At the main menu, select "Options", "Cheats", "Enter New Cheat", then enter one of the following codes to unlock the corresponding cheat option. If you entered the code correctly, a message will appear.

Always Slide

Press Green(2), Red(2), Yellow, Red, Yellow, Blue. This mode turns all guitar notes (not chords) into touch pad sliding notes connected by purple lines.

Always Drum Fill

Press Red(3), Blue(2), Green(2), Yellow.

Auto Kick

Press Yellow, Green, Red, Blue(4), Red. This mode automatically plays the bass pedal for the drummer.

Hyperguitar, Hyperbass, and Hyperdrums

Press Green, Blue, Red, Yellow(2), Red, Green(2).

Line 6 Effects

Press Green, Red, Yellow, Blue, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green to unlock additional Line 6 effects in the Music Studio.

Performance mode

Press Yellow(2), Blue, Red, Blue, Green, Red(2).

Metallica Costumes

Press Green, Red, Yellow, Blue(2), Yellow, Red, Green.

Invisible Rocker

Press Green, Red, Yellow(3), Blue(2), Green.

Air Instruments

Press Red(2), Blue, Yellow, Green(3), Yellow.

Black Highway

Press Yellow, Red, Green, Red, Green, Red(2), Blue.

Flame Color

Press Green, Red, Green, Blue, Red(2), Yellow, Blue.

Gem Color

Press Blue, Red(2), Green, Red, Green, Red, Yellow.

Star Color

Press Red(2), Yellow, Red, Blue, Red, Red, Blue.

Vocal Fireball

Press Red, Green(2), Yellow, Blue, Green, Yellow, Green.

Successfully complete the indicated task in Career mode to unlock the corresponding character:

James Hetfield: Get 100 stars on vocals.
James Hetfield (Classic): Get 150 stars on vocals.
James Hetfield (Zombie): Get 200 stars on vocals.
King Diamond: Successfully complete the "Evil" song with any instrument.
Kirk Hammet: Get 100 stars on guitar.
Kirk Hammet (Classic): Get 150 stars on guitar.
Kirk Hammet (Zombie): Get 200 stars on guitar.
Lars Ulrich: Get 100 stars on drums.
Lars Ulrich (Classic): Get 150 stars on drums.
Lars Ulrich (Zombie): Get 200 stars on drums.
Lemmy: Successfully complete the "Ace Of Spades" song with any instrument.
Marcus Fretshreder: Get 55 stars on guitar.
Matty Cannz: Get 55 stars on drums.
Riki Lee: Get 55 stars on vocals.
Rob Trujillo: Get 100 stars on bass.
Rob Trujillo (Classic): Get 150 stars on bass.
Rob Trujillo (Zombie): Get 200 stars on bass.
Shirley Crowley: Get 55 stars on bass.
Zach Harmon: Get 100 stars in a band.
Zach Harmon (Classic): Get 150 stars in a band.
Zach Harmon (Zombie): Get 200 stars in a band.

Successfully complete the indicated task in Career mode to unlock the corresponding instrument:

Klown bass: Get 45 stars on bass.
Mean Green bass: Get 25 stars on bass.

Successfully complete the indicated task in Career mode to unlock the corresponding song:

"Broken, Beat & Scarred": Successfully complete "The Thing That Should Not Be" song with any instrument.
"Cyanide": Successfully complete "The Thing That Should Not Be" song with any instrument.
"My Apocalypse": Successfully complete "The Thing That Should Not Be" song with any instrument.