UPDATE: So it seems that Ars Technica has a deep-cover mole reporting that the keyboards in question will actually be a – brace for it – keytar! Yep, no keyboard stand for you, buddy. throw a guitar strap on and you too can be diving off the couch and duck-walking across the stage as you tickle the virtual ivories.

Also, more information was mentioned regarding the rumors of a new “Pro” mode that would teach actual instrument skills.

Lastly, it looks like Mad Catz, in a continuing bid to shake their former image as purveyors of shoddy hardware, will be handling all of the peripheral duties for Rock Band 3, leaving EA and MTV Games to focus on the software side of the game alone. Multiple bundle configurations, independent of software, are rumored.

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A two-song demo ( “Welcome to Paradise” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” to be specific) for the upcoming Green Day: Rock Band hit the Xbox Live Marketplace for Gold members yesterday and Harmonix seems to have tacked-on a small, but significant tease for Rock Band 3.

You see, upon exiting the demo, the familiar Rock Band line-up of circular instrument icons next to a very large number “3.” However, rather than the standard four (bass, drums, guitar and vocals), there are now five icons. What’s the fifth? Why, those look like piano keys to us! Also, the vocal icon now shows three mics, apparently confirming rumors that the three-part harmonies from The Beatles: Rock Band will be entering the main game.

But back to the keyboards for a second. I’m of two minds about this issue. On one hand, more plastic crap to buy and take up space. On the other, keyboards! Does this mean more synthpop? Could Prog-Rock Band be just around the corner? Who doesn’t want to put on their Rick Wakeman cape and do King Arthur on ice? My inner music geek is doing backflips right now.

What do you all think? Have you totally burned out on music games by this point? Or are you now a bit more curious to see what other new features Harmonix will roll out at E3 2010?

[Image Courtesy of Kotaku]