Best Bryan Adams Guitar Songs to Learn and Play
Bryan Adams is known for writing some of the most powerful and emotional rock ballads of the past few decades.
His songs are built on strong melodies, simple chord progressions, and heartfelt lyrics — making them perfect for acoustic guitar.
This page includes 11 of his best-loved songs, complete with demo videos, chord sheets, and full tutorials to help you play them confidently.
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Bryan Adams Guitar Lesson Titles
Can't Stop This Thing We StartedCloud #9
Cuts Like A Knife
Everything I Do
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman
Heaven
Run To You
Straight From The Heart
Summer Of 69
This Time
When You Love Someone
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1. Can't Stop This Thing We Started - Learn To Play On Guitar
Can't Stop This Thing We Started was co-written by Adams and "Mutt" Lang (former hubby of Shania) and was released in 1991 as a single from the album "Waking Up The Neighbors".
The song reached #1 in Canada, #2 in the US and a top 10 in several other countries.
Chords And Strumming
This one has some lead work and played in standard tuning. I play down strokes for a rhythm pattern in the verse with a quick dn up shuffle and in the chorus it's a down down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. The chords here are D, E, A, Gbm, A#, F, A and a C.
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2. Cloud Number 9 - Learn To Play On Guitar
Cloud Number 9 was a remix with the British artist Chicane back in 1999 and was a single release from the album "On A Day Like Today" from 1998.
It reached # 6 in the UK and #7 in Canada. There was also a music video created for this song.
Chords And Strumming
Play a steady shuffle for a rhythm pattern throughout this one in standard tuning with no lead work required. The chords you'll need are D, G, Bm, A, A7 and an Em.
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3. Cuts Like A Knife - Learn To Play On Guitar
Cuts Like A Knife song hails from the 1983 Bryan Adams album "Cuts Like A Knife", and this song was one of three singles from the album. It was a top 10 in Canada and reached #15 and #6 on two Billboard Charts.
Penthouse model Raquel Pena appeared in the video.
Chords And Strumming
Some lead in here with the chords D, G, C, A and a Bm in standard tuning. I use an arpeggio 1-2-3 up down up down up in the verses and in the chorus use a down up stop up down up stop up rhythm pattern.
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4. Everything I Do - Learn To Play On Guitar
Everything I Do is from the 1991 "Waking Up The Neighbors" album and was the soundtrack for the film "Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves".
The song was a huge #1 in 19 countries and one of the best selling singles of all time.
Adams co-wrote the song with Mutt Lang and Michael Kaman.
Chords And Strumming
I play a drop D tuning here with a down down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern and some lead required. The chords here are D, A, G, Asus, A, Em, C, G, E7 and a Gm.
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5. Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman - Learn To Play On Guitar
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman hails from the 1995 album "18 Til I Die" and was also in the film "Don Juan Demarko".
This was a #1 in Canada, the US and several other countries and was from the trio team again of Adams, Lang and Kaman.
The music video was shot on location in Spain.
Chords And Strumming
A few chords in this one and they include D#, Cm, Dsus, D, A#, A#/G, F, C/G, G, Am and a D7 with some riffs through and played in standard tuning. For rhythm I play a down down up down up an repeat pattern.
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6. Heaven - Learn To Play On Guitar
Heaven was Bryan Adam's very first #1 song and came out as a single nearly 18 months after it was recorded for the 1983 "Reckless" album.
Drummer Mickey Curry would have normally played on the track but on the day of recording he had other studio commitments with Hall & Oates. Because the session was in New York, Adams called Journey drummer Steve Smith who filled in on the track.
Adams got the inspiration from the song Faithfully by Jounrey. He's been their opening act in 1983 so that song eventually inspired this one. Download the Heaven Bryan chords and lyrics below.
Chords And Strumming
This one is in standard tuning but I use a capo 2nd fret, which is not the original key. No capo is. The chords here with some lead are C, Am, G, F, Gsus, A#, Dm, A#/A, Em and a B. For rhythm play a down down down down up and repeat pattern.
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7. Run To You - Learn To Play On Guitar
Run To You was another monster song for Bryan Adams from his 1984 "Reckless" album and peaked at #1 in the US and #4 in Canada.
Him and Jim Vallance wrote the song for Blue Oyster Cult, but they declined, and so did .38 Special. Doh! What were they thnking?
When Bryan Adams and band entered the studio to record, they nailed this one in a single take.
Chords And Strumming
I play a capo 2nd fret with the chords G, C, D, Bm, Em and A in this one and some lead work required with standard tuning. You can play a down up stop up down up stop up rhythm pattern with down strokes and some arpeggio mixed in throughout the song.
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8. Straight From The Heart - Learn To Play On Guitar e Heart
Straight From The Heart was a single released from the 1983 album "Cuts Like A Knife". This song was written by a Vancouver song-writer Eric Cagna. Several years earlier the song was recorded by Ian Lloyd (Brother Louie).
The song reached #1 in Canada and his first Top 10 in the US, so for that reason, this was a door opener of sorts.
Jon English and Bonnie Tyler also recorded this number.
Chords And Strumming
You can play a down down up down and repeat rhythm pattern and mix that with some arpeggio note picking. No lead in here to worry about in standard tuning with the chords C, Fsus, F, C/G, G, G6, Am, Am/G, Em and a Dm.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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9. Summer Of 69 - Learn To Play On Guitar
Summer Of 69 hit the airwaves in 1985 and was #4 in The Netherlands and a #5 in the US.
Adams mentioned in an interview that the song was not about the year, but about the sex position, but co-writer Jim Valance disputed that claim.
The song can be fund on his "Reckless" album.
Chords And Strumming
Capo 2nd fret here is optional as is any use with a capo while in standard tuning. For rhythm play down strokes followed by a down up stop up down up stop up and repeat pattern with a few riffs blended into the rhythm. For chords you'll require a D, A, G, Bm, A#, F and a C.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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10. This Time - Learn To Play On Guitar
This Time was a single release in 1983 from the album Cuts Like A Knife and did pretty well reaching the top 40 in Canada and the US.
Chords And Strumming
The rhythm here is a down down up down up down up and repeat with a bit of lead in standard tuning. The chords you'll need are G, C, F, D, Em, Am, G6 and a D/Gb.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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11. When You Love Someone - Learn To Play On Guitar
When You Love Someone was co-written by Adams, Gretchen Peters and Michael Kamen for his Unplugged album which was released in 1997.
The album was recorded live at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC.
This song was never released as a single.
Chords And Strumming
I play a capo 2nd fret with drop D tuning in this one and some lead required. For chords play am Em, D, G, G7, Am7, Dsus, D7, Am and Cm. I play a simple down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Bryan Adams has written some of the most memorable love songs and rock anthems in music history. These guitar lessons are a great way to relive those timeless hits and sharpen your skills along the way.
Whether you’re strumming along to “Heaven” or rocking out with “Summer of ‘69,” these songs are built to be played loud — or quietly around the campfire.
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