Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock cemented itself as a cornerstone of the rhythm game genre, largely thanks to its iconic and diverse setlist. For fans and newcomers alike, understanding the full tracklist is key to appreciating the game’s enduring appeal. This guide breaks down every song in Guitar Hero 3, from the starting tiers to the face-melting bonus tracks, offering a comprehensive look at the music that fueled countless hours of rocking out.
Tier 1: Start Your Rock Journey
The initial tier of Guitar Hero 3 serves as the perfect warm-up, introducing players to the core mechanics with familiar rock anthems.
- Foghat – Slow Ride
- Poison – Talk Dirty to Me
- Pat Benatar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot
- Social Distortion – Story of My Life
Encore:
- Kiss – Rock and Roll All Nite
Co-op Encore:
- Beastie Boys – Sabotage
Tier 2: Stepping Up the Challenge
Tier 2 ramps up the difficulty, demanding more precision and introducing faster tempos as you progress through these classic tracks.
- Mountain – Mississippi Queen
- Alice Cooper – School’s Out
- Cream – Sunshine of Your Life
- Heart – Barracuda
Boss Battle:
- Tom Morello – Guitar Battle
Encore:
- Rage Against the Machine – Bull’s on Parade
Co-op Encore:
- The Strokes – Reptilia
Tier 3: Embracing Modern Rock
Tier 3 blends classic rock sensibilities with the energy of modern rock bands, providing a dynamic mix of guitar-driven tunes.
- The Killers – When You Were Young
- AFI – Miss Murder
- The Who – The Seeker
- Priestess – Lay Down
Encore:
- Rolling Stones – Paint It Black
Co-op Encore:
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Suck My Kiss
Tier 4: Hard Rock and Stadium Anthems
Tier 4 enters heavier territory, featuring iconic hard rock and stadium anthems that are sure to get your fingers flying across the fretboard.
- Black Sabbath – Paranoid
- Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the UK
- Sonic Youth – Kool Thing
- Weezer – My Name Is Jonas
Encore:
- Pearl Jam – Evenflow
Co-op Encore:
- Blue Oyster Cult – Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll
Tier 5: Pushing Your Limits
Tier 5 truly starts to challenge your Guitar Hero skills, introducing faster, more complex tracks that demand accuracy and stamina.
- Dead Kennedys – Holiday in Cambodia
- Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane
- Aerosmith – Same Old Song and Dance
- ZZ Top – La Grange
Boss Battle:
- Slash – Guitar Battle
Encore:
- Guns N Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
Co-op Encore:
- Bloc Party – Helicopter
Tier 6: Into the Metal Zone
Tier 6 delves deeper into heavier sounds, featuring a mix of hard rock and metal tracks that will test your fret-shredding abilities.
- Santana – Black Magic Woman
- Smashing Pumpkins – Cherub Rock
- White Zombie – Black Sunshine
- Tenacious D – The Metal
Encore:
- Stevie Ray Vaughan – Pride and Joy
Co-op Encore:
- Matchbook Romance – Monsters
Tier 7: Nearing Guitar Hero Mastery
Tier 7 represents the pinnacle of the main setlist, offering some of the most challenging and rewarding songs in Guitar Hero 3.
- Slipknot – Before I Forget
- Disturbed – Stricken
- Queens of the Stone Age – 3’s & 7’s
- Muse – Knights of Cydonia
Encore:
- Living Colour – Cult of Personality
Tier 8: Legendary Guitar Hero Territory
Tier 8 is reserved for true Guitar Hero legends, featuring incredibly difficult and iconic tracks that will push your skills to the absolute limit.
- Slayer – Raining Blood
- Eric Johnson – Cliffs of Dover
- Iron Maiden – Number of the Beast
- Metallica – One
Boss Battle:
- Lou – Guitar Battle
Encore:
- The Devil Went Down to Georgia (Charlie Daniels Band)
Bonus Tracks: The Extended Guitar Hero Experience
Beyond the main tiers, Guitar Hero 3 boasts an extensive list of bonus tracks, offering a diverse range of genres and difficulties for dedicated players to unlock and master. These tracks provide even more replayability and cater to varied musical tastes.
- An Endless Sporadic – Impulse
- Backyard Babies – Minus Celsius
- Bret Michaels Band – Go That Far
- Die Toten Hosen – Hier Kommit Alex
- DragonForce – Through the Fire and Flames
- Fall of Troy – FCP Remix
- Gallows – In the Belly of a Shark
- The Hellacopters – I’m in the Band
- Heroes del Silencio – Avalancha
- In Flames – Take This Life
- Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby
- Killswitch Engage – My Curse
- LA Slum Lords – Dow Dave Says
- LA Slum Lords – Down N Dirty
- Lacuna Coil – Closer
- Lions – Metal Heavy Lady
- NAAST – Mauvais Garcon
- Prototype – The Way It Ends
- Revolverhead – Generation Rock
- Rise Against – Prayer of the Refugee
- Scouts of St. Sebastian – In Love
- Senses Fail – Can’t Be Saved
- The Sleeping – Don’t Hold Back
- The Stone Roses – She Bangs the Drums
- Superbus – Radio Song
Guitar Hero 3’s setlist remains a benchmark in rhythm game history. From accessible rock anthems to face-melting metal tracks and a plethora of bonus songs, it provided an unparalleled experience for virtual guitarists worldwide. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just picking up the guitar controller again, the GH3 setlist is a journey through rock and roll that’s always worth revisiting.
