Guitar controller
The controllers also feature a whammy bar, which is used to bend notes and collect each game's equivalent of bonus energy.
The fret buttons are colored usually in the order of (from lowest to highest pitch) green, red, yellow, blue, and orange.
For example, the solo bar on a Rock Band guitar controller is implemented using the same controller buttons as the main fret buttons, plus an additional modifier key, whereas the slide bar from recent versions of Guitar Hero is simply another axis.
This function is also usually mapped to an axis, or the Wii Remote's motion sensors for Wii-remote based guitar controllers.
[8] The Guitar Grip concept underwent many changes before Vicarious Visions was able to determine a comfortable design for it with great difficulty.
The only changes to this one was a rubberized strum bar, the nuts on the head of the guitar were replaced with chrome instead of the plastic design, the switches on the strum bar were changed to be longer lasting and the "Solo section" of the neck had a different mold and was converted from its analog design to digital.
Unlike Guitar Hero controllers, an additional five fret buttons were added at the base of the neck.
Notable cosmetic changes include a sunburst printed variant, in addition to the original black design.
A functional whammy bar is built into the bridge plate, and the start and back buttons appear to be volume and tone dials.
[15] Mad Catz began producing Fender Precision Bass controllers for Rock Band 2.
The Precision Basses were offered in white, black, candy apple red, seafoam green, and metallic pink.
The 3/4 Fender Stratocaster guitar controllers were produced again, with further improvements made to the strum bar and fret buttons, making them quieter and more durable.
The sunburst design did not return, instead being offered in hot rod red, blue, or the classic black.
The Fender Precision Bass controllers were improved and produced again, with reworked connections, improved strum bars and fret buttons, and Xbox 360 models included a 3.5mm headphone port opposite the overdrive port for gameplay audio.
It features a similar layout to the Stratocaster controllers, and Xbox 360 models include the 3.5mm headphone port from the Precision Bass.
The Telecaster controller features unique "fast action SHREDDERZ" fret buttons, which are springloaded, but are slanted and can only be pressed down on the left side of the fretboard.
The Telecaster controller also features a touch sense overdrive button resembling a pickup between the neck and strum bar.
The bridge is fixed, with no vibrato arm, as the pro guitar and bass modes do not have the whammy function.
Under the strings on the pickguard, the Stratocaster Guitar and Controller has a singular pickup, marked "hexaphonic" on the back.
Just under the neck is a springloaded foam mute, which stops continuous vibrations from triggering repeated MIDI messages while the controller is on.
[20] The guitar for Rock Band 4 would still be the same original Fender Stratocaster design, but with improvements to the fret buttons and strum bar.
In 2016, Harmonix and Mad Catz stopped working together to produce and develop controllers, with that role instead going to PDP.
Coinciding with the Rock Band Rivals expansion, PDP released a Fender Jaguar controller.
The Jaguar controller featured a foldable neck that stores under the body, and could included an optional rechargeable battery pack and charging dock.
Notable changes include an Analog stick in the back of the controller's head, and a 3.5mm audio port.
A switch in the body allows the controller to change between console generations within the same family, and all models are compatible with PC.
These attempts range from simple solutions that output a single note or sound for each button on the controller, to more complicated applications, such as MIDItar Hero and Armchair Guitarist that attempt to fully adapt the controller to use as an instrument, with a wide range of notes and playing styles.
