Category: Acoustic Songs

Amie (lead solo) Pure Prairie League
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In this lesson we will be covering the solo for Amie note for note. The solo is based in A Pentatonic Major / Country Scale. We will be talking about the scales, chord tones, and general theory behind the solo so you can improvise of the changes as well.

Melissa by The Allman Brothers Band
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Learn the classic acoustic tune Melissa by the Allman Brothers Band. Mostly written in the key of E, the verse applies a nice E major to F#m to G#m chord progression with the added B and high E strings ringing throughout to create a beautiful sound revolving around the tonal center of E, even as you glide through the minor chords. The pre chorus and chorus make use of several barre chords so be prepared for barre chord shapes using the low E and A string as the root.

Oh My Darling (Clementine)
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In this lesson we will be learning a chord melody version of Oh My Darling Clementine.  This is a great song to learn chord melody as the melody is fairly simple and just three chords are used, G, G7, and C.

Have You Ever Seen The Rain by CCR
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Have You Ever Seen The Rain is played in the key of C and uses open chords C, G, F, Am with some transitional chords in the chorus.  We will be covering the arrangement along with a couple strumming pattern options.

Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts
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In this lesson we will be learning Summer Breeze by Seals and Croft on acoustic guitar.  There are 4 sections, intro, verse, chorus, and bridge. Mostly open chords are used, but the bridge does present some tricky slash chords.

Worry You Off My Mind by Big Bill Broonzy
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Worrying You Off My Mind is a solo acoustic blues tune by Big Bill Broonzy.  It is played fingerstyle as most of the old blues were and uses an Eb tuning.  It does not follow a typical 12 Bar Blues pattern but rather an 8 bar progression with the occasional extra bar added in. While solo acoustic blues is not easy, this is a relatively simple arrangement for the genre.

Jam Man by Chet Atkins
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In this lesson we will be learning the main theme to Chet Atkins’ Jam Man. One of the main concepts behind Chet’s playing is his use of Travis picking and use of a thumb pick. Both are covered in this relatively simple piece of music. Great way to get started with the Chet Atkin’s style.

Blue Moon Of Kentucky by Bill Monroe (Chord Melody)
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In this lesson we will be learning Bill Monroe’s Blue Moon of Kentucky.  We will be learning this chord melody style with a pick although you could use your fingers as well.  The song consists of just 3 chords- I, IV, V in the key of A.

The Needle And The Damage Done by Neil Young
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In this lesson we will be learning The Needle and The Damage Done by Neil Young. The chord progression consists of just a few chords but incorporates some very nice melodic lines and descending bass line.

Patience Solos by Guns N Roses
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In this lesson we will be learning the lead solo parts to Patience. We will be covering the intro solo and the main solo in the middle. Slash applies great melodic licks that follow the chord progression. A good one to study and analyze.

Patience by Guns N Roses
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In this lesson we will be studying the acoustic tune Patience by Guns N Roses. The song requires you to tune down a 1/2 step to be in tune with the original recording. From a chord standpoint it uses mostly easy open chords but does apply some melodic lines within. The arrangement is made up of 3 parts, verse, chorus, and an outro vamp. We will be studying the lead solos in a separate lesson.

Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
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In this lesson we will be learning Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper.  The lesson is taught on acoustic guitar but could easily be played on either acoustic or electric.  The most challenging part is the melodic chordal intro theme.  Other than the intro, it is mainly open chord strumming.  Remember to tune down a half step to be in tune with the original recording.

Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
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Description

In this lesson we will be learning Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. The song, played on acoustic guitar, is mad up of 2 parts.  The majority of the song is played fingerstyle using mostly open chords.  The bridge consists of open chords with a simple strumming pattern

Jesus Take The Wheel by Carrie Underwood
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In this lesson we will be learning Jesus Take The Wheel by Carrie Underwood.  The song is relatively simple from and arrangement and strumming perspective.  However, there is the use of some slash and barre chords along with melodic lines in the D chord before the chorus.

The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars
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The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars is a relatively simple tune with a reggae feel.  With a reggae feel you will be playing on the up beats rather than the downbeats.  From an arrangement standpoint, pretty easy with 3 parts mad mostly of a I-IV-V progression.  The challenging part is the key. Being in the key of B we have all barre chords.

Head Over Feet by Alanis Morissette
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In this lesson we will be learning Head Over Feet by Alanis Morissette. It is a relatively simple song with just two parts, a verse and chorus. Chords needed are C, G, Am, F, Bb, D, Bm, and A. We will be covering a couple different strumming patterns that can be used.

Rainbow Connection by Kermit The Frog
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In this lesson we will be learning the Muppets classic Rainbow Connection.  The song uses a lot of chords because of the key change for the 3rd verse and chorus.  It is written in 3/4 time with a very simple strumming pattern.  Capo required on the 2nd fret.

Me And Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin
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In this lesson we will be learning Me And Bobby McGee on acoustic guitar. The song consists of a simple 3 chord progression that switches keys about half way through. It starts in the key of G playing G, C, and D chords. The key change is to A using A, E, and D chords. The most challenging part about this tune is the intro strumming pattern.

Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings
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This classic country walz consists of just 3 chords, the I, IV, and V played in two different keys. The song starts in the key of D and halfway through shifts to the key of E. Chords needed are D, G, A7, E A, and B7. We will also be applying an alternating bass line to the progression.

Morning Dew by Bonnie Dobson
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In this lesson we will be learning the original version of Morning Dew by Bonnie Dobson. The song is played fingerstyle with a capo at the 2nd fret. The chords used are A, G, G/F#, D, C, G/B.

How Great Thou Art
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The classic hymn How Great Thou Art is a simple chord progression for the most part. Chords used in the key of G are G, C, D, D7, Am, G7, and C#dim7. We will be covering the chords and the melody.

Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard by Paul Simon
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In this lesson we will be learning Me And Julio Down by The Schoolyard by Paul Simon. The song consists of just 4 chords, A, E, D, and G. The challenging part of this song is the rhythm. There is a consistent 16th note strum pattern with dead notes that creates a percussive sound throughout. There is also some Time Signature changes going from 4/4 to 2/4.

In the Ghetto by Elvis
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In this lesson we will be learning In The Ghetto by Elvis. The original recording was done with a capo on the first fret. The main riff of the song is played with a hybrid picking style. The rest of the tune is arpeggiated chords and strumming. Chords used are A, E, D, and a Bm barre chord shape.

Victoria by John Mayer
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In this lesson we will be learning Victoria by John Mayer. We will be covering the fingerstyle parts along with the strumming that comes later. The song contains some interesting chords in the form of Maj and min 7ths. We will also be covering the solo note for note.

Ohio by CSN&Y
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In this lesson we will study Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Youngs’ Ohio. The song was played originally on electric guitar but also played acoustic often in live performances. We have chosen to do the lesson on acoustic but it can be played the exact same way on both electric and acoustic. The song has just 4 chords, D5, F, C, and Gmin7. It requires you to drop both E strings to D so you are in Drop D tuning. The arrangement is simple. It involves a riff within the D, F, and C chords for the intro and breaks and everything else is strumming.

Fell On Black Days (Acoustic) by Soundgarden
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In this lesson we will be learning the acoustic version of Fell On Black Days. The song revolves around a main power chord type riff. Bars of 4 and 2 make for interesting timing and feel. We also cover the instrumental interlude in its entirety.

Meant To Be by Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha
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This tune by Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha is a pretty simple tune with 5 chords. The song is played, on the original recording, with a capo on the 3rd fret. Chords used are G, Am, Em, C, and G/F#.

Rocky Raccoon by the Beatles
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In this lesson we will be learning the Beatles’ classic Rocky Raccoon. Just 4 chords in this one with a simple strum pattern and easy arrangement. The chords are Am7, D7, G, G7, and C.

Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell
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In this lesson we will be learning Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi. The song is played with an open D alternate tuning. The tuning of open D is shown in the tab. The song consists of a I – IV – V (E, A, and B) chord progression for the most part. The tricky part about this tune is Mitchell’s intricate rhythm playing. She keeps her strum hand going in an 8th note fashion accenting and muting various strums.

Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs
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The song Beautiful Crazy by Luke Combs is played with a capo at the 4th fret and uses 7 chords. The chord shapes needed are G, D/F#, Em7, Dadd9, C, Am7, and C/B. The strumming pattern is a common one and stays consistent throughout.

Shallow (From A Star Is Born)
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In this lesson we are going to learn the song Shallow as performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the movie A Star Is Born. The song uses a fingerstyle method throughout. The fingerstyle part is pretty crucial in the verse. Later in the song a strumming pattern can be applied. We will cover both a fingerstyle and strumming way of approaching the song.

City Of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie
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In this lesson we will be studying the Arlo Guthrie version of City Of New Orleans. The tune is played with the guitar tuned a 1/2 step down and consists of 7 familiar chord shapes, G, Em, D, C, Bm, F, and A. While I have charted the song with a fingerstyle arrangement like the recording, I do cover a basic strumming pattern you can use instead of finger picking.

Leaving On A Jet Plane by Peter Paul and Mary
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In this lesson we will be learning Leaving on A Jet Plane. Some new chords you may have not run across yet. Chords are Amaj7, D6, F#m, Bm, C#m, A, D, and E. Same strumming pattern throughout.

You Were Meant For Me by Jewel
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In this song lesson, You Were Meant For Me by Jewel, we will be using fingerstyle in the verse and strumming in the rest of the parts. It is played in the key of G. Chords used are Cadd9, C, G/B, G, D, Em, Bm, and Am7

Don’t Worry Baby by The Beach Boys
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Don’t Worry Baby by The Beach Boys is written in the key of E with a key change to F# for the chorus. Because of the key change it requires the use of barre chords. Other than that, pretty easy to play with a simple strumming pattern.

Little Martha by The Allman Brothers
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In this lesson we will be learning the instrumental Little Martha. The song is played fingerstyle with open E tuning.

Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton
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In this lesson we will be learning the fingerstyle tune Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton.  Clapton played the song on a nylon string, classical style guitar, but it can be played on any guitar.  Don’t be intimidated by all the chords in this tune.  While it seems like a lot, it actually repeats much of the same progressions throughout.

Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison
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In this lesson we will be learning the classic Brown Eyed Girl. This tune is a good song for beginners requiring only a few simple open chords

Tennessee Stud by Doc Watson
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In this lesson we will study Tennessee Stud as performed by Doc Watson. The tune has a great bluegrass type intro that repeats throughout the song. It applies many of the basic bluegrass principles we have discussed in the Bluegrass Genre section. The chords used are not difficult, however the timing and arrangement are a little tricky. Best to learn a section at a time.

Man of Constant Sorrow
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Learn this bluesy bluegrass tune from the movie Brother Where Art Thou. The tune requires Drop D tuning and a capo on the 3rd fret. Basic chords include D, G, and A. The song applies a bluesy line that recurs throughout the tune.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken (Chord Melody)
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In this lesson we will be learning a chord melody version of Will The Circle Be Unbroken.  Chord melody style involves playing the chords and melody at the same time.  This can be tricky and challenging but very rewarding when accomplished.  This particular song is a great one to try this style as it is not too difficult and involves a repeating melody pattern. Chords used are just G, C, and D open chords.  This version lends itself to a bluegrassy sound.

Somebody I Used To Know
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In this lesson we will learn Somebody I Used To Know by GOTYE.

Handshake Drugs by Wilco
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In this lesson we will do a song study of Handshake Drugs by Wilco.

Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
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In this lesson we will do a song study of the Fleetwood Mac classic “Landslide.”

Midnight Rider by the Allman Brothers Band
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This lesson is a song study of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Midnight Rider.” It will focus on the intro main riff, verse, chorus, and bridge chord progression.

Squeeze Box by the Who
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This is a song study of the Who’s Squeeze Box.

I’m Gonna Miss Her by Brad Paisley
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This lesson is a song study of I’m Gonna Miss Her by Brad Paisley. This song is based in the key of F# and requires an alternate tuning of a 1/2 step down.

Stupid Boy by Keith Urban
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This lesson is a song study of Keith Urban’s Stupid Boy. The song requires Drop D tuning and capo at the 1st fret.

Country Road by John Denver
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This lesson is a song study of John Denver’s Country Road country classic.

Home by Phillip Phillips
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In this lesson we will study Home by Phillip Phillips.