Best Hollies Guitar Songs for Acoustic Guitar
With hits spanning the 1960s and 70s, The Hollies combined memorable melodies, distinctive vocal harmonies and everything from bright British pop to rock and sweeping ballads. On this page, you'll find acoustic guitar lessons for eight Hollies classics, including Bus Stop, Carrie Anne, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) and The Air That I Breathe.
Each lesson shows you how I approach the song on acoustic guitar, covering the chords, rhythm patterns and any riffs, bass runs or lead work used in my arrangement. You'll also find practical guidance on capo placement, tuning and vocal range where needed. Whether you're working on the driving riff of Long Cool Woman, the rhythmic movement of Bus Stop or the slower ballad style of He Ain't Heavy, these lessons will help you capture the character of each song on one acoustic guitar.
🎸 Watch The Hollies Guitar Lessons Overview
performance clips taken directly from the complete lesson videos.
Click Play, then drag the timeline to quickly preview any Hollies lesson featured on this page.
Note: Every arrangement has been personally created, recorded and taught by Kirby
using teaching methods refined through decades of acoustic guitar instruction.
What's Included With Every Lesson
📦 Your Lesson Package Includes
✓ 8–12 minute HD video lesson so you can learn each song step-by-step.
✓ Printable chords & lyrics PDF for easy practice away from the screen.
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✓ Learn at your own pace on any device.
New To The Hollies?
Not sure where to begin? Use the pathway below to move from the core Hollies rhythm style into riffs, fuller arrangements and more involved acoustic parts.
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Start With The Rhythm Foundation
Carrie Anne → On A Carousel -
Add Riffs & Fuller Rhythm Work
Bus Stop → Look Through Any Window → Long Cool Woman -
Explore The Fuller Arrangements
Gasoline Alley Bred → He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother → The Air That I Breathe
The Hollies Guitar Lessons Included On This Page
Carrie Anne
Gasoline Alley Bred
He Ain't Heavy
Long Cool Woman
Look Through Any Window
On A Carousel
The Air That I Breathe
Bus Stop - Learn To Play
On Acoustic Guitar
Bus Stop was written by Graham Gouldman and recorded by The Hollies during the period when the group featured Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks, Eric Haydock and Bobby Elliott. Gouldman was already becoming a successful songwriter, having also written songs such as For Your Love for The Yardbirds and No Milk Today for Herman's Hermits.
Released as a single in 1966, Bus Stop also appeared on the Hollies album of the same name. The song became one of the band's biggest international hits, reaching #5 on both the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It also climbed to #2 in Australia and reached #1 in Canada.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
Bus Stop is played in standard tuning and features the famous opening riff, which you'll learn as part of the lesson. The chords are Am, G, C, F, Em and B7.
For the main rhythm, I use a root down down up root up down up pattern, blending in a bass riff and a quick shuffle in certain spots. Later in the song, the rhythm changes to a root up down up pattern. There is also some lead work, including the lead break, so the arrangement goes beyond simply strumming through the chord progression.
A good approach is to learn the chords and both rhythm patterns first, including the bass movement. Once those are comfortable, add the recognizable intro riff and then work your way into the lead break. This lets you build the arrangement in layers while keeping the rhythm steady as the additional guitar parts are added.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Carrie Anne - Learn To Play
On Acoustic Guitar
Carrie Anne arrived in 1967 during one of The Hollies' most successful periods and was later included on the US version of their album Evolution. Released as a single, it reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the band's memorable hits from the Summer of Love era.
One of the recording's most distinctive features is its steel drum break, an unusual sound in mainstream British pop at the time and a memorable contrast to the group's trademark vocal harmonies.
Graham Nash later revealed that the inspiration behind Carrie Anne was Marianne Faithfull, on whom he had a crush. Rather than use her real name in the song, Nash disguised the reference by changing Marianne to Carrie Anne.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
Carrie Anne is played in standard tuning with the chords C, F, G and A#. For rhythm, I use a down down up down up down up pattern through the chorus, while the verses use a simpler down up down up pattern. I also work a quick shuffle into the rhythm at the ends of the lines, which helps give the arrangement some of that upbeat 60s pop feel. There is also a lead section to learn.
Start by getting comfortable with the chords and the two rhythm patterns, including the quick shuffle, before moving on to the lead section. Vocally, the song sits on the high end of C if you have the range. Since that's too high for my voice, I sing my version on the lower end while keeping the song in its original key.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Gasoline Alley Bred - Learn To Play
On Acoustic Guitar
Gasoline Alley Bred marked The Hollies' move into the 1970s with a somewhat grittier story than much of their earlier pop material. Written by the songwriting team of Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway, the song tells the story of a working-class girl raised in the poorer part of the city while retaining the polished vocal harmonies associated with The Hollies.
Released as a single in 1970, Gasoline Alley Bred reached #14 on the UK Singles Chart, although it failed to make the Top 40 in the United States. The song appeared on the UK album Confessions of the Mind and was also included on the US album Moving Finger. The title is sometimes mistakenly written as Gasoline Alley Bread.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
Gasoline Alley Bred is played in standard tuning. The original key uses a capo on the 3rd fret, putting the song in A#, but that sits too high for my vocal range, so I play my version without a capo. The chords are G, F, C, Gmaj7, E7, D7, Am7, Dsus, D, G/F and Cm.
The song opens with an intro riff and uses a down down up down up down up down up down up down up down up rhythm pattern that repeats throughout the arrangement. I also blend several riffs into the rhythm, with some additional lead work later in the song, including the main lead break.
Start by learning the chords and getting comfortable with the rhythm pattern and the smaller riffs that occur within it. Once those pieces are solid, add the opening riff and then work on the main lead break. Building the song in that order makes it easier to keep the rhythm flowing while adding the more melodic guitar parts.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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He Ain't Heavy - Learn To Play
On Acoustic Guitar
He Ain't Heavy became one of The Hollies' most enduring recordings after its release as a single in 1969. It reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 in the UK. Nearly two decades later, a 1988 reissue introduced the song to a new generation and took it all the way to #1 on the UK Singles Chart.
The recording also features a young session pianist named Reg Dwight, who would soon become internationally known as Elton John. The song's title had long been associated with Boys Town and its message of helping others carry their burdens. With its themes of compassion, loyalty and brotherhood, the Hollies recording became much more than another pop hit and remains one of the group's best-known ballads.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother is played in standard tuning and the biggest challenge with this song is the high vocal range. I'm playing it in the original key, but I move between the low and high ends of my vocal range to get through the demo while keeping that original key.
There are quite a few chords in this arrangement, including G, D, D/C, C, D7, D/Gb, Am7, G7, Ddim, Em, F, D7sus, Bm, Eb, Cmaj7, B7, A7 and G6. For rhythm, I use a down down up down up pattern that repeats through much of the song, along with a few downstroke chops in certain places.
The original recording also has a recognizable keyboard intro that can be captured nicely on acoustic guitar, and I'll show you how to play that as part of the lesson. There is also a short lead break blended into the rhythm. Start by getting comfortable with the chords and the main rhythm pattern, then add the keyboard-inspired intro and short lead section once the foundation of the song is in place.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Long Cool Woman - Learn To Play
On Acoustic Guitar
Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) appeared on The Hollies' 1971 album Distant Light and became an unexpected American smash. Released as a single in 1972, it climbed to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's highest-charting single in the United States.
The recording sounds noticeably different from the classic Hollies style. Allan Clarke handles the lead vocal without the group's familiar three-part harmonies, while the guitar-driven arrangement and slapback-style vocal echo give the song a swamp-rock sound often compared to Creedence Clearwater Revival.
By the time the song became a major hit, Clarke had already left The Hollies to pursue a solo career. Its success helped draw him back to the group, and he returned in 1973.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) uses just four chords: E, G, A and B. The original is in E and can be played in standard tuning, but that key sits too high for my vocal range. For my version, I tune the guitar down one fret, which puts me in Eb while allowing me to keep the same E chord shapes and familiar structure of the song.
The arrangement starts with the famous intro riff using a down down down down up rhythm pattern that repeats. As the song progresses, the rhythm changes to a down down down up down up down up down up pattern. There isn't a separate lead break in this arrangement; instead, the recognizable moving riff is blended into the chords and rhythm throughout the song.
Start by learning the four chords and the moving chord shapes used in the intro riff. Then work on the main rhythm and the rhythm change as you move through the song. If you're singing along, try it first in standard tuning in the original key of E. If that sits too high for your voice, tuning down one fret as I do here lets you keep the same chord shapes while bringing the song down to Eb.
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Look Through Any Window - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Look Through Any Window gave The Hollies an important American breakthrough in 1965. Released as a single and later included on the US album Hear! Here!, it reached #32 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group's first single to break into the US Top 40.
The song came from Graham Gouldman, who also wrote the Hollies hit Bus Stop and would later become a founding member of 10cc. Musically, Look Through Any Window is especially recognizable for its bright 12-string guitar riff and the group's trademark vocal harmonies. That chiming guitar sound fit perfectly with the folk-rock and British Invasion styles filling the charts during the mid-1960s, while the single's success helped establish The Hollies with a growing American audience.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
Look Through Any Window is played with a capo on the 2nd fret in my version, although the original key would require the same chord shapes with the capo on the 4th fret. The chords are G, F, C, Am, D and D7. I've also simplified the recognizable intro pattern somewhat from the original to make it work well within this acoustic arrangement.
For rhythm, I use a down up mute up down up mute up pattern that repeats through the song. The lead break uses the same pattern introduced at the beginning, with a few additional riffs blended into the rhythm along the way. Near the end of the song, I also use some downstroke rhythm chops. The original recording includes a half-step key change, but I don't include that modulation in either my lesson or demo.
Start by learning the six chords and getting comfortable with the main rhythm pattern. Then add the intro rhythm and riff combination, which you'll use again during the break. Finally, work in the additional riffs and the downstroke chops near the end of the song to complete the arrangement.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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On A Carousel - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
On A Carousel was released by The Hollies as a single in February 1967 after being written by Allan Clarke, Tony Hicks and Graham Nash. The group recorded it at EMI Studios in London in January, with Ron Richards producing. It represented something important for the band: after scoring major hits with outside material such as Graham Gouldman's Bus Stop, Clarke, Hicks and Nash were determined to prove they could write another major A-side themselves.
Graham Nash later recalled that the three writers went through numerous ideas before arriving at the image of a fairground carousel. They realized that a romantic relationship could be compared to endlessly going around on a carousel — chasing someone who always seems just out of reach — and the song quickly developed from that idea. The recording was also notable for giving Nash his first lead vocal on a Hollies A-side, singing the opening verse alone before sharing the vocals with Clarke.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
On A Carousel is played with the chords C, F, G, Am and D7. The intro is played from the C chord with the F note added underneath, so you don't actually need to change to the full F chord for that opening movement.
For the verses, I use a root up down up root up down up rhythm pattern before changing to a down up down up pattern later in the song. In the chorus, you'll move from Am to F to G while playing the recognizable signature riff. The bridge continues with the steady down-up rhythm before changing to some downstroke chops. There's also a descending bass run worked into the arrangement.
Start by learning the five chords and getting comfortable with the rhythm patterns. Then add the signature riff and descending bass line once the rhythm is solid. Vocally, this song can be challenging because it's sung on the high end of C, so in the lesson I also show you a modified way to sing it that makes the vocal more manageable.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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The Air That I Breathe - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
The Air That I Breathe closed The Hollies' 1974 album Hollies and gave the group another major international hit. Released as a single, the sweeping ballad reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the band's most enduring recordings of the 1970s.
Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood composed the song, which had originally been recorded by Hammond before The Hollies created their own version. Their recording surrounds Allan Clarke's vocal with lush orchestration and a gradually building arrangement that gives the song its distinctive dramatic sound.
Decades later, The Air That I Breathe became connected to Radiohead's 1992 song Creep after similarities between the two compositions were recognized. Hammond and Hazlewood subsequently received co-writing credit and a share of the royalties from Creep.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
The Air That I Breathe is a very high song vocally in the original key of C. In fact, as The Hollies have gotten older, they've performed the song several frets lower in A. If you have the vocal range, you can play it in C and sing the melody on the high end. In my version, I maintain the original chord structure but use a capo on the 3rd fret and sing the melody on the lower end to better suit my vocal range.
The song is played in standard tuning with the chords C, A#, E7, F, Fm, Em, G and Gm. For rhythm, I use a down down up down up pattern that repeats through the song. There is also some lead work in the arrangement, including a lead break that I blend into the rhythm.
Before working through the guitar parts, find a key and vocal approach that allows you to sing the song comfortably. Then learn the chords and get the main rhythm pattern flowing. Once those are in place, come back and add the lead break and learn how to blend it naturally into the rhythm.
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The Hollies Guitar Lessons FAQ
What is a good Hollies song to start with on acoustic guitar?
Carrie Anne and On A Carousel are good starting points for getting familiar with the bright rhythm and chord movement found in many Hollies songs. From there, Bus Stop and Look Through Any Window introduce more riffs, bass movement and rhythm changes, while Long Cool Woman takes you into a more driving, riff-based style.
Are these Hollies songs played in standard tuning?
Most of the lessons are played in standard tuning, although there are some adjustments to suit the arrangement or vocal range. For example, I tune down one fret for Long Cool Woman while keeping the familiar E chord shapes. Capo placement also varies from song to song, so each lesson explains the setup I use before getting into the chords and rhythm.
Do I need a capo to play these Hollies songs?
Not for every song. Some arrangements use a capo to match or adjust the key, while others are played without one. Look Through Any Window, for example, uses a capo on the 2nd fret in my version rather than the 4th fret needed with the same shapes for the original key. With several Hollies songs, capo placement can also help you find a key that better suits your vocal range.
What kind of strumming patterns will I learn?
There is quite a bit of rhythmic variety across these eight songs. You'll encounter steady down-up patterns, root-and-strum combinations, muted strokes, quick shuffles and downstroke rhythm chops. Songs such as Carrie Anne and On A Carousel capture the brighter 60s pop side of The Hollies, while Long Cool Woman uses a tighter, more driving rock groove.
Do these Hollies guitar lessons include riffs and lead guitar?
Yes. Several arrangements combine rhythm with recognizable riffs, bass runs or lead sections. Bus Stop includes its famous intro riff and a lead break, On A Carousel uses its signature riff and a descending bass line, and Gasoline Alley Bred includes an intro riff and main lead break. The goal is to incorporate the recognizable guitar parts without losing the rhythm of the song.
Can these songs work with just one acoustic guitar?
Yes. That's the approach used throughout these lessons. The original Hollies recordings often include multiple guitars, keyboards, orchestration and other instruments, so the arrangements focus on the parts that help make each song recognizable on one acoustic guitar. That may mean combining rhythm with a signature riff, adapting an instrumental part to guitar or using bass movement and chord changes to fill out the sound.
Are Hollies songs difficult to sing while playing guitar?
Some can be challenging because The Hollies frequently recorded in high vocal keys and their songs were built around strong vocal performances. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, On A Carousel and The Air That I Breathe are good examples. In the lessons, I explain how I handle those vocal ranges, including capo or tuning changes and, where appropriate, modified ways of singing the melody while keeping the guitar arrangement intact.
From bright British Invasion pop and harmony-driven ballads to the roots-rock sound of Long Cool Woman, these eight Hollies acoustic guitar lessons offer plenty of variety. Along the way, you'll work with different rhythm patterns, signature riffs, bass runs, lead breaks and chord movement while seeing how each song can be adapted to one acoustic guitar.
Be sure to watch the overview video at the top of the page to hear examples from all eight songs. When you're ready to learn one in full, choose the lesson that interests you and work through the chords, rhythm and additional guitar parts at your own pace.
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Kirby Swinemar is an acoustic guitar instructor, performer and song arranger who has taught online for 21 years and created more than 4,000 original acoustic guitar lessons. He specialises in song-based acoustic guitar instruction, rhythm guitar techniques, and creating full-sounding solo arrangements that help beginner and intermediate players move beyond basic strumming.
Explore his work at Kirby's Guitar Lessons and on social media on his social media YouTube Channel and his Facebook Page. Learn more about Kirby on his About Me page.
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