Non‐technical summary  Rhythmic activity patterns are a common theme throughout neuroscience. However, it is still poorly understood how network functions are modulated by fast oscillatory inputs from distant brain regions. In this respect, the striatum is particularly interesting as almost all neuronal activity is driven by long‐range inputs. We find that the three main classes of neurones in the striatum show very distinct oscillatory activity patterns in specific frequency ranges. In particular, we show that fast‐spiking interneurones are highly sensitive to fast fluctuating synaptic inputs in the intact brain. This sensitivity was probably due to a combination of faster dynamics of synaptic inputs and intrinsic amplification of high‐frequency signals. In contrast, projection neurones and other interneurones lacking these mechanisms were insensitive to fast oscillatory input patterns. These results suggest that transmission of fast cortical oscillatory inputs modulates information processing in the striatum via engagement of fast‐spiking interneurones.