Guitar Hero is one of the greatest games in history. It allows both guitar players and non guitar players to live the life of a real rock star and blast those amazing guitar riffs that we have all dreamed we can really play!
Guitar Hero though has had many different versions and all have had some legendary songs on them – so if we were to ask you what the best songs on them were, it would probably be pretty tough to choose, right?
So, we’ve decided to dive into the archives and crank up the volume. Prepare yourselves for our list of the 25 best Guitar Hero songs of all time, starting with our absolute top 5. See if you agree…rock on!
Hold Up – Refresh My Memory, What Is Guitar Hero Again?
Okay, probably best to answer this for those who don’t know or haven’t played Guitar Hero! It boomed onto the video game scene in 2005 with its original title “Guitar Hero”.
Instead of a traditional controller, you’d have a plastic guitar that had buttons that emulated frets and a strum bar.
Along with those, you’d enhance your guitaring with a whammy bar. It was all about recreating the experience of being a rockstar.
The better you were, you’d have the crowd (simulated on the screen) cheering you. The worse you were, the crowd would boo and eventually you’d be booed off stage!
To be “good” the aim was to play along with the screen. You’d have to press/hold the correct notes and strum at the correct times. Increasing the difficulty would increase the speed they came at you.
As time progressed, Guitar Hero released sequels and spin offs with plenty of downloadable content (DLC) which normally included more songs. Guitar Hero Live, which was the most recent one – changed their guitar layout and made the game even more challenging.
The game series is still so fun to play and is a great addition to a party if you decide to add multiple guitar controllers or even different instruments (drums/microphone). These additions marked players in the same way, where accuracy was the key to success.
If you’ve always dreamed of being in a band or playing guitar – this game is the way to mirror that experience!
TOP FIVE
Dragonforce: Through The Fire And Flames (Guitar Hero 3)
No matter what sort of Guitar Hero list you’re building, this song would likely be on all of them! With its rapid pace, it was the biggest challenge on all difficulty settings. Objectively, it’s one of the best guitar songs ever made, let alone a Guitar Hero song.
Its recognizable lyrics make it perfect to sing along to, even if you’re not playing! Amazing that this game was released on the Playstation 2 originally and comes as no surprise that it was re-released on newer consoles.
If you could get 100% on it, you were the legend of rock! What a song!
Kansas: Carry On Wayward Son (Guitar Hero 2)
Guitar Hero 2 arguably has some of the best songs on it and this is one of them. A staple from the late 1970s, this song has a classic and memorable riff and fantastic lyrics to sing with whilst tearing up the axe.
The key to playing this was remembering the rhythm and mastering the muscle memory with your hands. If you could get that right – stick it on expert level and show off your skills to your friends.
It’s such a popular Guitar Hero song that it appeared on an episode of South Park that revolved around the game! If you haven’t seen it, we definitely recommend it to any Guitar Hero fan!
Guns N Roses: Sweet Child Of Mine (Guitar Hero 2)
No list of the greatest Guitar Hero songs would be complete without Guns n Roses being included on it. Slash is one of the top guitarists in the world who has performed the most iconic riffs in rock history all over the world.
This song allows you the chance to replicate that, but boy – it ain’t easy! If you can do this on expert difficulty, we salute you! Let’s face it too, this song on its own is totally awesome anyway right?
Living Color: Cult Of Personality (Guitar Hero Live)
Guitar Hero Live shook up the Guitar Hero world and indeed the gaming world with some innovative changes. The guitar controller now had 2 layers of frets which can be played for left or right handed guitarists.
With the ability to connect to online networks like Xbox Live, you could now go head to head with other players all over the world and prove your rock skills through Guitar Hero TV (GHTV) and this was one of the best songs to play!
Making a return from Guitar Hero 3, the opening riff is iconic and is associated with some sports stars and other video games.
It’s one of the better songs to play on expert level if you can handle it with the 2 fret layers and can be a good song to start with as a beginner. Either way – this is a tune!
Motorhead: Ace Of Spades (Guitar Hero)
From the original game and of the greatest rock songs of all time, Lemmy gives us a challenging and fast paced song to thrash out. It is an absolute classic and if you get 100% on this, you feel like a real rock God!
TWENTY MORE TO COME!
Korn: Freak On A Leash (Guitar Hero Live)
One of the best bands from the nu-metal world, Korn smashes out possibly their most well known song and lets us rock out to it. Start headbanging and connect the microphone, we’re going all out with this one!
Charlie Daniels Band {Steve Ouimette Cover}: The Devil Went Down To Georgia (Guitar Hero 3)
It’s not easy to play this. In fact, some say it’s the hardest song in the game. The Charlie Daniels Band version is country but Steve Ouimette’s cover on Guitar Hero 3 turns it into metal which seems to speed the pace up somewhat. Both versions are legendary though.
System Of A Down: BYOB (Guitar Hero: World Tour)
Speaking of hardest songs in the game – this could possibly be up there for hardest songs in the series! It doesn’t really give you a chance to warm up as you dive straight into the fast pace. You’d best not fall behind or you’re going to get booed horrendously!
Bon Jovi: You Give Love A Bad Name (Guitar Hero 5)
Shot through the heart and you’re to blame! Come on, tell us you’ve never heard that before. One of Bon Jovi’s best songs and one of the best songs of all time, it deserves its place in the top 10 of this list.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Time Warp (Guitar Hero Warriors Of Rock DLC)
There is so much DLC available for Guitar Hero Warriors Of Rock but The Rocky Horror Picture Show pack is probably the most fun to play.
You’ll find yourself moving with the lyrics whilst playing the guitar. It’s just a jump to the left…and then a step to the right. Dare you not to move whilst playing this!
Metallica: Enter Sandman (Guitar Hero: Metallica)
There’s a reason this song is used in pop culture or in sports – it evokes a primal passion. Play this classic and scream out the lyrics!
Fountains Of Wayne: Stacey’s Mom (Guitar Hero Live)
This song is so fun to play. It’s not your typical rock song full of riffs and heavy guitaring but it’s one of the best songs to play with your friends, even better if you’re going to connect the microphone too!
Kiss: Strutter (Guitar Hero 2)
Kiss have to be on a Guitar Hero list – they just have to be! Strutter is a cool song with a good pace to play at. A good choice for the beginners of the Guitar Hero world.
Survivor: Eye Of The Tiger (Guitar Hero: World Tour)
Made mainstream by the Rocky movie, this is a must-play song that everybody loves. If you play Guitar Hero and you’re on a sports team – we recommend you get into the competitive mindset by smashing this song out first!
Tenacious D: The Metal (Guitar Hero 3)
If you’re looking for a real challenge on expert level – look no further. Oh boy, this is hard for any difficulty but if you can master this to its top potential – you’re the real video game professor. No one can destroy the metal!
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts: I Love Rock And Roll (Guitar Hero)
A sing along classic and something we can all agree with – we love rock and roll! This tune is super fun when you’re playing with your friends and it’s a good choice for any level player.
Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit (Guitar Hero 5)
If you’re compiling a list of rock legends, you’d have to include Nirvana. This list of best Guitar Hero songs is no exception.
This is probably the most popular Nirvana song and it’s a popular track of all time with Guitar Hero fans. Channel your inner Cobain and try not to destroy your bedroom!
Stevie Wonder: Superstition (Guitar Hero 5)
Get your funk on with this! Its upbeat tune and positive vibes give any guitar hero player an experience to love.
Slipknot: Before I Forget (Guitar Hero 3)
Try not to headbang while playing this! Slipknot’s quick and aggressive style challenges you to keep up with this one. It’s not the easiest song to play, but if you get it right – you’ll feel like a legend of the genre.
Metallica: Master Of Puppets (Guitar Hero: Metallica)
Master! Master! Anytime you hear that, your hairs stand up and you’re ready to rock! Another challenging song to play, it’s got everything that makes metal such a fantastic genre to guitar to.
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Fortunate Son (Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock)
Let CCR take you back to the ‘60s. The atmosphere seems to change in the room when you play this as it almost creates a 1960s montage in your mind. A great song to sing along to, you’ll love playing this one.
Passenger: Let Her Go (Guitar Hero Live)
Playing this acoustic song is a good way to unwind from all the heavy rocking. Insert this into your playlist if you feel things are getting a bit too crazy! A simple song to play on the new guitar which is an ideal way to practise.
Paramore: Misery Business (Guitar Hero: World Tour)
Quickening up the pace with one of Paramore’s best songs. Hayley Williams’ voice is the perfect fit to the guitar. It’s a very challenging song but for the expert players, you might find it a breeze compared to some others on this list.
Deep Purple: Smoke On The Water (Guitar Hero)
Many guitar players will tell you that this song is one of the easiest to learn, which is understandable. This sentiment transfers over to guitar hero, so if you’re a newbie – this is the song for you. It’s still a great song to listen to!
Slayer: Raining Blood (Guitar Hero 3)
A very heavy and angry song. It’s incredibly difficult to master, so getting 100% here is no joke. Fans of Slayer will certainly want to put this one on!
What’s Happening With Guitar Hero? Can We Expect Another?!
Well, it’s not exactly out of the question but another Guitar Hero anytime soon is highly unlikely. Ubisoft who now own the game series since buying it in 2017, have stated they don’t have anything in the pipeline for Guitar Hero.
Guitar Hero Live TV (GHTV) stopped working too in 2018, which disappointed countless players. The thing is, Guitar Hero did have a gap where no games were released from 2011-15, so maybe there’s a glimmer of hope for us?
So, What Games Are In The Guitar Hero Series?
Okay, so it’s easier just to focus on the main ones here, but we’ve included some songs on the list from series expansions. The seven main games are:
- Guitar Hero
- Guitar Hero 2
- Guitar Hero 3: Legends Of Rock
- Guitar Hero: World Tour
- Guitar Hero 5
- Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock
- Guitar Hero Live
Then we have the series expansions:
- Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The ‘80s
- Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
- Guitar Hero: Metallica
- Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
- Guitar Hero: Van Halen
There was also a Nintendo exclusive game called Guitar Hero: On Tour which was specifically for the DS – a handheld gaming device.
While we’re on that subject, the games developed moved with the times and were released on the newest consoles available at that time.
From Guitar Hero’s original release on the Playstation 2 to Guitar Hero Live’s compatibility with PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Wii and PS4.
Note: if you’re planning to purchase Guitar Hero games now, please check which device you wish to use it on.
Are There Any Other Games Like This?
If you were a fan of the Guitar Hero series and wanted to get a game that was similar but with no guitar – you could try DJ Hero! DJ Hero was a way to recreate the life of a real DJ. Instead of a guitar controller, a turntable controller is used! Pretty cool right?
If you’re not into that, you could stick with the guitar and add some drums and vocals with Band Hero. A game tailored to groups or families, it was the best way to emulate a real band.
There was also a competitor to Guitar Hero called Rockband. Rockband mirrored much of Guitar Hero’s gameplay and button controls etc.
It looks very similar on the screen and has a closely related design. Many players of both franchises have been angry over the years though as not all the games supported both controllers.
Other than these, you’ll find it extremely difficult to find another game like Guitar Hero.
Encore
And on that note, we’re pretty much done here! Guitar Hero is an amazing and unique gaming series with an experience that other games cannot yet replicate.
The Nintendo Wii has similar traits, in that it uses objects instead of traditional controllers but the other video games do not have the same feeling as Guitar Hero.
If you’re new to the video game series, it’s recommended you start on a lower difficulty level and work your way up – even if you play guitar!
Guitar and Guitar Hero are very different and some people think they can master the series straight away – it’s likely you’ll be booed off stage!
So, did you agree with our list? What would you have chosen? Whatever your preferences, we hope you’ve enjoyed reading our list of top 25 Guitar Hero songs!
Rock on!
Through this blog I hope to help and encourage others who have just started, or are on their own guitar playing journey. This blog is the ultimate guide to playing guitar, from the best guitars to purchase, to the easiest rock songs to play.
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