Best Electric Light Orchestra Guitar Songs to Learn and Play
Electric Light Orchestra blended rock, pop, and symphonic sounds to create some of the most unique music of the 70s and 80s.
With catchy hooks and strong melodies, many of their songs work surprisingly well on acoustic guitar.
On this page, you'll find 13 of their best-known tracks, complete with chord sheets, strumming tips, video demos, and full lessons.
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Electric Light Orchestra Guitar Lesson Titles
Can't Get It Out Of My HeadDon't Bring Me Down
Evil Woman
Hold On Tight
Living Thing
Mr Blue Sky
Rock & Roll Is King
Showdown
Strange Magic
Sweet Talking Woman
Telephone Line
Turn To Stone
Wild West Hero
1. Can't Get It Out Of My Head - Learn To Play On Guitar
Can't Get It Out Of My Head can be found on the 1974 album "Eldorado" album.
The song reached #5 in France, #25 in Canada and #9 in the US and was their first top 10 in the US.
Chords And Strumming
I play a capo 3rd fret here in standard tuning and no lead. This song has one pattern which is down root down down up and repeat and in a few places where you'll use all down strokes as well. The chords are are A, Amaj7, D, E, Bm, Gbm, A7, D7, E7, F and a G.
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2. Don't Bring Me Down - Learn To Play On Guitar
Don't Bring Me Down hit the airwaves in 1979 as a single from ELO's album Discovery.
The song hit #1 in Canada and was a top 10 in several other countries.
Chords And Strumming
Play this one with all down strokes and in standard tuning and no lead but a bass run here and there is you want to add one in near the end especially. For chords you'll play an A, D, C, G, Gbm and an E.
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3. Evil Woman - Learn To Play On Guitar
Evil Woman was a big hit for ELO and hit #10 in the UK and the US and a top 10 in a few other countries. The song is from the 1975 album "Face The Music".
This was the groups first big worldwide hit song. A line in this song is a tribute and a nod to The Beatles song Fixing A Hole.
Chords And Strumming
The chords in this one are C7, F7, Adim, Am, Em, Dm, F, G and a C with no lead but a quick riff only. Use a down down up down up down up rhythm and repeat. A few downstrokes only in places and you can use a shuffle in places if you'd like
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4. Hold On Tight (To Your Dream) - Learn To Play On Guitar
Hold On Tight To Your Dream is from the bands 1981 album "Time".
The single did very well, hitting #1 in Spain and Switzerland and reaching the top 10 in several other countries.
Chords And Strumming
You can play a down up down up rhythm pattern and a bit of rock n roll riff playing in standard tuning. There is a bit of lead near the end with the chords D, G, C, Em, Bm, Am, G6 and a D7.
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5. Living Thing - Learn To Play On Guitar
Living Thing is from the 1976 album "A New World Record" album and from that record released the single "Livin Thing".
This song was a top 10 in more than 10 countries and hit #1 in South Africa. Download the free Electric Light Orchestra Living Thing lyrics below.
Chords And Strumming
The first rhythm pattern here is a quick shuffle as in the beginning, then use a down down down up down up and you can use down strokes in one section here. Played in standard tuning with no lead and the chords C, A+m, F, G, Am, Ab, Fm, Em, Dm and an Adim.
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6. Mr Blue Sky - Learn To Play On Guitar
Mr Blue Sky hit #6 in the UK and #35 in the US and was a top 40 in several countries and hails from the album "Out Of The Blue".
Jeff Lynne spent two weeks in a chalet in the Swiss Alps with dull weather and didn't write a thing. Suddenly the sun came out and inspired
Jeff to write 13 song in the next two weeks for the album "Out Of The Blue".
Chords And Strumming
This one works well with a capo 3rd fret in standard tuning and the chords D, Dbm, Gbm, Bm, E, Gb, G, Asus, A, D/Gb, Em, C, A#, F, Fm, Dm and a Ddim. A bit of lead here as you play down strokes, a chop and a shuffle pattern in this one.
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7. Rock & Roll Is King - Learn To Play On Guitar
Rock & Roll Is King is from a record that released 6 singles that happened in 1983 from the "Secret Messages" album, and this song was one of those singles.
The song was a top 15 in several countries and a top 10 in four others.
Chords And Strumming
I play a drop D tuning for this number with a down down down up down up down up rhythm pattern or you could play all down strokes. No lead to be concerned about as you play through the chords A, D, E, B, D7, Gbm and an E7.
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8. Showdown - Learn To Play On Guitar
Showdown was a #12 in the UK, #47 in Canada and a #53 in the US and hails from the album "On The Third Day" from 1973.
Download the free Electric Light Orchestra Showdown lyrics below.
Chords And Strumming
I play a capo 3rd fret on this one in standard tuning while playing a down down up down down up down down up down up - and repeat as this one has a bit of a gallop vibe for rhythm. Some lead required with the chords Em, Am and a Dm.
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9. Strange Magic - Learn To Play On Guitar
Strange Magic was on the 1975 album "Face The Music" and was released as a single and reached #38 in the UK and #14 in the US.
You have to admit that Jeff Lynne is a genius creator of music.
Chords And Strumming
No lead in this one, just a riff and played in standard tuning with the chords G, Cm, G/D#, G/E, Dm, Em, Am and a D7. For rhythm play down strokes and you can play a down root down root etc as you start to sing,
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10. Sweet Talking Woman - Learn To Play On Guitar
Sweet Talkin' Woman hails from the groups 1978 album "Out Of The Blue" and the single hit #6 in the UK and #17 in the US.
The original title was called Dead End Street, but wash changed during the recording. The US mix for this song was slightly faster than the UK
and therefore the song is approx 10 seconds shorter than the UK version.
Chords And Strumming
For rhythm here you can play down down up down up down up in the verse or down down down up down up. In the ch it's a quick skip in the pattern which is d-d-u-d-u-d-u-d-u- and repeat and a few spots where you'll chop the pattern and play down strokes only. Played in standard tuning and no lead with the chords F, G, Am, C, Em and a Dm.
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11. Telephone Line - Learn To Play On Guitar
Telephone Line hails from the 1977 the album "A New World Record" where it released four singles. Telephone Line was a #1 in New Zealand and Canada and hit #8 in the UK and #7 in the US.
This song was the bands first UK Gold Sales Award single and their biggest selling single in the US. The ringing telephone was re-created on a Moog after phoning a telephone number in the US and syncing up the
Moog with the ring tone. The song was also the theme song for the 1977 film "Joyride".
Chords And Strumming
For this song you could play all down strokes for the verse or down root down root and just alternate in the chorus a down down up down up will work. Standard tuning her with a small riff and the chords Am, G, Fmaj7, Amaj7, A7/A+, Bm, E, D, Dbm, Dmaj7, A7, Fdim, A, Gbm and an. F
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12. Turn To Stone - Learn To Play On Guitar
Turn To Stone was a single released from the 1977 album "Out Of The Blue" and did very well on the charts reaching #18 in the UK, #13 in the US and #9 in Canada and France.
Chords And Strumming
The chord here are E, Gb, Gbm, A, Bm, Dbm, Abm, C, F, G and Db played in standard tuning and no lead. For rhythm play a a down down up down up and repeat pattern.
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13. Wild West Hero - Learn To Play On Guitar
Wild West Hero is also from the 1978 album "Out Of The Blue" and charted in two countries. #6 in the UK ad #9 in Ireland.
Jeff Lynne claimed to have written this song in about 4 minutes.
Chords And Strumming
This one is played in standard tuning and no lead require. For rhythm play down strokes for the most part - then use down down down down up as the chords change ... and then be prepared to play a bit of rock n roll in the middle. The chords here are G, D, D/Gb, Em, A7sus, A7, Dsus, Cmaj7, G6, Gdim, B7, Cm, D#7 and a D7.
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Whether it’s the spacey magic of “Mr. Blue Sky” or the driving beat of “Don’t Bring Me Down,” these ELO songs are full of energy and melody. They translate beautifully to acoustic guitar and give you a chance to explore unique rhythms and progressions.
If you're looking to expand your classic rock collection, these lessons are a fun and rewarding place to start.
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