Guitar Hero Complete Guide (9 Sections) | AntMag

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Welcome to the ultimate Guitar Hero hub! Released in 2005 by Harmonix Music Systems and published by Activision, this PlayStation 2 exclusive lets you live out your rockstar dreams. You'll be strumming along to iconic rock anthems, mastering tricky HOPOs, and unlocking new characters as you progress from the garage to the stage. It's a true test of rhythm and reflexes, perfect for anyone who's ever wanted to feel the thrill of a live performance.

This guide is your backstage pass to Guitar Hero mastery. We'll break down everything you need to know, from getting set up to advanced techniques. Stuck on a particular song like 'Thunder Horse' or struggling to earn that Gold Medal on 'Higher Ground'? We've got you covered. Dive in to conquer every legendary track and dominate the game.

Part 1

Welcome to the guide for the most challenging song in Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, "Through the Fire and Flames." This guide will provide guitar tabs for each difficulty level, preceded by introductory sections and followed by a closing and credits.

Song Information:

Artist: Dragonforce
Song Length: 7 minutes 19 seconds
Year: 2006
Original Game: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Venue in Career: Quebec City
Exportable to GH5/BH: No

Version History:

Version 0.00 (01/05/2010): Guide started.
Version 0.50 (08/05/2010): Hard and Expert difficulties completed. Easy and Medium may be added later.

Copyright Notice: This guide is protected by copyright. Copying or distributing it without explicit permission and proper credit will result in severe consequences. Full, exact copying is permitted only with both permission and credit.

Tabs Overview:

The tabs section includes layouts and keys for each difficulty:

Layout: Explains the structure of the tab notation, including fret colors (Green, Red, Yellow, Blue, Orange) and beat timing. Easy difficulty omits Blue and Orange, Medium omits Orange, while Hard and Expert include all five colors.
Key: Defines the fret colors used in the tabs.
Easy: Tabs for the Easy difficulty.
Medium: Tabs for the Medium difficulty.
Hard: Tabs for the Hard difficulty.
Expert: Tabs for the Expert difficulty.

A basic tab section is represented as:

G|----------------|
R|----------------|
Y|----------------|
B|----------------|
O|----------------|
  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Dashes represent rests, and notes replace dashes in the correct position. Numbers indicate beats, and plus signs denote notes between beats.

Part 2

This section details the note chart for the Hard difficulty in Guitar Hero Smash Hits. The tabs represent the fretboard, with each column representing an eighth note. Different rows correspond to the guitar strings (G, R, Y, B, O for Green, Red, Yellow, Blue, Orange). Chords are indicated when multiple notes appear in the same column across different rows.

Key to Notes:

O = Normal note (requires strumming).
o = Hammer-on/pull-off (no strumming needed if the previous note was hit correctly).
# = Keyboard note (no strumming needed, can be played with the touch strip).
O++++++ = Sustained note (hold the fret after playing until the note ends).
O* = Star note (playing this sequence fills the Star Power meter). If a sustained note is a star note, the first '+' will be an asterisk. Multiple consecutive star notes may only show an asterisk on the last one.

Hard Difficulty Notes:

Total notes: 2723

(The following are representations of the note charts for various song sections. Each section is labeled with a song title and a letter, e.g., <PRELUDE A>, <THROUGH THE FIRE A>.)

Prelude A

G|----------------|----------#---#-|----------------|----------#---#-| R|#-----#---------|------#-----#---|#*----#*--------|------#-----#---| Y|--#-----#-------|--#-----#-------|--#*----#*------|--#-----#-------| B|----#-----#---#-|----#-----------|----#*----#*--#-|----#-----------| O|------------#---|#---------------|------------#*--|#---------------|   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

G|----------------|----------#---#-|----------------|----------#---#-| R|#-----#---------|------#-----#---|#-----#---------|------#-----#---| Y|--#-----#-------|--#-----#-------|--#-----#-------|--#-----#-------| B|----#-----#---#-|----#-----------|----#-----#---#-|----#-----------| O|------------#---|#---------------|------------#---|#---------------|   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Prelude B

G|----------------|----------#---#-|----------------|----------#*--#*| R|#-----#---------|------#-----#---|#-----#---------|------#*----#*--| Y|--#-----#-------|--#-----#-------|--#-----#-------|--#-----#*------| B|----#-----#---#-|----#-----------|----#-----#---#-|----#*----------| O|------------#---|#---------------|------------#---|#---------------|   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

G|----------------|----------#---#-|----------------|---------------o| R|#*----#---------|------#-----#---|#-----#---------|----o---o----o--| Y|--#-----#-------|--#-----#-------|--#-----#-------|---o-o---o--o---| B|----#-----#---#-|----#-----------|----#-----#---#-|-o-----o---o----| O|------------#---|#---------------|------------#---|o---------------|   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Through the Fire A

G|----O-----O---O-|----O-----O---O-|----O-----O---O-|----O-----O---O-| R|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| Y|o-O---O-O---O---|O-O---O-O---O---|----------------|----------------| B|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| O|----------------|----------------|O-O---O-O---O---|O-O---O-O---O---|   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

G|----O-----O---O-|----O-----O---O-|----O-----O---O-|----------------| R|----------------|----------------|----------------|o---------------| Y|----------------|----------------|O-O---O-O---O---|-o----------o+++| B|O-O---O-O---O---|O-O---O-O---O---|----------------|---o--o---o-----| O|----------------|----------------|----------------|----o---o-------|   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Through the Fire B

G|----O*----O*--O*|----O-----O---O-|----O-----O---O-|----O-----O---O-| R|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| Y|O*O*--O*O*--O*--|O*O---O-O---O---|----------------|----------------| B|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| O|----------------|----------------|O-O---O-O---O---|O-O---O-O---O---|   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

G|----O-----O---O-|----O-----O---O-|----o-------o---|----------------| R|----------------|----------------|---o-o-----o-o--|----------------| Y|----------------|----------------|-o-----o-o------|----------------| B|O-O---O-O---O---|O-O---O-O---O---|O-------o------o+++++++++++++++++| O|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +  1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Part 3

Alright, let's dive into Part 3 of Guitar Hero Smash Hits! This section is where things really start to ramp up, so get ready to flex those fingers. We're going to break down the note charts section by section, just like we've been doing. Remember, it's all about recognizing the patterns and hitting them cleanly. Don't get discouraged if a section feels tough at first; that's what practice is for!

We'll be looking at Verse 1A, Verse 1B, Verse 1C, the Bridge, and the Pre-Chorus sections. Each has its own unique challenges and rhythms, so pay close attention to the details. We're aiming for those Gold Stars, so let's get into the nitty-gritty of each part.

Part 4

Alright, let's dive into Part 4 of Guitar Hero Smash Hits! This section is all about getting comfortable with the song's structure and hitting those tricky note sequences. We'll break down the main parts so you can nail them every time.

Walkthrough

1
Pre-Chorus 1B: This is where things start to pick up. You'll see a pattern of Green, Red, and Yellow notes. Focus on hitting the single Green notes quickly, followed by the rapid-fire Red and Yellow notes.
2
Chorus 1A: This is a big one! Expect a lot of sustained Green notes mixed with quick bursts of Red and Yellow. The key here is to maintain your strumming hand speed and be ready for the quick transitions. Don't forget the Orange notes that pop up at the end of some phrases.
3
Chorus 1B: Similar to the first chorus, but with a slightly different rhythm. Pay close attention to the timing of the Green and Orange notes. There are some quick hammer-ons and pull-offs on the Yellow and Red strings here, so keep your fingers nimble.
4
Interlude 1A: This part slows down a bit, giving you a chance to breathe. You'll see a mix of single notes across all strings, often with a few quick triplets. Focus on accuracy rather than speed.
5
Interlude 1B: This interlude continues the slightly more relaxed feel, but introduces some more complex strumming patterns. Listen to the rhythm and try to match it. There are some sustained notes that require good finger control.
6
Verse 2A: We're back to a more driving rhythm here. You'll encounter quick Green, Red, and Yellow note combinations. The star notes (marked with '*') are crucial for building your Star Power, so make sure to hit those accurately.
7
Verse 2B: This verse builds on the previous one with more complex note chains. You'll see a lot of rapid-fire notes on the Green and Red strings, interspersed with Yellow and Blue. Keep your strumming hand moving consistently.
8
Bridge 2: This section often serves as a build-up to a final chorus or solo. Expect a mix of sustained notes and quick bursts. The pattern might seem a bit unusual at first, but once you recognize the rhythm, it becomes manageable.

Tips

Listen to the song! Understanding the song's rhythm and melody will make hitting the notes much easier.
Don't be afraid to use Star Power during the choruses (Chorus 1A and 1B) to rack up points.
Practice the tricky sections (like the rapid-fire notes in Verse 2B) slowly at first, then gradually increase your speed.
Focus on hitting the star notes accurately to maximize your Star Power meter.
The interludes are great opportunities to recover and prepare for the more intense sections.