Minigames of Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile: Backstage Pass in the Help > Controls > Minigames menu.
This page will use screenshots of an HQ version of the game mostly in 352 px × 416 px. Backgrounds for LQ versions and other HQ versions may differ.
Most minigames from Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass returns in Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile: Backstage Pass except the Busking minigames. There are a variety of minigames with different gameplay styles. Certain minigames can increase or decrease your attributes (Fame, Buzz, and Cash) depending on your performance in certain minigames. Some minigames like Leafleting can add risks like Fines.
Rehearse[]
"A series of notes will scroll down from the top of the screen. The Player has to press the appropriate button(1, 2 or 3) as the notes pass under the circles at the bottom. When longer notes pass under the bar, the relevant button needs to be held down. If the button is held after the note passes underneath the score is lost so the Player has to release at the right time.
On touch screen phones the Player has to tap the appropriate place on the screen as the notes pass under the button. When longer notes pass under the bar, the Player should not release their finger. If their finger is held down after the note passes underneath the circles, the score is lost so the Player has to release at the right time."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Rehearse
Before new songs can be played at gigs on certain instruments, they must be rehearsed at a Venue first with that instrument (see Play Gig's rhythm minigames for details). The Rehearse minigame is the standard 3-lane rhythm minigame where green, red, and yellow notes come down a highway (plus purple bars in a Lars on Drums rehearsal). Hitting notes perfectly gives 50 points and hitting notes from a distance give less notes. Also, be sure to release long notes at the end of their tail or you'll lose all the points you acquired from the long note if you hold pass the long notes.
Your goal in the Rehearse minigame is to complete at least 1 high score threshold to increase the song's instrumental Rehearsal level (or "Star Rating" as told on pop-up tutorials) by 1 per high score threshold achieved at the end of the rehearsal. The higher the level, the more notes the song will have during rehearsals and the more venues the song can be played at (for more details, see Play Gig).
Physical controls:
Axel on Guitar minigame's help screen while rehearsing.
1: Hit green notes2: Hit red notes3: Hit yellow notes5: Hit purple bars (Lars on Drums)- Hold to raise the lip icon's pitch, release to lower (Casey on Vocals)
Right Soft Key: Pause
Leafleting[]
"You have a supply of leaflets to distribute to potential fans. While they walk past you in the street use the left and right Navigation keys (4 & 6) to move and the action button (5) to throw leaflets at the passersby. Some are more receptive to your leaflets than others. This is indicated in the bubble above the heads when they catch a leaflet. Each person will only catch one leaflet before running off screen.
On touch screen phones, tap the target pedestrian to throw a leaflet at them.
At the end of the game your Buzz attribute will increase depending on how many passerby you leafleted and how receptive they were."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Leafleting
The goal in the Leafleting minigame is to increase your Buzz by throwing leaflets at pedestrians interested in your gigs but you will lose some Cash (in accordance to your Fame) throwing each leaflet so try not to miss your throws.
- Skaters: Skaters occasionally appear and move fast but successfully throwing leaflets at them give the most Buzz.
- Rock Chicks and Rock Dudes: Rock chicks and rock dudes commonly appear and give you some Buzz for throwing leaflets at them. You primarily would want to throw your Leaflets at them until you can manage to target skaters.
- Businessmen and Businesswomen: Businessmen and businesswomen don't care about your leaflets. Throwing leaflets at them will give 0 Buzz.
- Grannies: Grannies hate your leaflets so avoid them. Throwing leaflets at grannies will decrease your Buzz.
Cops on the way!!!
There is a time limit until the minigame is over but the time limit meter also has a cop marker on it. When the time limit passes the cop marker, the cops have been called as leafleting is an illegal activity: The green time limit meter becomes red, and you could receive a message on screen at any moment (unless you're lucky not to) stating that you are busted and fined without further warning. If you are fined, you must pay the Law Court the amount you are owed (first time is free to new players). The amount of Fines you receive are based on your Fame attribute (higher Fame = more Fines).
For more information about Fines and jail time, see Instructions in Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass § Law Court.
To prevent this from happening, press the Left Soft Key to Flee and end the minigame after the cops are called. However, you can stay to earn more Buzz in the minigame while risking your Cash and risking being Fined (thus losing more Cash if you were to pay them). If you are lucky enough, cops may not appear at all by the end of the minigame's time limit and you can get away leafleting in that full session.
"High risk = high reward."
However, it is much preferable to earn Buzz by doing interviews at Publicities instead of Leafleting as doing interviews require no money and is not risky while rewarding a lot of Buzz when a lot of viewers are tuned in. However, when Publicities are closed and you need some quick Buzz, Leafleting is still an option and more Buzz from leafleting can be earned later in the game.
Physical controls:
4or←:Strafe left6or→:Strafe right5,OK, or 👇:Throw leaflet at the touched direction (or forward with a key)Left Soft Key:Flee (ends the minigame immediately during the minigame), Ok (when caught by cops to end minigame)Right Soft Key: Pause
Watch Gig[]
"This option allows the Player to watch the chosen band perform a gig. Afterwards, there may be a chance to hire one of the band members."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Watch Gig
Watching a gig featuring the drummer Lars.
Watch a band playing a small gig. If there is a recurring Guitar Hero character in the non-playable band, you may be able to recruit them during the story by completing certain conditions and you'll be able to play as them and their type of instrument at gigs.
- Lars on Drums: Lars is the drummer for The What, which is a band that is playing at the 2-star venue Vodka A Go-Go. 100 Buzz is required to hire him, which can be quickly obtained by completing an interview (recommended), or slowly obtained by completing multiple Leafleting minigames (not recommended as it costs too much Cash). After recruiting him, the Lars on Drums and Drum Solo minigames become available and the song "Go Your Own Way" is unlocked with a 5-star Drums Rehearsal level.
- Casey on Vocals: Casey is the vocalist for 2D, which is a band that is playing at the 3-star venue Satire Icon. She is recruitable when you are getting a Contract from the 2-star record label Nowt. After recruiting her, the Casey on Vocals minigame becomes available and the song "Rock & Roll Band" is unlocked with a 5-star Vocals Rehearsal level.
- Judy on Bass: Judy is the bassist for T.Regina, which is a band playing at the 4-star venue Wobbley. You must show that you own $1,000,000 (none will be taken away) to persuade Judy to join your band as a bassist. After recruiting her, the Judy on Bass minigame becomes available and the song "1979" is unlocked with a 5-star Bass Rehearsal level.
Other than unlocking these specific musicians during the story mode, there is no point to watch any other gigs except to waste time.
Axe Battle[]
"Take it in turns to play Guitar duels against opponents from other bands."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Axe Battle
Axe Battle is a guitar face-off between you [Axel] and a rival band's guitarist in the Axel on Guitar minigame that can be done at certain venues that features the band's logo on them. The goal is to perform better than the rival band's guitarist in best two-of-three sessions of short jams, surpassing their high scores.
There are nine in-game bands that the player can compete and there are no requirements to challenge them. Defeating a new band for the first time will unlock a guitar as a reward for defeating them. Defeating them also rewards the player Fame.
- The What: Located at the 2-star venue Vodka A Go-Go in the Southwest District. Guitar #2 awarded for defeating their lead axeman.
- 2D: Located at the 3-star venue Satire Icon Vodka A Go-Go in the Northwest District. Guitar #3 awarded for defeating their lead axeman.
- 240 Volts: Located at the 2-star venue Vodka A Go-Go in the Northwest District. Guitar #6 awarded for defeating their lead axeman.
- T.Regina: Located at the 4-star venue Wobbley in the Southeast District. Guitar #4 awarded for defeating their lead axeman.
- Blynd Lyon: Located at the 1-star venue Veil Inn in the Southeast District. Guitar #5 awarded for defeating their lead axeman.
- Ampersand: Located at the 2-star venue Vodka A Go-Go in the Southeast District. Guitar #7 awarded for defeating their lead axeman.
- Rack: Located at the 4-star venue Hobb's End in the Northeast District. Guitar #8 awarded for defeating their lead axeman.
- Nuns & Moses: Located at the 5-star venue Woodstick in the Northeast District. Guitar #9 awarded for defeating their lead axeman. This was the band that kicked Axel out in the first place after failing to meet expectations at Woodstick in the beginning of the game so you are battling your replacement.
- Satan: After winning every other Axe Battle, the demon Satan takes over the 4-star venue Hobb's End where the band Rack was at in the Northeast District. Guitar #10 is awarded for defeating him.
Play Gig[]
Play your rehearsed songs to an audience at a venue they can be played at based on their Rehearsed level.
Axel on Guitar[]
"A series of notes will scroll down from the top of the screen. The Player has to press the appropriate button(1, 2 or 3 (and 5 if playing drums)) as the notes pass under the circles at the bottom. When longer notes pass under the bar, the relevant button needs to be held down. If the button is held after the note passes underneath the score is lost so the Player has to release at the right time.
On touch screen phones the Player has to touch the appropriate buttons as the note pass under the bar, the relevant button needs to be held down. If the button is held down after the note passes underneath the score is lost so the Player has to release at the right time.
Star Power doubles the score for each note."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Axel on Guitar
Axel on Guitar minigame.
Axel on Guitar plays exactly like Fret Frenzy from Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass of being the standard 3-lane rhythm minigame and it is unlocked from the start of the game. As the title of the minigame suggests, Axel Steel is playing guitar on the stage.
Aim for the target score to get better star ratings for your song after the gig. Hitting a starred note adds a unit of Star Power. It can be activated during the minigame for a short period of time to double score from notes from 50 to 100 points, or you could save it for other gig-based minigames.
Physical controls:
Axel on Guitar's help screen.
1: Hit green notes2: Hit red notes3: Hit yellow notesLeft Soft Key: Star PowerRight Soft Key: Pause
Lars on Drums[]
"A series of notes will scroll down from the top of the screen. The Player has to press the appropriate button(1, 2 or 3 (and 5 if playing drums)) as the notes pass under the circles at the bottom. When longer notes pass under the bar, the relevant button needs to be held down. If the button is held after the note passes underneath the score is lost so the Player has to release at the right time.
On touch screen phones the Player has to touch the appropriate buttons as the note pass under the bar, the relevant button needs to be held down. If the button is held down after the note passes underneath the score is lost so the Player has to release at the right time.
Star Power doubles the score for each note."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Lars on Drums
Lars on Drums minigame.
Lars on Drums is the drums version of the the "Fret Frenzy"/Axel on Guitar minigame that includes purple bars as an extra note type that can be played with 5 button on mobile devices with physical buttons. As the title of the minigame suggests, Lars Ümlaüt is playing drums on the stage. This minigame is unlocked by recruiting Lars after watching his gig at the 2-star venue Vodka A Go-Go (requires 100 Buzz to recruit him) during the story.
Aim for the target score to get better star ratings for your song after the gig. Hitting a starred note adds a unit of Star Power. It can be activated during the minigame for a short period of time to double score from notes from 50 to 100 points, or you could save it for other gig-based minigames.
Physical controls:
Lars on Drums' help screen
1: Hit green notes2: Hit red notes3: Hit yellow notes5: Hit purple barsLeft Soft Key: Star PowerRight Soft Key: Pause
Casey on Vocals[]
"Use the Action button to manage the ascent of the lips icon. On touch screen phones, tap the onscreen button. Control the icon over the notes as they scroll on screen. Pass over as many notes as possible to achieve the top score.
Star Power decreases the total amount of rows the notes appear on."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Casey on Vocals
Casey on Vocals minigame.
Casey on Vocals minigame plays differently than the other instruments and it is unlocked by recruiting Casey on Vocals at the 3-star venue Satire Icon when attempting to get a Contract from the 2-star record label Nowt. Instead of a 3-lane highway with notes on screen, there is a horizontal highway going across the top of the screen with your lips icon on the left side and vocal lines scrolling from right to left.
Use and hold the action button, 5, or tap it on screen to lift up the lips icon and aim/align inside the vocal lines to score points. Release the action button/5 to drop the lips icon by gravity to get to lower pitches. When the lips icon is inside a vocal line, it is magnetized to the vocal line so you don't need to hold the action button/5 when the lips is inside a vocal line.
Some vocal lines will have a blue star gives you a unit of Star Power when you perform good on the vocal line. Activating Star Power will decrease the number of vocal lines for a short period of time, as in, reducing difficulty.
Vocals is considered to be the most difficult instrument to play due to its gravity-based controls as it is not possible elevating the lips icon perfectly in nearby vocal notes that are too far apart so activating Star Power in Vocals is highly recommended to reach the targeted score (little under the targeted score is good enough to reach "perfect" for this minigame when going for a 5-star Fan Reaction).
Physical controls:
Casey on Vocals' help screen.
5orOK: Hold to raise the lip icon's pitch, release to lowerLeft Soft Key: Star PowerRight Soft Key: Pause
Judy on Bass[]
"A series of notes will scroll down from the top of the screen. The Player has to press the appropriate button(1, 2 or 3 (and 5 if playing drums)) as the notes pass under the circles at the bottom. When longer notes pass under the bar, the relevant button needs to be held down. If the button is held after the note passes underneath the score is lost so the Player has to release at the right time.
On touch screen phones the Player has to touch the appropriate buttons as the note pass under the bar, the relevant button needs to be held down. If the button is held down after the note passes underneath the score is lost so the Player has to release at the right time.
Star Power doubles the score for each note."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Judy on Bass
Judy on Bass minigame.
Judy on Bass is the Bass version of the the "Fret Frenzy"/Axel on Guitar minigame. As the title of the minigame suggests, Judy Nails is playing bass on the stage. This final instrumental minigame is unlocked by recruiting Judy after watching her gig at the 4-star venue Wobbley (must show $1,000,000 to recruit her) during the story.
Aim for the target score to get better star ratings for your song after the gig. Hitting a starred note adds a unit of Star Power. It can be activated during the minigame for a short period of time to double score from notes from 50 to 100 points, or you could save it for other gig-based minigames.
Unlike in Guitar Hero World Tour, newer console games, and Guitar Hero 5 Mobile that feature open notes (purple bars) on Bass, Bass in Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile: Backstage Pass does not have open notes.
Physical controls:
Judy on Bass's help screen.
1: Hit green notes2: Hit red notes3: Hit yellow notesLeft Soft Key: Star PowerRight Soft Key: Pause
Spotlight Slide[]
"After the spotlight stops, the Player has to set the power of the slide by pressing the action button so they finish the centre of the spotlight.
On touch screen phones, the power is set by tapping the gauge.
Star Power decreases the speed of the power bar."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Spotlight Slide
Spotlight Slide minigame.
Spotlight Slide is one of the middle minigames that may occur during gigs as early as 1-star venues. A spotlight appears on the left side of the screen. A horizontal power meter quickly alternates between red and green. Make sure the center of the colors is all the way left into the green before pressing the action button/5 to make Axel knee slide inside the spotlight to achieve perfect 100 points. The closer Axel knee slides to the center of the spotlight, the more points earned.
You may use any available Star Power units you have to slow the power meter and you may acquire Star Power units along the way.
Physical controls:
Spotlight Slide's help screen.
5orOK: Slide in the direction of the meter.Left Soft Key: Star PowerRight Soft Key: Pause
Drum Solo[]
"A sequence of arrows will scroll along the top of the screen. The sequence then disappears and you have to repeat it using the Navigation keys (2, 4, 6, 8).
On touch screen phones, you have to repeat the sequence by tapping the correct arrow.
Star Power allows one mistake per Star."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Drum Solo
Drum Solo minigame.
Drum Solo is one of the middle minigames that may occur during gigs (in 2-star venues and higher) after Lars was recruited on Drums. It plays similar to the Axe Solo Busking minigame from Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass of being a memory-based minigame.
Memorize a sequence of colored arrows/numbers displayed on screen and once they disappear, press/touch the corresponding arrow/numbers that were previously shown. The number of arrows to memorize increases at higher-level venues (6 arrows in 2-star venues, 7 arrows in 3-star venues, 8 arrows in 4-star venues, and 9 arrows in 5-star venues).
You may activate Star Power to negate upcoming mistakes per Star and treat as if you successfully hit the correct arrow. No Star Power units will be taken away for perfecting it on your own. Star Power units can also be acquired during this minigame when you successfully hit an arrow with a blue star on it.
Physical controls:
Drum Solo's help screen.
2or↑: Hit Blue Up Arrows4or←: Hit Red Left Arrows6or→: Hit Green Right Arrows8or↓: Hit Purple Down ArrowsLeft Soft Key: Star PowerRight Soft Key: Pause
Crowd Surfing[]
"This minigame is only available if you are performing well to a packed venue.
You must use the Navigation keys (2, 4, 6, 8) to surf on top of the crowd. Target fans will jump up and down and are indicated using an exclamation mark. You must try and surf over as many target fans as possible before time runs out. You are scored on how many target fans you successfully surf over. Mexican waves occur randomly and may help or hinder your progress."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Crowd Surfing
Crowd Surfing minigame.
Crowd Surfing is one of the middle minigames that may occur during gigs but only if you are performing well in a packed venue as you need a lot of guests in the crowd to carry you around.
Use the navigation keys or 2, 4, 6, or 8 to move on top of guests and navigate to fans jumping for attention until the timer runs out. Some guests will occasionally have extra Star Power units if you navigate to them but they'll disappear if you don't get them. Using Star Power in this minigame will temporarily increase Axel's surfing speed until all Star Power units drain.
The crowd can also create a "water wave" with their arms across the screen left, right, up, or down, which will push Axel into that direction (which can make Axel move slow if against the wave of raised arms or faster if going along side it). If Axel accidentally falls off the crowd in a partially-filled gig (a gig of full audience will have no pits), he'll be able to jump back into the crowd in a few seconds.
100 points is required for a perfect performance. 5 or 10 points is earned normally per attention received depending on the Star Rating difficulty of the venue.
Physical controls:
Crowd Surfing minigame's help screen.
2or↑: Move up4or←: Move left6or→: Move right8or↓: Move downLeft Soft Key: Star PowerRight Soft Key: Pause
Hold the Note[]
"The Player fills the gauge by keeping the needle over the notes as they appear using the up & down navigation keys (2 & 8). You are scored based on how full the gauge is.
On touchscreen phones, the Player fills the gauge by keeping the needle over the notes as they appear by tapping and holding the arrows.
Star Power decreases the frequency of the notes changing."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Hold the Note
Hold the Note minigame.
Hold the Note minigame is a middle minigame that may occur after Casey was recruited on Vocals. The player fills a scoring gauge by navigating a needle on a vertical meter up to note, holding the needle on the note symbol on the meter but the note frequently shifts locations up, then down, then back up, and down again... The goal is to acquire at least 90 points before time ends to perfect this minigame (100 points maximum). This can be tricky as the note symbol shifts locations quickly and there is momentum/acceleration moving the needle up and down so it is recommend to shortly move to the opposite direction before the note symbol appears in that direction.
Blue stars can also appear on the vertical meter that can give you Star Power units when aiming the needle to them. Activating Star Power decreases the frequency of the notes changing and doubles the speed of points earned when holding the needle on notes.
Physical controls:
Hold the Note's help screen.
2or↑: Hold to move/accelerate the needle up8or↓: Hold to move/accelerate the needle downRight Soft Key: Pause
Raise the Roof[]
"The Player should hold the action button to start the throw sequence. As the action button is held the angle of the throw increases. The Player should try and release the action button when the needle is pointing as straight up as possible. After hurling the guitar, the Player will see how high it goes before having to catch it. The Player has to press the action button when the arrow on the altimeter descends into the green zone.
On touch screen phones, the Player should tap and hold the button to start the throw sequence. Then the angle of the throw increases. The Player should try and release the button when the needle is pointing as straight up as possible. After hurling the guitar, the Player will see how high it goes before having to catch it. The Player to tap the button when the arrow on the altimeter descends into the green zone.
Star Power decreases the speed of the throw needle."—Help > Controls > Minigames > Raise the Roof
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Raise the Roof is a middle minigame that may occur after Judy was recruited on Bass. The player holds {Button|Mbl|OK}}, 5, or the touch screen to adjust the distance of the throw and aim for the center of the balance meter within the green area of the meter to potentially receive 100 points (any later past center decreases score). Releasing the button outside the green center will throw Judy's bass guitar off-screen, giving you a low score.
If the bass guitar is successfully thrown upward, keep your eye on the altimeter (the red vertical meter) and when the needle on the altimeter hits a green zone on the low end of the altimeter, press the OK, 5, or touchscreen again to catch the bass guitar. Do not press the it too soon and be patient for the altimeter to drop. If you miss or tap too soon, you'll lose half your points. 90 points is required for a perfect performance, maxing at 100 points.
Activating Star Power during this minigame seems to have no effect other than changing the color of the balance meter from green to blue, but no Star Power units are taken away in this minigame.
Physical controls:
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Raise the Roof's help screen
5orOK: Hold and release to throw the bass up high, press to catch the falling bassLeft Soft Key: Star PowerRight Soft Key: Pause
Finale[]
"Finish your gig in a style by hammering the Navigation button(2, 4, 6, 8) shown on screen as fast as possible before the timer runs out. You can use any Star Power you have built up by pressing the Right Soft Key at any time. Be careful, Star Power is a one-shot boost so timing is everything!"—Help > Controls > Minigames > Spotlight Slide
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Finale minigame.
Finale is the final minigame played during gigs before the results screen. It is a button-masher minigame where you mash a single button (Hint: Spam both the directional and corresponding number keys to quickly get in green) to fill the meter into the green and keep the meter into the green until time runs out. If you stop pressing the displayed button, the meter will drop back towards red.
You can also use all units of Star Power you obtained in minigames to boost your score by pressing the Right Soft Key and fill up the meter by the amount of Star Power units you have.
The Finale minigame in this game is much easier than in Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass. In Guitar Hero III: Backstage Pass, the Finale minigame requires the player to constantly button-mash the same directional and number buttons until the timer runs out. In Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile: Backstage Pass, the meter fills up very quickly at earlier venues but they do require faster tapping at later venues. The minigame ends as soon as the meter is completely full.
When you unlock more characters for other instruments, additional sequences will be added to the Finale minigame, one for each character. When you fill up the meter for one character, the camera switches to another character where you mash a different button for each recruited character and the mashing difficulty increases as you switch from character to character.
Physical controls:
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Finale's help screen.
2or↑: Fill up the finale meter that displays the Blue Up Arrow4or←: Fill up the finale meter that displays the Red Left Arrow6or→: Fill up the finale meter that displays the Green Right Arrow8or↓: Fill up the finale meter that displays the Purple Down ArrowLeft Soft Key: Star PowerRight Soft Key: Pause