For a straightforward local multiplayer setup on a PC, use Clone Hero: connect one input device per player, select the instrument in each player’s profile, then choose Quickplay. You can test the setup with keyboards or gamepads before buying guitars. If you mean Guitar Hero Live, its separate two-player setup requires two guitars and two wireless USB receivers.
Choose the game and platform
Clone Hero is a current option for playing a Guitar Hero-style rhythm game with multiple people on one device. Its official site lists Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. The instructions below focus on PC; menus and device setup can vary by platform and controller.
Clone Hero’s manual says Quickplay allows “1 or more local players” to play songs from the current song list. For a score battle, it also offers Offline Versus. A guitar is not required: the game supports keyboards and gamepads as well as guitar controllers.
Set up local play in Clone Hero
- Connect an input for each player. Start with one keyboard, gamepad, or guitar controller per player. For a wireless guitar, check its model and console origin before connecting; some require a specific receiver.
- Open a profile. Press Start, then select a profile. The official manual recommends choosing a profile before troubleshooting menu navigation.
- Select the instrument and configure controls. In the profile menu, choose Controller and select the instrument. Bind controls in the controls section if needed. When using a keyboard or gamepad instead of a guitar, enable Gamepad Mode to remove the strum requirement.
- Choose Quickplay. Select a song from the current song list and have each local player join with their configured input. Choose Offline Versus instead if you want a score battle.
Repeat the profile and controller setup for each player. The key practical check is whether the game recognizes each device as a separate input; connecting two devices does not by itself guarantee that every pairing will work without configuration.
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If the second controller is not recognized
- Check the connection first. Confirm both devices are connected and recognized individually by the operating system and game.
- Verify the receiver or adapter. Compatibility depends on the exact guitar and its connection type. For example, the Clone Hero controller guide says an Xbox 360 Guitar Hero 5 guitar needs an Xbox 360 receiver. Check the guide’s model-specific compatibility information rather than assuming a generic adapter will work.
- Check how the inputs are mapped. Make sure the second device has not simply been mapped onto the first player’s controls. Select the correct instrument in the second player’s profile and bind controls if necessary.
- Test before replacing hardware. Try a keyboard or gamepad to confirm the local-play flow, then investigate the guitar’s model, host platform, and receiver requirements.
Clone Hero’s documentation describes supported input types and model-specific connection considerations, but it does not guarantee that every pair of legacy guitars will work out of the box.
Guitar Hero Live uses a different two-player setup
Activision’s support instructions for Guitar Hero Live, dated November 22, 2019, specify: “Two dongles and two guitar controllers are required for local multiplayer.” The steps below apply to Guitar Hero Live, not Clone Hero or every Guitar Hero game.
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- Sync Player One’s guitar as usual.
- Plug in the second wireless USB receiver, then put that receiver and the second guitar into pairing mode.
- Choose the account or profile for the second guitar, then use Select to pair it to Player Two.
- Start Quickplay. Player Two presses Pause to join.
Activision says the Guitar Hero Live campaign is single-player; multiplayer is available in Quickplay, and Player Two can log in only as a guest.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know before buying guitars
A compatible 5-fret guitar most closely matches classic Guitar Hero play, but a guitar is optional for Clone Hero. The official controller guide identifies the PDP Riffmaster as a new high-quality guitar option and lists a price of roughly USD 130; price, stock, and platform variants can change, so confirm them before buying.
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For used original guitars, the community-maintained Clone Hero guide suggests checking thrift shops, pawn shops, local marketplaces, and eBay auctions. It describes instruments under USD 60 as generally worth considering; that is buying guidance from the wiki, not a current market survey. The same guide cautions that used originals tend to be overpriced on Amazon and that third-party guitars are often low quality.
Before purchasing any legacy instrument, identify its model, console origin, connection method, and required receiver. If you only want to see whether local multiplayer works, begin with a keyboard or gamepad you already own.
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