Best Hank Williams Songs To Learn On Guitar
If you're looking to explore the timeless catalog of Hank Williams on acoustic guitar, this collection features 11 of his most iconic songs — perfect for intermediate players wanting to blend rhythm and heart.
From jukebox staples like Hey Good Lookin’ and Your Cheatin’ Heart to gospel-infused classics like I Saw The Light, these lessons showcase the brilliance of a songwriter who shaped the sound of country music. Whether you're strumming along solo or adding these tunes to your next gig setlist, they’re guaranteed to bring nostalgia and soul to your playing.
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Hank Williams Guitar List
Cold Cold HeartDear John
Half As Much
Hey Good Lookin
Honky Tonkin
House Of Gold
I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You
I Saw The Light
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Jambalaya
Lonesome Whistle
1. Long Gone Lonesome Blues
2. Lost Highway
3. Love Sick Blues
4. Mansion On The Hill
5. My Sweet Love Ain't Around
6. Someday You'll Call My Name
7. There's A Tear In My Beer
8. They'll Never Take Her Love From Me
9. Why Don't You Love Me
10. You Win Again
11. Your Cheatin Heart
Cold Cold Heart - Learn To Play On Guitar
Cold Cold Heart was a #1 hit for Hank Williams in 1951. The song didn't appear on any album as Hank only recorded 2 albums in his short 6 year career but it didi appear on compilation albums after his death.
This one is on the "Memorial Album".
Chords And Strumming
I like to play this one with drop D tuning with the chords A7, D and G with some lead work required. For rhythm you can play a root down up root up down up repeat pattern.
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Dear John - Learn To Play On Guitar
Dear John hit the airwaves in 1951 and reached #8 on the country charts for Hank. It was written by Tex Ritter and was the A-side to Cold Cold Heart, which became the #1 hit.
The track can be found on "The Unforgettable Hank Williams" album.
Chords And Strumming
This one I also play a drop D tuning with a capo 3rd fret. The rhythm here is a root down root up down up and repeat with some lead and only two chords which are D and A7.
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Half As Much - Learn To Play On Guitar
Half As Much was not a favourite of Hank's, in fact he only recorded the songs because his producer Fred Rose insisted he record the song. Hank listened and ended up with a #2 hit in 1952.
The track can be found on the "Memorial Album".
Chords And Strumming
The chords here are A, D, A7, E7 and a G with some lead required. I play this one with drop D tuning also using a root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.
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Hey Good Lookin - Learn To Play On Guitar
Hey Good Lookin was a single back in 1951 and doesn't appear to have been on any album until the Memorial Album was released.
The song itself was written by Hank for Little Jimmy Dickens initially, but then Hank jokingly told him the song was too good for him, and he recorded the song himself.
Chords And Strumming
This tune can be played in standard tuning with a root down up bass up down up rhythm pattern and the chords D7, G, C and an F. Some lead required here.
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Honky Tonkin - Learn To Play On Guitar
Honky Tonkin was released in 1948 as a single from the album of the same name and the song peaked at #14 on the US country chart. In 1982, Hank Williams Jr released his version and had a #1 country hit.
Chords And Strumming
Only two chords here and they are E and a B7 with a root down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. Played in standard tuning and lots of picking.
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House Of Gold - Learn To Play On Guitar
House Of Gold was a hymn written by Hank Williams and was recorded as a demo only sometime between 1948 and 1949. MGM Records put the song as a B-side to the single "How Can You Refuse Him Now".
Hank Never recorded the song with his band.
Chords And Strumming
Played in standard tuning and no led in this one with the chords D, D7, G and an A. For rhythm you'll need a root down root up down up and repeat pattern.
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I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You - Learn To Play On Guitar
I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You made it all the way to #2 on the US country charts in 1951 from the album Ramblin Man.
Chords And Strumming
Play a root down root up down up rhythm pattern with the chords A, D, D7, G and a D dim. Some lead required in this one.
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I Saw The Light - Learn To Play On Guitar
I Saw The Light was released as a single in 1948 and was the 2nd song Hank had recorded for his new label MGM. The song did not chart but has gone on to become a standard country gospel tune down through the decades.
Chords And Strumming
You'll need a root down up down up down up rhythm pattern played in standard tuning. You can play this one in G, C and D. Some lead can added into the mix.
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I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Learn To Play On Guitar
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry was a another great song from the 1948 album Moanin The Blues and scored Hank a #2 hit in 1949.
Chords And Strumming
I play this one with a capo on the 4th with the chords C, C7, F, G, G7, Am and an Em. Played in standard tuning you'll need some lead work here. For rhythm play a root up down up down up and repeat.
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Jambalaya - Learn To Play On Guitar
Jambalaya went to #1 on the country charts for hank Williams in 1952. Hank wrote the lyrics but many think the melody he used came from a song called Grand Texas.
You'll find this one on an album called "Honky -Tonkin".
Chords And Strumming
I use a drop D tuning in this number with a capo 2nd fret. Some lead with the chords G and D while playing a root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.
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Lonesome Whistle - Learn To Play On Guitar
Lonesome Whistle is believed to have been written by Hank Williams and Jimmie Davie in the early part of 1951 and it became a #9 country hit in the US.
The track is on the album "Ramblin Man".
Chords And Strumming
This one is in standard tuning with a root down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. Some lead required with the chords A, D, D7, A7 and a G.
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Long Gone Lonesome Blues - Learn To Play On Guitar
Long Gone Lonesome Blues was a #1 for Hank in 1951 and was his 2nd #1 hit. The song stayed at the top of the charts for 5 weeks. Bruce Springsteen got inspiration from this song and wrote his classic "The River".
This track can be found on the "Moanin The Blues" album.
Chords And Strumming
Only three chords here and they are E, A and a B7 with some lead required. For rhythm play a root down root up down up and repeat pattern in standard tuning.
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Lost Highway - Learn To Play On Guitar
Lost Highway was an earlier song from Hank Williams, hitting the airwaves in 1949. Leon Payne wrote this one and recorded it a year earlier in 1948. He wrote this song while hitch-hiking from California to Texas while waiting for rides.
He also wrote the song further down this list called They'll Never Take Her Love From Me. This one is on the album "Sing Me A Blue Song".
Chords And Strumming
This one also in standard tuning with some lead and a root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. The chords here are D, A, G and a Db.
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Lovesick Blues - Learn To Play On Guitar
Lovesick Blues was a #1 for Hank in 1950. The song dates all the way back to 1922. Hank heard a recording from a 1939 recording by Rex Griffin that inspired him to do a version. He played it on the radio show Louisiana Hayride and the audience loved it.
The song was an instant hit. And Hanks producer didn't think he should record and release the song. The number is on the album "Moanin-The-Blues".
Chords And Strumming
I play this one with drop D tuning and a capo 3rd fret with the chords D, A7, A, G, B7, E7, Gb, Ddim and a Bm. Some lead here with a root down up down up repeat rhythm pattern.
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Mansion On The Hill - Learn To Play On Guitar
Mansion On The Hill was a #12 hit for Hank Williams back in 1948 and hails from the album Sing Me A Blue Song.
Fred Rose could hardly believe that Hank wrote such great songs when he first came to MGM, so he gave Hank this title and asked him to write a song around it.
Since it wasn't Hank's idea, it took him awhile, with the help of his wife Audrey, but came up with this tune.
Chords And Strumming
On this number you can play a root down root up down up rhythm pattern with the chords G, G7, C and D7 in standard tuning. I play a capo 2nd fret here with some lead required.
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My Sweet Love Ain't Around - Learn To Play On Guitar
My Sweet Love Ain't Around was the only single from his 1948 album Moanin The Blues but the song failed to chart in Canada or the US.
Chords And Strumming
I play this one lower than the original key which is in C. So my version here is a capo 2nd fret with a root down root up down up rhythm pattern in standard tuning. You need some lead here with the chords G, G7, C and a D7.
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Someday You'll Call My Name - Learn To Play On Guitar
Someday You'll Call My Name was not released as a single during Hank's lifetime but was released as a B-side in 1955.
The track can be found on the "The Complete Hank Williams".
Chords And Strumming
I play a root down up root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern here in standard tuning. There is some picking with the chords G, G7, C and D7.
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There's A Tear In My Beer - Learn To Play On Guitar
There's A Tear In My Beer was written by Hank Williams but there is no indication he ever recorded the song because his producer at the time, Fred Rose, didn't think it was a good idea to combine alcohol into a song. So Hank gave his demo of the song to Big Bill Lister, who often opened for Hank and he recorded the song in 1952. Years later he passed the demo to Hank Williams Jr who then recorded his version with Hank Sr in 1989.
The sound track of Hank Sr singing and this song came from that demo and video from a Kate Smith show in the early 1950's is from the song Hey Good Lookin. By changing the mouth of Hank Sr in the video with an actor, they managed to get it to appear like Hank Sr was singing this song on stage.
Chords And Strumming
The song is in C# so I'm playing a capo 1st with the chords C, G, G7, C7, F, D, D7 and a C#. Play a root down up root up down up rhythm pattern and there is no lead, but instead a few riffs with a steel guitar which can be captured with the acoustic.
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They'll Never Take Her Love From Me - Learn To Play On Guitar
They'll Never Take Her Love From Me was the 2nd song from Leon Payne that Hank recorded and released in 1950. The song was a B-side and peaked at #5 while the A-side, Why Should We Try Anymore, made it to #9.
Johnny Horton also had a hit with his version in 1961. The track can be found on Hank's album "Sing Me A Blue Song".
Chords And Strumming
Some lead in this tune with the chords G, G7, C, D and a D7 in standard tuning. You'll want to play a root down up root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern for this one.
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Why Don't You Love Me - Learn To Play On Guitar
Why Don't You Love Me became a #1 hit in 1950 when it was released from the album Ramblin Man. Many speculate the song came from Hanks rough relationship with his first wife Audrey.
Chords And Strumming
I play this one in standard tuning with the chords G, G7, C and a D7 with lots of lead work. Play a root down up root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.
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You Win Again - Learn To Play On Guitar
You Win Again was originally called I Lose Again, but producer Fred Rose wanted the title changed. Hank has just gotten a divorce from his wife the day before this song was recorded and must have been a painful session and tough song to sing.
This song was a B-side to the up tempo number "Settin' The Woods On Fire" but still managed to reach #10 on the country charts. This one is also on the Hank Williams Memorial Album".
Chords And Strumming
I like a capo 2nd fret for this one in standard tuning and a few riffs required. Play a root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with the chords D, A7 and G.
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Your Cheatin' Heart - Learn To Play On Guitar
Your Cheatin Heart was recorded by Hank Williams in 1952 but was not released until after his death in 1953 and went on to reach #1 on the US country charts.
The song is found on the Memorial album which was released in 1959 after Hanks death, which occurred on New Years Day 1953.
Chords And Strumming
This one played in standard tuning has a root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with some lead. The chord you'll need here ar C, C7, F, G and a D7.
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With rich lyrics and straightforward chord progressions, these Hank Williams guitar songs are ideal for fans of traditional country and Americana music. If you enjoy heartfelt storytelling paired with classic country strumming, dig into these lessons and bring these enduring tracks to life.
And don’t forget to check out Volume 2 for more gems from Hank’s legendary songbook.
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