How to make Guitar Hero Charts. This guide covers everything you need to know! Learn theĀ basics of using feedback 0.97b chart editor. MoreĀ advanced techniques are also covered, be sure to check them out.
Feedback 0.97b by Turkeyman
Probably the most well known chart editor available for Guitar Hero and it offers a graphical interface similar to the game. The interface isĀ very intuitive to use and much of the basic usability is covered within the programs own help section I won’t list that here.Ā Definitely take the time to learn the shortcut keys, some of the more useful ones are listed below under “various tips & techniques”.
By forcing a note, we are actually reversing it’s propertyĀ from a HOPO note to a strummed note, or vice-versa. A HOPO is a note which can be playedĀ in sequence just by fretting, no strumming required. An example of this is the intro to Through the Fire and Flames by Dragonforce. In the expert chart it is only necessary to strum the first note. By default, any notes which are 1/12th step apart or closer are automatically a HOPO note within the game. In addition, any chords you place are strummed notes by default.
To force a note:
- In feedback chart editor, go to the note you want toĀ force
- Push the āWā Key and put an asterisk in the event box (*)
- Save the chart file
- UsingĀ GH Tools (click to download), open the saved chart file and press the “force notes” button
- A new version of your file will be created ready to be imported into the game
To add a tapping note:
- In feedback chart editor, go to the note you want toĀ change to a tapping note
- Push the āWā Key and put aĀ TĀ in the event box
- Save the chart file
- In GH Tools, open the saved chart file and press the “force notes” button
- A new version of your file will be created ready to be imported into the game
ThisĀ will help you to visualise how forced notes and tapping sections work
If you open up a .chart file in notepad, you’ll see something like this;
21888 = N 1 0
21888Ā = E *
22080 = N 4Ā 0
22272 = N 0 0
22464 = N 1 0
22656 = N 3Ā 0
22656Ā = E T
What does this mean?
- The five digit numbers in italics – represent the “time” within the chart.
- “N” – represents a “note”.
- “E” – represents an “event”.
- The numbers (I have colored) – represent the frets placed, inĀ feedback.
The notes are numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 for green, red, yellow, blue, orangeĀ respectively. So for instance, if you addĀ a red noteĀ in feedback, it’ll translate to “N 1 0” in the .chart file. When you add the chart using GHTCP, the game will show this as a red note.
Using events to add forced notes or tapping notes
When you add an event, you’ll see an “E” followed by the event name. The event name is whatever you enter into feedback at the time – in the example I have added two events, one named “*” and another named “T”. It has become standard practice to add a * where you want a forced note, and a T where you want a tapping note.
Once you have added events, it is simple to open the chart in notepad and use “find and replace” to convert all instances of “E *” to “N 5 0”, and all instances of “E T” to “N 6 0”. These values force the note, or add a tapping note. An even easier way is to convert the events is to use GH Tools; just drag your file into the program and click “force notes” – it converts them instantly!
Forced notes, add a “N 5 0” value, at the same “time” as another note – this forces the game to invert it’s normal strum/HOPO property. Likewise, tapping notes add an “N 6 0” value at the same time as another note. With tapping notes, the resultant note or chord can be hit by just fretting with no strumming required.
#1Ā if you try opening a chart with forced/tapping notes in feedback, the program will crash as soon as you get to that part of the chart. In order to reopen the chart in feedback without it crashing you willĀ need to eitherĀ use the original unmodified chart, or remove the forced/tapping notes (easily done inĀ GH Tools, selecting “unforce notes!”).
#2 if youĀ add an event in feedback, you must remove that event if you plan on changing the note. For example, if you have an asterisk (*) next to a green note and need to change it to a red note make sure you remove the event first, and then change the note. If you don’t do this, feedback will crash when you later attempt to add a new event in the same place.
#3 if you add a tapping note in a place where no notes are charted, it will create a broken section which would require the player to fret the note twice.
#4 if you add two forced notes of the same color in a row, it will create a broken section where the second note in the sequence will need to be played after releasing the fret and strumming again.
Various tips and techniques
Fretboards are saved in FEEDBACKThemesDefaultFretboards. It is possible to create your own, they just need to be 256x512px and saved in .png format. If you download feedback from this site, I have included a few which I madeĀ which are really basic. This allows you to focus on creating an amazing chart!
- Uber Juice – I’ve chartedĀ a very fast sequence of RG YR O. This section is possible because the timing windows allow you toĀ hit it a lot slower by starting to fret it early and hitting the last orangeĀ late.
- Juggernaut – orange notes are placed between green & orange chords, this makes the section look a lot faster than it is (a few people unknowingly called that the section was impossible when they first saw the chart preview!).
- Chaos – this song is full of unique and insane looking sequences, one example is this fast sweep of GRYBYRG which can be hit by taking advantage of the timing window.
Bear in mind that none of these examples are particularly “easy” to hit, they are all challenging in their own way. It can be a really interesting way to add some uniqueness toĀ a chart. It is best to add sections like these tastefully. I wouldn’t recommend spammingĀ these all over a well polished chart just for the sake of making it “look”Ā harder than it is, unless you are going for that like in the chart I made forĀ “Chaos”.

You can create “broken chords” in feedback by using copy and paste.
- add a sustain note (in theĀ example, you would start with a single blue sustain which is the entire length of the chord).
- go back to the beginningĀ of the note, hold the shift key and move forward one step to select that note. With the note selected, copy it.
- Proceed to add the second sustain (in this example a red sustain note). When you add the second sustain, the first one will shorten and at that point, you can go back to the first note and press CTRL+V.
- As a result, you will have a broken chord sustain which begins with a blue note, and proceeds to a red note partway through.
- You can add even more notes! Continue the process by selecting from the beginning of the first note up until the beginning of the second, copy, rinse and repeat.
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If you have any suggestions or corrections, post a comment. I will keep this page up to date with the best techniques.

Hey, Schmutz. That Asshole YouTube Guy here (otherwise known as Arioch). I was wondering if I could ask a favour of you.
I have this chart that needs notes forced but the GHTools isn’t working for me for some reason. Could I ask if you’re willing to force the notes for me? I have the notes already selected (following your Asterisk rule on your tutorial) so there’s no need to open the chart. However, I’m not sure if the asterisk rule applies to chords as well. If not, can I explain which ones I need forced so you can force them as well for me?
Again, I only need the notes forced from strums to hopos, not taps or open notes.
Thanks a whole bunch, Schmutz. <3
That Asshole Guy (Arioch).
Never mind, Schmutz, I’ve forced them the difficult way using Wordpad thanks to your explanation.
Your help is greatly appreciated and I’ll be sure to give you a link in my video.
Thanks a bunch! <3