USA Today has the scoop on Harmonix and MTV Games’ Rock Band 3, bringing official confirmation that a keyboard will indeed join the drums, guitar and microphone as a new playable instrument, with the inclusion of a 25-key, fully functioning MIDI keyboard in the package.

Not only will Rock Band 3 introduce a keyboard for all budding and veteran Rock Band players out there, but Harmonix will be introducing a ‘Rock Band Pro’ mode for expert players. This mode replaces the coloured tabs that usually scroll down the screen with more realistic music notation. From the USA Today article explaining the feature:

“For guitar, numbers flow down the screen along six guitar strings, telling you where to place your hands on the neck and when to strum.”

Harmonix is including this new mode in an effort to get hardcore Rock Band players to try and play real instruments, as opposed to the plastic stuff used for interaction with the game.

Matching this new Rock Band Pro mode will be the introduction of two new realistic guitars with real strings (one a full-sized replica Squier Stratocaster from Fender and the other a Fender Mustang Pro controller from accessory maker Mad Catz), while for drums, three new cymbals will be available in addition to the standard four drum pads – with these additions, you’re forced to play the correct cymbal at the right time.

You should definitely read the full USA Today article over here to get all the nitty gritty details.

You can see a prototype of the Rock Band 3 keyboard in action in this informative video interview with developers at Harmonix.

A partial tracklist for Rock Band 3 has also been announced, and is as follows (broken down by era):

2000s

• Combat Baby — Metric
• Dead End Friends — Them Crooked Vultures
• Get Free — The Vines
• Lasso — Phoenix
• Me Enamora — Juanes
• Oh My God — Ida Maria
• Portions of Foxes — Rilo Kiley
• The Hardest Button to Button — The White Stripes

1990s

• Been Caught Stealing — Jane’s Addiction
• In the Meantime — Spacehog
• Plush — Stone Temple Pilots
• Walkin’ on the Sun — Smash Mouth

1980s

• Crazy Train — Ozzy Osbourne
• Here I Go Again — Whitesnake
• I Love Rock and Roll — Joan Jett
• Just Like Heaven — The Cure
• Rainbow in the Dark — Dio
• The Power of Love — Huey Lewis and the News
• Sister Christian — Night Ranger

1960s-1970s

• Bohemian Rhapsody — Queen
• Break On Through — The Doors
• Crosstown Traffic — Jimi Hendrix