Frets on Fire made keyboard play famous: hold the keyboard upside down, use F1–F5 as frets, strum with Enter or Space. Guitar controllers made Guitar Hero famous. Both work in Frets on Fire, Clone Hero and YARG — but they suit different players, and the choice changes what you should buy.
Keyboard
- Pros: free (you already own one), precise for fast single-note runs, and the authentic Frets on Fire experience.
- Cons: ghosting drops chords on cheap and laptop keyboards (see the ghosting fix), holding a keyboard like a guitar is awkward for long sessions, and there is no whammy or tilt for star power.
Guitar controller
- Pros: the intended feel, a real strum bar, tilt for star power/overdrive, and a much better party-game experience.
- Cons: costs money, needs the right dongle or receiver, and used guitars vary wildly in condition.
Verdict
Start on keyboard — it costs nothing and tells you whether you actually enjoy the genre. Buy a guitar controller when you know you will keep playing: see best guitar controllers for PC rhythm games (sponsored links, prices checked 2026-10-24) and, for wireless Xbox 360 guitars, the receiver guide.
Browse the full hub. Related guides: best guitar controllers pc rhythm games, keyboard ghosting nkro, frets on fire vs clone hero.