The PS2's Cherry Red Gibson SG controller.The Xbox 360's Gibson X-Plorer controller.
The game typically uses a special guitar controller, often packaged with the game disc. It can also be played with a standard DualShock controller. Each controller appeals to different players; some can use a guitar, some can use a DualShock, and some can comfortably use both well.
The guitar controller features five colored buttons on the fret, a strum bar, and a whammy bar. However, DualShock players use different buttons. This table details the guitar to DualShock control mapping.
Guitar
DualShock
Action
Hold for note
Hold for note
Hold for note
Hold for note
Hold for note
Star power
Pause
Strum Bar
Play note/chord
Whammy Bar
Treble/Sustain
Lift guitar
Star motion sensor
The other buttons (, , , , , , and the remaining axes of ) are unused.
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
, and the remaining axes of 
) are unused.