Published: Jan 7, 2008

Rock Band Tips

The IGN offices are filled with some of the most die-hard Rock Band fans we know, so we asked the various site editors for the strategies that make them stars. Some of the tips are helpful. Some are just dumb. Send them the hate mail.

D R U M S    +    S I N G I N G
Keeping Drum Beat
To save your calf from exploding mid-song, keep the foot pedal depressed and only release and press again as the orange bar appears. Keeping the pedal down will not register as continuous hits and will save your foot from over-exertion.

Singing and Playing
Tal Blevins
VP of Games Content
IGN Entertainment

As the singer, you can use the headset mic instead of the included stick microphone. This means you don't have to buy a mic stand if want to play and sing at the same time. Just tuck the controller in your pocket and rock out on the guitar, bass, or drums. It works even better if you have a wireless headset. This will allow you to be your own one-man band!

M O V I N G    T O    H A R D    +    R O C K I N G    T H E    M I C
Movin' on Up
Not the best tip ever, but I found it helped me out when trying to move to up from the Medium stage: Place your index finger on the the red fret button and slide your hand up to hit the green fret accordingly. It's much easier to move upwards rather than downward.
Jessica Chobot
Staff Writer / Host
IGN Entertainment


Back Away from the Mic
Also-don't put your mouth too close to the mic when you sing. Even if you it the right notes, it reads as reverb and doesn't log it correctly--you'll find out soon that you're failing and have no idea why.

B E    A    O N E    M A N    B A N D
Percussion Cheat
If you're too exuberant doing the percussion parts on the mic, your hands can get sore and you can ding up jewelry on the mic screen. I've found that shaking the mic like a drum stick in midair on the beats works just as well.

Playing Alone?
Andy Eddy
Senior Editorial Manager
Team Xbox

Similarly, if you're adept, you can play an instrument and sing at the same time (to be your own "band"), by either using an Xbox 360 headset or putting the mic into a stand. Though I haven't tried either of these, I've heard that you can tap your foot on the mic stand or make a sharp noise into the headset during percussion parts to trigger the beats when your hands aren't free.

T A M B O U R I N E    +    H O T    C H I C K S
Tambourine Tips
You can indeed make loud popping noises into the mic to trigger the tambourine or cowbell parts if you're also playing guitar or whatever.
Sal Accardo
Senior PC Editor
GameSpy


Who to Play With
But if you're in a party situation, it's far more fun to find the hottest girl there and make her your designated cowbell player while you play the solo. Everyone wins!

W H O    N O T    T O    P L A Y    W I T H
A Good Tip
Will Tuttle
Editor-in-Chief
TeamXbox

Don't invite drunk video team jerks to your apartment after 2:00 AM for Rock Band.

Give us feedback! On to Rock Band Cheats...