Guitar Hero Three Unlock All Songs Cheat: What Most People Get Wrong

Look, we've all been there. You just dusted off the old Gibson Les Paul controller, plugged in the console, and realized you don't actually want to grind through the "Starting Out Small" tier for the tenth time just to play One or Raining Blood. You want the full setlist, and you want it now. But honestly, the guitar hero three unlock all songs cheat is one of the most misunderstood parts of the game. Most people think you just tap a few buttons and suddenly you’re Slash.

It's actually way more finicky than that.

The thing about Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is that it comes from an era where cheats were basically a secret handshake between the developers and the players. If you mess up the rhythm of the input, nothing happens. If you use the wrong controller, it might not register. And if you’re looking for the "Unlock Everything" code versus the "Unlock All Songs" code, you’re looking at two completely different beasts. One of them literally has no sound when you enter it correctly, which is enough to make anyone think their game is broken.

The Actual Code: No More Grinding

If you just want the songs available in Quick Play, this is your ticket. You need to head to the Options menu from the main screen, then find the Cheats section. Select Enter New Cheat. Now, grab your guitar. This code doesn't care about your feelings; it only cares about your timing.

You have to strum every single note.

The sequence is a mix of single notes and chords (holding two buttons at once). Here is the legendary string of inputs:

Yellow & Orange (Strum together)
Red & Blue
Red & Orange
Green & Blue
Red & Yellow
Yellow & Orange
Red & Yellow
Red & Blue
Green & Yellow (Strum twice)
Yellow & Blue (Strum twice)
Yellow & Orange (Strum twice)
Yellow & Blue
Yellow (Single note)
Red (Single note)
Red & Yellow
Red (Single note)
Yellow (Single note)
Orange (Single note)

If you did it right, a notification pops up telling you the songs are ready for Quick Play. If not? You probably strummed too fast or missed one of those pesky double-strums on the Yellow & Orange section.

Why Your Save File Might Be Safe (But Your Pride Isn't)

A huge misconception is that using the guitar hero three unlock all songs cheat will brick your save file or stop you from getting achievements. On the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, it's actually pretty chill. Unlike the "No Fail" cheat—which definitely disables your ability to save or climb the leaderboards—the song unlock code is mostly just a shortcut for local play.

However, there is a catch.

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These songs are only unlocked for Quick Play. If you go back into Career Mode, they’ll still be locked behind the tiers. You still have to "earn" them to see the credits roll or unlock the specific career-related achievements. It’s basically a "party mode" toggle. You can play Through the Fire and the Flames with your friends on a Friday night, but you haven't technically beaten the game yet.

The "Unlock Everything" Alternative

There is a much crazier code. It’s often called the "Everything" code because it unlocks every song, every guitar, every character (hello, Lou and Tom Morello), and every skin.

But here’s the kicker: it’s silent.

When you enter the "Unlock Everything" code, the game doesn't make the usual "pling" sound for each note. It’s eerie. You just hold down the chords in order:

1. [Green, Red, Blue, Orange] 2. [Green, Red, Yellow, Blue]
2. [Green, Red, Yellow, Orange]
3. [Green, Yellow, Blue, Orange]
4. [Green, Red, Yellow, Blue]
5. [Red, Yellow, Blue, Orange]
6. [Green, Red, Yellow, Blue]
7. [Green, Yellow, Blue, Orange]
8. [Green, Red, Yellow, Blue]
9. [Green, Red, Yellow, Orange]
10. [Green, Red, Yellow, Orange]
11. [Green, Red, Yellow, Blue]
12. [Green, Red, Yellow, Orange]

If you finish that sequence and nothing happens, check your shop. If everything is priced at $0, you nailed it.

Common Hardware Blunders

Are you trying to enter this on a standard controller? Stop. Seriously. While some versions of the game let you use a DualShock or an Xbox gamepad, the cheat menu is designed for the guitar's fret logic. On a standard controller, the mapping is usually L2/R2 or LT/RT for the frets, and it feels like trying to play piano with your elbows.

Also, if you're on the Wii, make sure your guitar is actually synced before you start. The Wii version is notorious for dropped inputs in the menu.

What This Cheat Actually Unlocks

People forget how massive the Guitar Hero III setlist really is. We aren't just talking about the 40ish main career tracks. You're getting:

• Bonus Tracks: All the indie and hidden gems like FCP Remix by The Fall of Troy and Impulse by An Endless Sporadic.
• Co-op Encores: This is the big one. Songs like The Beastie Boys' Sabotage or The Strokes' Reptilia are usually locked behind the Co-op Career. If you don't have a second player, the cheat is the only way to play these solo in Quick Play.
• The Boss Battles: You get access to the "Guitar Battle" tracks against Tom Morello, Slash, and Lou the Devil.

Just a heads up though—the cheat won't give you DLC. Since the storefronts for these older consoles are mostly ghost towns or completely shut down, those old DragonForce or Metallica packs are gone unless you already bought them years ago.

Managing Your Expectations

Look, using a cheat code doesn't make the game easier. It just gives you the tools to fail at a harder level. If you unlock One by Metallica but you can't handle the "Fast Solo A" section, the cheat isn't going to save you. In fact, most experts suggest you don't use the "Unlock Everything" code if you're a new player. There's a psychological benefit to working your way up from Slow Ride.

But hey, if you just want to hear the music and see the plastic notes fly by, go for it.

To make sure the cheat sticks, always ensure you’ve selected a save slot before entering the menu. Sometimes the game will "forget" the cheats if you play as a Guest or if your internal battery (especially on those old PS2s) is dying.

Actionable Next Steps:

1. Verify your version: If you’re playing on PC with a mod like Clone Hero, these codes won’t work—you just need to import the song files directly.
2. Practice the rhythm: Don't just mash. Strum with a steady 120 BPM beat while holding the chords to ensure the game registers the input.
3. Check the "Toggles": Some cheats, once entered, need to be "turned on" with the Green button in the Cheats list. The "Unlock All Songs" cheat is usually permanent once the notification appears, but others like "Hyperspeed" or "No Fail" must be manually enabled every time you boot the game.