With Guitar Hero Live, we’re bringing a new level of immersion to the series and it all begins with the controller. Alongside live-action crowds and bands that react to how you play with GH Live and a new 24-hour playable music video network with GHTV, Guitar Hero Live features a completely redesigned controller that is more authentic, easier to learn, and harder to master. Here are six things you need to know about the new controller.

The New Six-Button Layout

Gone are the days of five colorful buttons aligned in a single row. Instead, Guitar Hero Live employs a new design with six buttons stacked in two rows of three. Not only does it look and feel more like a real guitar, it makes the game both easier to learn and more difficult to master. When starting out on beginner difficulty, you’ll be able to focus on the lower three buttons, but as your skills evolve and you dial up the difficulty, the second row of buttons are introduced along with more complex button combinations.

Striking a Chord

One of the most significant benefits of the new six-button layout is the capacity to form chord shapes. In addition to making full use of the six buttons for single note chains, at higher difficulty levels you’ll also be combining button presses to mimic bar chords and more elaborate chord shapes. The gestures feel more natural, but also create a new layer of challenge for more experienced players.

A New Look

On top of the new control scheme, the Guitar Hero Live also received an aesthetic overhaul.  With a black body, white and gold accents, and a wood-like brown plastic neck with painted frets, the controller takes on a more modern and authentic design.

I Want My GHTV

Guitar Hero Live combines two modes—GH Live and GHTV. While GH Live is all about bringing you closer to the on-stage experience with a first-person perspective, live-action crowds and bands that react to how you play, GHTV is all about discovering new music through the world’s first playable music video network. With the new Guitar Hero Live controller, you can jump into GHTV at any time with a tap of the GHTV button, making it easier than ever to sample new music and engage in some friendly competition with your friends, online or in-person.

The Return of the Classics

For all of its innovations, however, the new guitar controller retains some of the best qualities of the previous versions. The new Guitar Hero Live controller features the classic strum bar design, as well as the original whammy bar.

It’s Coming to Mobile

For the first time ever, the complete Guitar Hero experience is coming to select smartphones and tablets—the new guitar controller and all. Guitar Hero Live on mobile will be just like the console version, offering both of the new modes GH Live and GHTV. You can even hook up your mobile device to your TV and play on the big screen.

Looking for more on Guitar Hero Live? Check out our in-depth coverage of the new game and watch the world reveal from earlier this week in New York. You can also get all the latest by following @Activision on Twitter, and as always, staying tuned to the Activision Games Blog.