After hearing it here first, we all knew it was a going to happen  we just didn't know if we would have to wait until E3 to see it. And now thanks to USA Today, we don't. That image you see above is actually an in-game shot for Harmonix's upcoming Rock Band 3. And sorry to Yaris, who originally reported it here but it is in fact a full keyboard. Your hopes and dreams of playing the keytar and starting a plastic instrument 80's band are now officially over. Hit the jump to take a look at the real life piano peripheral that will be invading coffee tables across the US!

Now if you can recall back to this time a year ago, the Harmonix team had just put the finishing touches on The Beatles: Rock Band, and after that project signed on Dhani Harrison, son of the late George Harrison to help them develop a Rock Band 3 where players would actually learn how to play real music. Here's a quick quote of what was said to the Chicago Tribune a year ago.

“I’m working on ‘Rock Band 3′ and making the controllers more real so people can actually learn how to play music while playing the game,” Harrison said. “Give me a couple years, it’s going to happen.”

Forget a couple, because apparently he's helped the team pull it off already. In Rock Band 3 not only is it the introduction of a fully functioning midi keyboard, but also another first in the series with Pro Mode. In it the usual color coded patterns are replaced with real musical notes. Although the keyboard is the only new addition, guitars controllers will be receiving an upgrade as well. These upgrades will come in the form of full size Stratocaster replicas that have actual strings. Accoring to Harmonix's Sylvain Dubrofsky, with it "you can go from plucking single notes to power chords and bar chords, we have crazy stuff like tapping and slides."

This means 2 things: First, Harmonix are the only real innovators in the whole rhythm genre. Second, Al, Jon, and Myself will be surrounded by groupies come this time next week at E3 so make sure to stay tuned for that.

Now in the meantime check out the keyboard heavy partial tracklist that has been revealed thus far.

2000sCombat Baby — MetricDead End Friends — Them Crooked VulturesGet Free — The VinesLasso — PhoenixMe Enamora — JuanesOh My God — Ida MariaPortions of Foxes — Rilo KileyThe Hardest Button to Button — The White Stripes

1990sBeen Caught Stealing — Jane's AddictionIn the Meantime — SpacehogPlush — Stone Temple PilotsWalkin' on the Sun — Smash Mouth

1980sCrazy Train — Ozzy OsbourneHere I Go Again — WhitesnakeI Love Rock and Roll — Joan JettJust Like Heaven — The CureRainbow in the Dark — DioThe Power of Love — Huey Lewis and the NewsSister Christian — Night Ranger

1960s-1970sBohemian Rhapsody — QueenBreak On Through — The DoorsCrosstown Traffic — Jimi Hendrix

Images VIA [USA Today] Quote from [Chicago Tribune]