Accessories

1. Official Rock Band 2 Cymbal Expansion Kit (Wii, 360, PS3)

Pros: Allows for modular cymbal expansion, can hit either pads or cymbals for beginners, brings new dimension to note charts

Cons: Makes drumming more difficult, but in a good way, occasional double taps

Cost: Approximately $19.99 for one, $29.99 for two, $39.99 for three

If ever you needed proof that more challenging = more fun, then the cymbal expansion kit for Rock Band 2 is that proof. When added to your Rock Band 2 kit, the cymbals allow you to hit either the drum pad or the cymbal while playing songs turning the act of learning a note chart into not only learning when to hit the right colors, but when yellow is a drum and when yellow is a cymbal. Granted, you don't have to do this when learning the chart, but once you get it right, even for a small sequence of notes, well, good luck going back.

With the modularity of the cymbals you can start out slow with just one cymbal, and use the colored fasteners that come with the cymbal to tell you what color you're using the cymbal for and then work your way up to having the full compliment of crash, high-hat and ride cymbals on your kit. During freestyle mode the cymbals act as cymbals and the pads act as drums allowing you riff to your heart's content. Set up is easy with a good range of positions, especially given the compact nature of the drum kit. I noticed an occasional double hit when I first set up my cymbals but after tinkering with the tightness and learning how hit the cymbal, those double taps went away. Are the cymbals absolutely necessary? Heck no, but if you feel like you're starting to master the drums in Rock Band 2, add these bad boys to your kit and have fun learning everything all over again.

2. Rock Band 2 Electro-Harmonix Overdive Pedal (Wii, 360, PS3)

Pros: Deploys overdrive easily for those that keep missing notes when tilting the guitar, adds a sense of rock realism, sturdy construction

Cons: Pricey, you have to keep track of the pedal with your foot, signals a full on obsession with Rock Band

Cost: Approximately $19.99 for one, $29.99 for two, $39.99 for three

So there I was, balcony of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, watching Eric Clapton on tour, summer of 1990. There was a bass solo going on so Slowhand was just sitting back, taking it easy and having a cigarette. Yeah the bass solo was cool and all but I was watching Clapton as he just chilled out, searching for any sign of what was to come. As the bass solo ended, I saw Clapton stand up, stick his lit cigarette in the nut of the guitar, step on a foot pedal and then launch into a blistering rendition of Layla.

That imagery of hitting the pedal and then playing some of the finest notes to ever come out of a guitar seared into my mind the magic of the foot pedal. I can't say that the Overdrive pedal for Rock Band 2 will give you Clapton-like powers, but if you're like me and you keep missing notes every time you tilt the guitar, stepping forward and hitting that pedal makes it easier to deploy overdrive and makes you feel just a little bit more like a rock star. The thing is all metal with a big ol' button and rubber feet so that it won't go anywhere as you press down on it. Granted you now need to keep track of where the pedal is as you're playing, but once you keep track of it, deploying overdrive with either a light step or a full fledged stomp is easy as can be. Good luck explaining this one to the wife or girlfriend, but they should be used to dealing with temperamental artists by now.

However you choose to rock out with Rock Band 2, there are plenty of hardware choices. If you're looking for nothing but quality shredding time as you climb the heights of the online leader boards, a copy of Rock Band 2 and a Les Paul wireless guitar has what you need. If the siren song of Karoake calls to you, a copy of the game and the Mad Catz MIC will have you crooning in your living room before you can say "Margaritaville". Finally, if you want nothing less than the full blown, rock and roll lifestyle experience, a Rock Band 2 wireless guitar and drum kit, paired with the Mad Catz Precision Bass and MIC will provide enough quality hardware for your band to shake the very foundations of rock.

As more gear comes out, with even more choices on how you shred, pound, sing and groove, we'll be updating this guide, to make sure that if you wanna rock, we've got you covered.

Questions or comments? We'd love to hear from you .