Best Bryan Adams Guitar Songs to Learn and Play

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.

Can't Stop This Thing We Started is a high-energy rock anthem that served as the second single from the 1991 multi-platinum album Waking Up the Neighbours. Co-written by Adams and legendary producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Canadian RPM charts for three weeks.

The recording features the polished, guitar-driven sound that defined Adams’ early 90s peak and received two Grammy nominations. The music video is a vibrant, performance-based clip that captures the high-octane energy of the band in a rehearsal-style setting. Interestingly, the song was later adopted as a campaign theme for the British Columbia Liberal Party in 2009.

The track remains a staple of his live sets, celebrated for its driving rhythm and the signature "Mutt" Lange production that helped the album achieve global success.

Cloud Number 9 is a rhythmic and melodic standout from the 1998 album On a Day Like Today. While the original album version was produced by Bob Rock, it was the "Chicane Mix"—a remix by British electronic artist Chicane—that became a major international hit in 1999.

This version reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and number seven in Canada. The music video is a visually unique, "all-white" production featuring Adams and a body-painted woman in a minimalist room filled with white objects like milk and a white dog. Interestingly, co-writer Gretchen Peters noted that several lines from the original demo were scrapped by Adams before the final version was released.

The Chicane Mix became the standard for his live performances, often featuring the electronic artist on stage during major festival appearances.

Cuts Like A Knife is the quintessential 1980s rock anthem that served as the title track and second single from the 1983 album Cuts Like a Knife. Co-written by Adams and Jim Vallance, the song reached number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of his most recognizable signature tracks.

The lyrics were famously born from a "mumble" during a jam session that Adams and Vallance realized sounded like the title phrase. The music video was directed by Steve Barron and filmed inside a drained, empty swimming pool in Hollywood—a low-budget production that became an MTV staple.

Interestingly, the woman in the video was a magazine model chosen because the director wanted someone with long legs. The song’s iconic "na-na-na" chorus helped solidify Adams’ status as a premier arena-rock performer across North America. 

Everything I Do is a global cultural phenomenon that served as the lead single for both the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves soundtrack and the 1991 album Waking Up the Neighbours.

Written by Adams, Michael Kamen, and Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the power ballad stayed at number one on the UK Singles Chart for a record-breaking sixteen consecutive weeks and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. The music video, directed by Julien Temple, features footage of the band performing in a lush forest setting interspersed with clips from the film.

The song was written in just forty-five minutes and went on to sell over fifteen million copies worldwide. It remains one of the best-selling singles of all time, winning a Grammy Award and cementing Adams’ reputation as the master of the cinematic power ballad.

Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman is a lush, Latin-influenced ballad featured on the 1995 soundtrack for the film Don Juan DeMarco and the 1996 album 18 til I Die. Written by Adams, Michael Kamen, and Mutt Lange, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for five weeks.

The recording is famous for the virtuosic Spanish guitar work of Paco de Lucía, which gives the track its distinctive flamenco flair. The music video was directed by Anton Corbijn and filmed on location in Málaga, Spain, featuring Adams and several models in a romantic, Mediterranean setting. Interestingly, the song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

While the original 1995 video was famously taken private on digital platforms for years, a "classic version" re-recording and video released in 2022 brought the track back to a new generation of fans.

Heaven is one of the most beloved power ballads in rock history, originally appearing on the A Night in Heaven soundtrack before being included on the 1984 landmark album Reckless.

Written by Adams and Jim Vallance, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985, over a year and a half after its initial release. The track was inspired by Journey’s "Faithfully," written while Adams was touring as their opening act. There were two music videos; the most famous was directed by Steve Barron and filmed at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, featuring video monitors in the theater seats.

The original drummer Mickey Curry had to leave the recording session early for a Hall & Oates date, requiring a last-minute substitution. The song remains a global wedding standard and a definitive example of mid-80s melodic rock.

Run To You is a driving, guitar-heavy rock anthem that served as the lead single for the 1984 multi-platinum album Reckless. Written by Adams and Jim Vallance, the song reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a cornerstone of classic rock radio.

While the lyrics deal with the theme of infidelity, the music video—directed by Steve Barron—playfully portrays Adams’ guitar as the actual object of his desire. The video was filmed in London and Los Angeles and received five MTV Video Music Award nominations, the most for any of Adams’ songs. Interestingly, the song was originally offered to Blue Öyster Cult and .38 Special, both of whom turned it down.

The track’s iconic opening riff was recorded in a single take, capturing the raw energy that helped make Reckless one of the biggest albums of the decade.

Straight From The Heart was the breakthrough power ballad that served as the lead single for the 1983 album Cuts Like a Knife. Co-written by Adams and Eric Kagna, the song reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Adams’ first top-ten hit in the United States.

While the song had been previously recorded by Ian Lloyd and Bonnie Tyler, it was Adams’ earnest, piano-driven version that became the definitive hit. Interestingly, Adams wrote the bridge for the song but shared credit with Kagna, who had written the original verses.

No high-budget music video exists for the track, but it was a staple of his early televised performances and helped establish him as a credible songwriter in the "heartland rock" tradition. The song remains a fan favorite for its sincerity and its role in launching his international career.

Summer Of 69 is a legendary coming-of-age anthem and a definitive piece of Canadian music history from the 1984 album Reckless. Written by Adams and Jim Vallance, the song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since become one of the most recognizable songs in the world.

The lyrics were inspired by cultural touchstones of the 1960s and Vallance’s own childhood friends, though the title has often been interpreted as a double entendre. The music video was directed by Steve Barron and features a nostalgic narrative blending black-and-white flashbacks with a colorized present.

Adams once noted that it took nearly ten years for the song to become a global staple. It remains a highlight of every live performance, celebrated as a timeless tribute to the freedom and innocence of youth.

This Time is a rhythmic and melodic rock track that served as the third single from the 1983 album Cuts Like a Knife. Written by Adams and Jim Vallance, the song reached number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a significant hit on rock radio.

The music video was directed by Steve Barron and features a cinematic narrative of Adams at a lonely motel in rural British Columbia, reflecting on a past relationship. Interestingly, the video stars a model whose legs are prominently featured, leading to a surprise ending where she hides in the back of his truck.

The recording is notable for its clean production and features backing vocals from Lou Gramm of Foreigner. While it didn't reach the same chart heights as the album’s other singles, it remains a favorite for its catchy hook and its portrayal of romantic persistence.

When You Love Someone is a soulful and emotive ballad featured on the 1997 soundtrack for the film Hope Floats and the 1997 album MTV Unplugged.

Written by Adams, Michael Kamen, and Gretchen Peters, the song is a masterclass in understated, acoustic-driven storytelling. While it was not a major commercial single in the US, the live version from the Unplugged special became a significant hit on adult contemporary radio and a staple of his live repertoire.

The music video is a poignant clip from the MTV Unplugged performance at Hammersmith Apollo in London, showcasing Adams’ raw vocal strength and the tight accompaniment of his band. The song was later covered by various artists including Michael Ball, proving the universal appeal of its sincere lyrics about the vulnerability and sacrifice inherent in true love.