60s British Rock Guitar Songs – Learn to Play These Classics

These lessons feature iconic tracks from The Animals, The Dave Clark Five, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Procol Harum, The Searchers, The Yardbirds, and The Zombies.

Whether you're into the gritty blues-inspired riffs of Eric Burdon or the jangly pop of Merseybeat, you’ll find timeless guitar tunes that defined a generation.

Each tutorial includes chords, strumming patterns, and demo videos to help you master these UK rock classics.

I Like It reached #1 in the UK in the summer of 1963 and peaked at #17 in the US. It was also used in an Australia mini-series called "Peter Alien: Not The Boy Next Door".

This track can be found on their 1964 album "Gerry And The Pacemakers 2nd Album".

I'll Be There was written by Bobby Darin who recorded his version of the song in 1960. In 1963 Gerry And The Pacemakers had a #1 hit in Canada with their version.

Elvis Presley recorded the song in 1969 and Cass Elliott covered it as well in 1972.

Whiter Shade Of Pale was released back in 1967 and has been covered more than 1000 times up through the years. It peaked at #1 in the UK and #5 in the US. The song had four verses but many times only two are heard.

I've put in three verses in my version here. The song was in the can in two takes and can be found on their debut album.

Whiter Shade Of Pale is of course an old 60's number from Procol Harum. Dave Matthews played an acoustic version on Howard Stern's radio show, but was never released as a single.

In fact it isn't on any Dave Matthews album I could find. 

Boom Boom was included on the 1965 album from The Animals called "Animal Tracks."The song was originally written and recorded by blues legend John Lee Hooker, and The Animals' version pays homage to the original while adding their own unique touch.

In The Animals' version of "Boom Boom," Burdon sings about a woman who has left him, but he can't seem to let go of his feelings for her.

Overall, "Boom Boom" is a classic blues rock track that showcases The Animals' talents as a band and Eric Burdon's powerful vocals.

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood is a classic song that was released by The Animals as a single in 1965 and appeared on their album "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." The song was written by Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell, and Sol Marcus and was originally recorded by Nina Simone in 1964.

"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" became one of The Animals' most popular and enduring hits, and it has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Elvis Costello and Santa Esmeralda.

House of the Rising Sun is perhaps the most famous song recorded by The Animals. The song was released as a single in 1964 and quickly became a massive hit, reaching the top of the charts in the UK, US, and several other countries.

The song is a traditional folk song that tells the story of a life gone wrong in New Orleans, where a person must spend their life in a "house of ill repute" called the Rising Sun.

The Animals' version of "The House of the Rising Sun" is a powerful and emotive rendition that features Eric Burdon's distinctive vocals and a haunting organ riff that drives the song forward.

It's My Life is a song recorded by The Animals that was released as a single in 1965 and later included on their album, "Animal Tracks." The song was written by Roger Atkins and Carl D'Errico and was originally recorded by the American band, The Animals.

"It's My Life" was a departure from the bluesy sound that The Animals were known for and showcased the band's ability to experiment with different styles.

The song has since become a classic of the rock genre and has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Bon Jovi and No Doubt.

River Deep, Mountain High was recorded by The Animals in 1968 for their album, "Love Is." The song was originally written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich and was famously recorded by Tina Turner in 1966.

The Animals' version of "River Deep, Mountain High" features Eric Burdon's powerful vocals and a driving rhythm section, with a wall of sound production that was characteristic of Phil Spector's work.

Despite its initial lack of commercial success, "River Deep, Mountain High" has gone on to become one of the most beloved songs of the 1960s, with numerous artists covering the track over the years.

Because is a track from the 1964 album "American Tour". The song was a B-side in the UK release but an A-side in the US.

The song peaked at #3 in the US, Canada and New Zealand. Julian Lennon covered the song in 1855.

Everybody Knows is a 1967 song by the Dave Clark Five, also known as "Everybody Knows (You Said Goodbye)." The song features lead vocals by Lenny Davidson, which is unusual for the band.

It was a major hit in the UK, reaching number two on the charts. It also made the Top 10 in Ireland and New Zealand, peaking at number six in both countries. In the U.S., it reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking their final entry among their two dozen hits.

Love Potion No. 9 is a well known song by The Searchers, released in 1963. It was first written and recorded by others, but The Searchers' version became the most popular.

The song tells a funny story about a man who gets a love potion from a gypsy. After drinking it, he has some crazy love experiences. The Searchers' version has their special guitar sound and good singing together.

It was a big hit, reaching number three in both the UK and US charts. This helped make The Searchers more famous during the time when many British bands were becoming popular in America.

Needles And Pins is one of The Searchers' most famous songs, released in 1964. It was written by Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche, but The Searchers made it a hit.

The song did very well on music charts, reaching number one in the UK and number 13 in the US. It's about the pain of losing someone you love. The song's catchy tune and emotional lyrics made it popular with many people.

"Needles and Pins" is still loved today and has been performed by other musicians, including Tom Petty. It's an important part of The Searchers' history and shows how they helped shape 1960s music.

What Have They Done To The Rain was actually one of the first protest songs towards the environment when it was released back in 1964 by The Searchers.

They have a #2 in Canada and a #13 in the UK and a #29 in the US.

When You Walk in the Room is a famous song by The Searchers, originally written by Jackie DeShannon in 1963. The Searchers' version, released in 1964, became a big hit.

It's a happy, upbeat song about how someone special can light up a room. The song did very well on music charts, reaching number three in the UK and number 35 in the US.

The Searchers were known more for their hit singles than full albums, but they did release several albums in the early 1960s.

While "When You Walk in the Room" wasn't on their original albums, it's often included in collections of their best songs because so many people love it.

For Your Love was a departure from the blues sound of this band when they recorded and released this song in 1965. It became a top 10 in both the UK and the US. But in spite of that, guitarist Eric Clapton left the band because the band took this direction.

The song is from their 1965 studio album of the same name.

She's Not There was the first single in 1964 from The Zombies, a British rock band. It's a song that would become very famous.

You can find this song on their first album called "Begin Here." The song was written by their keyboard player, Rod Argent.

"She's Not There" did really well on the music charts. In the United States, it climbed all the way to the second position on the Billboard Hot 100, which is quite high!

In the United Kingdom, it reached the 12th spot on the UK Singles Chart. This means a lot of people were listening to this song and liked it very much.

Tell Her No is a song that was released in the same era, during the 1960s, when The Zombies making a name for themselves in the music world. "Tell Her No" was one of their most well-known songs.

Just like "She's Not There," "Tell Her No" also did really well on the music charts. In the United States, it reached the 6th position on the Billboard Hot 100, which is a great achievement for a band. It was a catchy tune that a lot of people enjoyed listening to.

This song was written by Rod Argent, the same member who wrote "She's Not There." He was the band's keyboard player and a talented songwriter.

"Tell Her No" left a lasting legacy. It's considered one of the classics from the 1960s. Over the years, different artists and bands have covered this song because it's such a great tune.

Time Of The Season also had a lot of success on the music charts. In the United States, it became a massive hit, reaching the 3rd position on the Billboard Hot 100. This showed how much people loved this song and the band's music.

The track was written by Rod Argent, the talented keyboard player of The Zombies. He was not only good at playing the keyboard but also at creating wonderful songs

"Time of the Season" is not just a song from the past; it's a timeless piece of music that has left a lasting mark on the world of rock and pop.