Tutorials $3.25ea (fingerpicking $5) or any 10 for $10 (use "Any10410" at checkout)
Best Deal - Any 50 for $25 Details here.
Paid request to learn your fav song $25 (comes with any 8 freebies - so 9 for $25)
*NEW* - Zoom Calls With Kirby @ $25/hr - Contact Me for a session
- Home
- +24 MORE SONGS
60s Rock Bands
On The Acoustic
Welcome to my 60s rock bands on the acoustic section. This section has a combination of bands, duos and artists with free demos, chord sheets and more.
Blind Faith - Boyce & Hart
Chad & Jeremy - Deep Purple
Freddie & The Dreamers
Friend & Lover
Gary Lewis & The Playboys
Gerry & The Pacemakers
Jefferson Airplane
Los Bravos - Procol Harum
Ray Columbus - Shocking Blue
The Animals
The Kingston Trio
Jump menu to quickly access the sections.
60s Rock Bands
Chords, Lyrics, Demos, Tutorials
1. A Summer Song - Chad & Jeremy
A Summer Song was released in the summer of 1964 with low expectations that the song would have much impact. Even Ringo Starr judged the song as a flop. But the US market loved the song to put it a #7 and #2 on two different charts. The song also reached #7 in Canada and has appeared in several films over the years.
The song went on to be covered by different artists and even in different languages. The duo were on again and off again with several reunions and finally packed it in in 2016. In 2020, Chad Stewart passed away from pneumonia.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = root up down up root up down up and repeat - a few chops in here also - you could use a quick shuffle pattern as well
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = G, Bm, C, D, A#, Bm, B7, Am, D7
Jump To Top
2. Black Is Black - Los Bravos
Black Is Black was released in 1966 by the Spanish group Los Bravos. They were the first Spanish rock band to have an International single with a #1 in Canada, #2 in the UK and a #4 in the USA.
The song is from the album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down strokes with some riffs blended in
- Picking = Just riffs blended into the rhythm
- Chords = Em, D, A, Gbm, G, Gb, F, E7, B7, G
Jump To Top Of 60s Rock Bands
3. Boom Boom - The Animals
Boom Boom was a song by blues artist John Lee Hooker and was first released by him in 1961.
Later in 1965 The Animals released their version from their debut album which peaked at #43 in the US and #14 in Canada.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 3rd fret
- Rhythm = riff with some down strokes - and then use a down up down up as you move thru the song
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, F, G, A#, C, A
Jump To Top
4. Can't Find My Way Home - Blind Faith
Can't Find My Way Home was written by Steve Winwood back in 1969 and released by his group Blind Faith, which Eric Clapton was also a part of that band. Over the years the song has been covered by many artists.
It can be found on the album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning: Yes
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down up down up shuffle
- Picking: No
- Chords: C, G6, C/A#, D, F, G, A7, Em
Jump To Top Of 60s Rock Bands
5. Chilly Winds - The Kingston Trio
Chilly Winds can be found on the trio's Live album which was released back in Feb 1962.
There was no single release of this song to my knowledge.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 4th fret
- Rhythm = root down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking = No
- Chords = G, Am, D7, C
Jump To Top
6. Come On Down To My Boat - Every Mother's Son
Come On Down To My Boat was a single released by Every Mothers Son back in 1967 and it peaked at #6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The song can be found on the album "Every Mothers Son".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 3rd fret
- Rhythm: down up down up
- Picking: a few riffs
- Chords: G, D, C, F, D7
Jump To Top Of 60s Rock Bands
7. Count Me In - Gary Lewis & The Playboys
Count Me In was a single released in 1965 and reached #2 in the US and #6 in Canada.
The song hails from their album "A Session With Gary Lewis & The Playboys".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down up stop up down up stop up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: F, Ab, Db, C, Am, C7, A#, Gm
Jump To Top
8. Desert Pete - The Kingston Trio
Desert Pete hails from the 1963 album "Sunny Side".
The album reached #7 on the Pop Charts and Desert Pete was the last single the group released that made it into the top 40.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = root down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking = No
- Chords = E, A, B7, AB, Db
Jump To Top
9. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - The Animals
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood was recorded in 1964 by Nina Simone as a slower version, and a year later The Animals took it up a notch with a pop rock rendition.
They scored a #3 hit in the UK, a #15 in the US and a #4 in Canada. Santa Esmeralda also covered the song in 1977 and it appeared in the movie Kill Bill Vol I.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = you'll use a shuffle pattern while playing a riff, some down strokes in the verse and a down up stop up pattern as you move thru the chorus
- Picking = just the main riff
- Chords = Am, Dm, G, F, E7, C
Jump To Top
10. House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals
House Of The Rising Sun is believed to be a folk song from back in the 1930's. We know of course that The Animals recorded this one and had a major #1 hit in the UK, US and Canada.
It's been said that American miners sang this old folk song back in 1905.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = I'm using a rake pattern blended with some arpeggio in the beginning and then I use a down down up down up down down down
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Am, C, D, F, E7
Jump To Top
11. Hush - Deep Purple
Hush was written by Joe South and first recorded by Billy Joe Royal in 1967. Deep Purple covered the song a year later and had a #5 hit with their version.
The song can be found on their "Shades Of Deep Purple" album from 1968.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 3rd fret
- Rhythm: down up down up shuffle
- Picking: a fre riffs
- Chords: G, F, D, E, A, A7
Jump To Top
12. I Like It - Gerry & The Pacemakers
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 forun on their 1964 album "Gerry And The Pacemakers 2nd Album".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down up down up and repeat
- Picking: no just a quick riff
- Chords: C, D, G, Bm, Am, Em, D7
Chords & Lyrics
Jump To Top
13. I Wonder What She's Doin' Tonight - Boyce & Hart
I Wonder What She's Doin Tonight was recorded in 1967 and became a top 10 in the US the following year.
The song hails from the album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning: Yes
- Capo: 3rd fret
- Rhythm: downstrokes and down up down up quick shuffle strum
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: C, G, D
Chords & Lyrics
Jump To Top Of 60s Rock Bands
14. I'm Telling You Now - Freddie & the Dreamers
I'm Telling You Now became a #1 hit back in 1965. The song was released in the UK a few years earlier and reached #2.
You can find the track on the album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root up down up and repeat
- Picking: a few riffs
- Chords: G, C, Am7, F, D, Em, G6, Am
Jump To Top
15. It's My Life - The Animals
It's My Life was released in 1965 and achieved a #2 in Canada and #7 in the UK with this one. Since it's release, the song has been recorded by many artists.
Springsteen began performing the song as did The Police, Shaun Cassidy and Bon Jovi.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 1st fret
- Rhythm = down up down up - and use down down up down up down up - and some places chop the rhythm mixed with some riffs
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = G, Dm, C, B, F
Jump To Top
16. Reach Out Of The Darkness - Friend & Lover
Reach Out Of The Darkness is a song released back in 1960 and was a one hit wonder for the duo, reaching #10 on Billboard. Joe South produced the song and Ray Stevens played keyboard on the track.
The song hails from their only album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: a quick shuffle and a root up down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking: No
- Chords: Am, D, Am7, F, G, C
Jump To Top Of 60s Rock Bands
17. River Deep Mountain High - The Animals
River Deep Mountain High was first recorded by Tina and Ike Turner in 1966. The Animals picked up the song a few years later but they never released it as a single. The Supremes, Deep Purple and The Four Tops also covered this song.
The track can be found on their "Love Is" album from 1968.
- Drop D Tuning = Yes
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = a steady up and down fast pace with some riffs
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, G, A, C
Jump To Top
18. Scotch & Soda - The Kingston Trio
Scotch And Soda can be found on the bands very first album released back in 1958 simply titles "The Kingston Trio".
Two singles were released from this album but this song was not one of them. They did release it as a single in the US only later in 1962 and to the B-Side of "One Too Many Mornings" in 1969.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = – Cmaj7, Fm, F, Ddim7, A7sus, A7, D7, Amaug5, G7, A+, C, Gm7, G, D7, Cm, Emsus, C#dim7, Ebaug5
Jump To Top
19. Somebody To Love - Jefferson Airplane
Somebody To Love was first recorded by a San Francisco group called The Great Society in 1965 but never had much impact. The writer, Darby Slick, has a sister-in-law in that group known as Grace Slick.
When these cats disbanded only after one year, Grace took this song with her to Jefferson Airplane. The song went on to reach #1 in Canada and #5 in the US and has become a 60s classic.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 4th fret
- Rhythm = down down up down up down up and repeat - down strokes in some places
- Picking = No
- Chords = Dm, G, C, F
Jump To Top Of 60s Rock Bands
20. This Diamond Ring - Gary Lewis & The Playboys
This Diamond Ring climbed to the top of the Billboard Chart in Feb 1965. The group did play on the track and The Wrecking Crew came in later for some over-dubbing.
The song can be found on the album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down up down up and some downstrokes
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: Abm, Db, A7, D, A/Db, Bm, Bm/A, Gbm, Em, D#
Jump To Top Of 60s Rock Bands
21. Til We Kissed - Ray Columbus
Til We Kissed was from Ray Columbus And The Invaders who were a rock back from New Zealand from 1964 to 1966.
Til We Kissed was released in 1965 but surprisingly never charted in either Australia or New Zealand.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down strokes in the beginning and then root down up root up down up
- Picking = a few riffs
- Chords = A, Gbm, D, E
Jump To Top Of 60s Rock Bands
22. Venus - Shocking Blue
Venus was a monster hit for the Dutch group Shocking blue in the summer of 1969. The song reached #1 in nine countries, including the US.
The song appeared on their 2nd album "At Home" released in 1969.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down down down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes a little
- Chords: Bsus, Em, A, D, Am, C, B
Jump To Top
23. Where Have All The Flowers Gone - The Kingston Trio
Where Have All The Flowers Gone first appeared on the trio's Live album which was released back in Feb 1962 called "College Concert".
The single released reached #21 on Billboards Hot 100. They claimed ownership of the song initially until Pete Seger reminded them that it was his song, and they relented.
Peter Paul and Mary also recorded a version of this number.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 3rd fret
- Rhythm = root down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking =
- Chords = G, Em, C, D, Am
Jump To Top
24. Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum
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.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = root up down up, root up down up and repeat - but you'll be playing the organ riffs in the break
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = C, G6, Am, Am/G, F, Em, Dm, Dm/C, Dm/A, G
Jump To Top Of 60s Rock Bands
Thank you for visiting my 60s rock bands page and I hope you found some useful and helpful info here.
If you liked this 60s page you might also like ... (click images)
