Rock Band Hints and Tips for the Wii

Fret Shifting

• One of the biggest issues many players have with the guitar or bass on higher difficulty levels is with using all five fret buttons. Many players try to relegate the blue and orange fret buttons to the pinky. This can work, but it is an inefficient tactic. Very few songs have notes that use the two end buttons (green and orange) together. The easiest way to deal with all five fret buttons is to shift your hand. If green notes are coming up, keep your index finger on the green button. If orange notes are appearing, shift your hand so your index finger is on the red button. Your pinky will naturally rest on the orange button, while your ring finger covers the blue button. In some cases, you do need to stretch your hand to cover the green and orange buttons, but only do this when it is absolutely necessary.

Singing

• The singing parts of "Rock Band" tend to throw people off. Those without much singing or musical experience tend to focus on the lyrics. However, "Rock Band" does not analyze if you are saying the correct lyrics -- it focuses on the actual singing ability in the form of pitch and rhythm. Don't get hung up on the lyrics. Messing up the words is not what results in penalties. You are getting penalized because you did not make the right pitch at the right time. If you say the wrong word with the right pitch at the right time, the game will interpret it as being correct.

Heel Up Drum Pedal

• Most players place their entire foot onto the drum pedal and use it like a car pedal. Professional drummers refer to this as the "heel down" method, which has its merits. However, the "heel down" method does not translate very well to "Rock Band." It's initially a little easier to use this method, but it is slow and will tire you out fairly quickly. The "heel up" method works better within the context of "Rock Band." Place your toes on the end of the pedal, and leave your heel hanging in the air. This position may seem awkward at first, but after some practice, it should become second nature. Using the "heel up" method on the drum pedal is faster, which is vital on higher difficulties, and uses less muscles, allowing you to play longer without tiring.

Endless Setlist

• The Endless Setlist contains all 58 songs in one setlist. This serves as the final challenge in "World Tour" mode. The Endless Setlist can be beaten, but it lasts over four and a half hours. Even on medium, most people struggle to complete it, since it is primarily an endurance challenge. The most effective way to complete it is to divide it into manageable chunks. Pause the game when you start to get tired, take a break and return to the game once you've rested. This makes the Endless Setlist much easier to deal with.