For drums, gameplay is similar, involving one less possible note players must hit a corresponding drum or cymbal when a note hits the bottom of the highway. Successfully playing the marked section will reward the player with star power, which can be used to double the combo multiplier for a limited time. Certain notes may also be part of a 'star power phrase', marked by a series of notes with star outlines. In addition to normal notes, there are 'HOPO's ('hammer-ons' and 'pull-offs') and 'tap notes', which both do not require the player to strum them to hit them, with the difference between the two being that a string of HOPOs must begin with a strum, and the player must re-strum if they miss a note.
There is also an 'open strum' note, represented with a purple bar, which requires the player to strum without pressing any other buttons. Notes can also be sustains, in which the player must hold the matching button(s) after strumming, the duration of the hold being indicated by a line following the note or chord. Notes can be singular, or multiple at a time, forming a chord. For guitar, players must hold specific buttons that line up with combinations of five colored notes that appear on the screen on a 'highway' when the notes hit the bottom of the highway, the player must strum to hit the notes in time with the music.
