We knew they were giving us keyboard, right? Everyone called that pretty early on and even before Harmonix was cool enough to nod and smirk bashfully about the fact there was indeed a keyboard; we knew. That, more songs and possibly a theme were all the rumors swirling but we thought the buck stopped there. However, it didn’t. Not even by a long shot.

When we sat in the closed-door demonstration of just what Rock Band 3 was going to be like, we were enthralled by their energy. These guys and girls? They loved what they were doing and it was nice to see that the passion in their project was carried through even to the display of their product. John Drake bounced in place on the stage, back and forth on his feet while he happily hammered out on the keyboard while then picking up duties as our emcee to explain the processes. Yes, we have a keyboard. YES, we have more songs. As of launch, there will be a full 2000 games in the Rock Band catalog.. which is huge. Then, they showcased the new modes in which you and your friends can set up “Band Practice” and have setlists and goals for your band to keep you rocking daily, weekly or monthly.

I must’ve forgotten something. Ah well, couldn’t have been important.

Just kidding, as if I could actually forget the extreme meat to the revolution of Rock Band 3. This time around, they completely bridged the gaps between “Just a music game” to “Teaching you how to play music.. game” and turned it into something real. We’re not just fiddling on plastic guitars anymore that give us no true education in musical tablature — no, we get to LEARN how to play through our favorite songs in the Rock Band arsenal. Mad Catz is licensed with the Mustang, an actual Rock Band guitar modded out for the Pro series in Rock Band. Strings, over a hundred seperate string “keys” so much authenticity in a controller. (You’ll find out more in our Mad Catz hands-on for E3!) And then there’s the beautiful Fender Squier Stratocaster which is a full guitar that can be also used with Rock Band 3 and an amp seperately for when your gaming stops and your real life tours begin.

The guys couldn’t have shown us any easier the new functionality of the menu and the focus on making music not just about the separation between music gamer and musician — but that with gaming, anything is possible.