Top Acoustic Guitar Songs
There will always be an ongoing debate about the best acoustic guitar songs ever produced. I have always found that the best way to learn to play the guitar is too play songs that you like. The whole idea of learning to play your favourite songs propels you forward and inspires you to keep practicing so that you can perfect a song. One the best things about playing a song right through is being able to play that song with others and playing it at parties.
So, what are the best songs to play on an acoustic guitar? Or rather, what are some of the best songs ever produced that you would like to play on an acoustic guitar? I love that question!
When I was a boy of 10, I used to dream of playing at Madison Square Garden like my then heroes of Led Zeppelin. Like every other budding guitarists I learnt how to play "Stairway to Heaven” which at the time I was growing up was the measure of a guitarist. The real trick was perfecting it on an acoustic guitar which I must admit took me a few years – but I got it and performed it at a concert with an acoustic guitar with a singer! Just the two of us!
Since I started playing guitar as a nine year old, a huge number of acoustic guitar songs have been produced by some very famous people that are perfect for beginners to learn and experience the range and quality of sound that can be produced by the acoustic guitar. What follows below is my favourite list of songs to play and as you can tell I am a little biased in my choices.
I decided to go for what feels and sound good to my ear, and what sounds good played on an acoustic guitar. Some of my choices will be challenging to the beginner but worth the effort as it will add immense value to any guitarists’ repertoire. As with all ‘best lists’, this list is not exhaustive; it is merely my search through the decades for acoustic guitar songs produced since the 1960s as a tribute to those great songs and artists.
Since I grew up in the 70s with a jazz guitarist dad who loved Eric Clapton the first song on my list is: (1)“Tears in Heaven” – it has some nice pieces and he plays it so well. Then there is (2) Layla Uplugged – I love this version.
Staying in the 70s: (3) Stairway to Heaven, (4) Hotel California are two songs that need no introduction. Then of course the Doobie Brothers: (5)Listen to the music, (6)Long Train Running. Then there is Hendrix: (7) Purple Haze, (8) Hey Joe and (9) Red House.
Back to the 60s I was impressed many of the songs by the CCR – Creedence Clearwater Revival like: (10) Heard it through the Grapevine(11) Proud Mary (a great party favourite), (12) Born on the Bayou and (13) Lodi. Other songs from the 60s that influenced me in one way or another was from the Beatles especially their later songs like: (14)Come Together and (15) Hey Jude; both these songs were great at parties
Into the 80s, I began to listen to Santana, Mark Knofler, Queen, Al Dimeola, Satriani, and Van Halen. I tried playing (16) Classical Gas by Mason Williams; it was a popular guitar song to learn when I was at school. One song by the Police springs to mind: (17)“Every Breath you take”.
Other songs I would add to this mix include:
· Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd (18) - a very well known song
· Wish you were here - Pink Floyd (19)
· Nothing else matters - Metallica (20)
· More than words - Extreme (21)
· Wonderwall - Oasis (22)
· Drive - Incubus (23) - has a nice driving rhythm to it
· I'm Yours - Jason Mraz (24) - i loved it when i first heard it!
· Californication - Red Hot Chilli Peppers (25)
· Bubbly - Colbie Caillat (26) - hmm - this grew on me
· Knocking on heaven's door - Bob Dylan (27)
Well, this is my list of the best acoustic guitar songs to learn; these will stretch you but the reward is worth the effort!
So, what are the best songs to play on an acoustic guitar? Or rather, what are some of the best songs ever produced that you would like to play on an acoustic guitar? I love that question!
When I was a boy of 10, I used to dream of playing at Madison Square Garden like my then heroes of Led Zeppelin. Like every other budding guitarists I learnt how to play "Stairway to Heaven” which at the time I was growing up was the measure of a guitarist. The real trick was perfecting it on an acoustic guitar which I must admit took me a few years – but I got it and performed it at a concert with an acoustic guitar with a singer! Just the two of us!
Since I started playing guitar as a nine year old, a huge number of acoustic guitar songs have been produced by some very famous people that are perfect for beginners to learn and experience the range and quality of sound that can be produced by the acoustic guitar. What follows below is my favourite list of songs to play and as you can tell I am a little biased in my choices.
I decided to go for what feels and sound good to my ear, and what sounds good played on an acoustic guitar. Some of my choices will be challenging to the beginner but worth the effort as it will add immense value to any guitarists’ repertoire. As with all ‘best lists’, this list is not exhaustive; it is merely my search through the decades for acoustic guitar songs produced since the 1960s as a tribute to those great songs and artists.
Since I grew up in the 70s with a jazz guitarist dad who loved Eric Clapton the first song on my list is: (1)“Tears in Heaven” – it has some nice pieces and he plays it so well. Then there is (2) Layla Uplugged – I love this version.
Staying in the 70s: (3) Stairway to Heaven, (4) Hotel California are two songs that need no introduction. Then of course the Doobie Brothers: (5)Listen to the music, (6)Long Train Running. Then there is Hendrix: (7) Purple Haze, (8) Hey Joe and (9) Red House.
Back to the 60s I was impressed many of the songs by the CCR – Creedence Clearwater Revival like: (10) Heard it through the Grapevine(11) Proud Mary (a great party favourite), (12) Born on the Bayou and (13) Lodi. Other songs from the 60s that influenced me in one way or another was from the Beatles especially their later songs like: (14)Come Together and (15) Hey Jude; both these songs were great at parties
Into the 80s, I began to listen to Santana, Mark Knofler, Queen, Al Dimeola, Satriani, and Van Halen. I tried playing (16) Classical Gas by Mason Williams; it was a popular guitar song to learn when I was at school. One song by the Police springs to mind: (17)“Every Breath you take”.
Other songs I would add to this mix include:
· Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd (18) - a very well known song
· Wish you were here - Pink Floyd (19)
· Nothing else matters - Metallica (20)
· More than words - Extreme (21)
· Wonderwall - Oasis (22)
· Drive - Incubus (23) - has a nice driving rhythm to it
· I'm Yours - Jason Mraz (24) - i loved it when i first heard it!
· Californication - Red Hot Chilli Peppers (25)
· Bubbly - Colbie Caillat (26) - hmm - this grew on me
· Knocking on heaven's door - Bob Dylan (27)
- How about Wanted (Dead or Alive) - Bon Jovi (28) - a real classic!
Well, this is my list of the best acoustic guitar songs to learn; these will stretch you but the reward is worth the effort!
