Learn How to Play the Best R.E.M. Songs on Guitar
If you’re a fan of jangly alt-rock and emotional acoustic ballads, learning R.E.M. songs on guitar is a perfect fit.
This legendary band from Athens, Georgia helped define alternative rock in the 80s and 90s with their blend of poetic lyrics, distinctive guitar tones, and unforgettable melodies.
Whether you're strumming "Losing My Religion" or tackling deeper cuts like "Talk About the Passion," these songs are fun, playable, and rich in style.
Each lesson below includes chord diagrams, strumming tips, and a video demo to help you play along.
🎸 Overview Video - “Watch This Preview of My Best R.E.M. Guitar Songs”
Soon.
R.E.M. Guitar Song List
1. Losing My Religion2. Man On The Moon
3. Nightswimming
4. Pop Song 89
5. Shiny Happy People
6. Talk About The Passion
7. The One I Love
REM Most Famous Songs
Chords, Lyrics, Covers, Tutorials
1. Losing My Religion - Learn To Play On Guitar
Losing My Religion by REM is off of their 1991 album "Out Of Time". The song revolves around a mandolin riff from Peter Buck who just purchased a mandolin and was trying to learn how to pay it.
This became the groups biggest charting song in the US to date at #4 on the Billboard chart. This song won 2 Grammy's in 1992.
Chords And Strumming
For rhythm here play a down down down up down up and repeat pattern with some lead work. The chords you'll need are Am, F, G, Em, Dm and Fmaj7.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Chords & LyricsBack To Song List
2. Man On The Moon - Learn To Play On Guitar
Man On The Moon is from the album "Automatic For The People" released in 1992 and the 2nd single from this album. The song did reach #1 in Iceland of all places and was a #30 in the US and #18 in the UK.
The song was also featured in the 1999 film of the same name starring Jim Carey.
Chords And Strumming
For this one I play a down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with no lead work. The chords you'll need are C, D, Am and a G6.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Chords & LyricsBack To Song List
3. Nightswimming - Learn To Play On Guitar
Nightswimming is a song about skinny dipping at night according Mike Mills, whereas lead singer Michael Stipe said he wrote the lyrics about a nightwatchman but had to change the title to night swimming, because the night watchman said he would sue Stipe.
The string arrangement here was arranged by the former bass player of Led Zeppelin, John Paul Jones. The song is from 1992 and the album "Automatic For The People". Lead singer Michael Stipe sings this one along with the bass player Mike Mills, who is playing piano on this track.
Chords And Strumming
You'll want to blend in some picking into the rhythm using mostly down strokes because of all of the underlying riffs going on throughout but the odd spot where there is some arpeggio 1-2-3 up down up. For chords play G, G6, C, D and Am.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Chords & LyricsBack To Song List
4. Pop Song 89 - Learn To Play On Guitar
Pop song 89 hails from the bands 1989 album "Green". The single peaked at #86 on Billboards Hot 100 charts.
Stipe was asked by MTV to cover the 3 naked women he was dancing with somehow in the music video so he placed black stripes to cover their nipples.
Chords And Strumming
For rhythm play a down down up down up down up and repeat pattern and in several spots where there are some down strokes, add in some picking riffs. For chords play A, D, B7, Am, E and G.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Chords & LyricsBack To Song List
5. Shiny Happy People - Learn To Play On Guitar
Shiny Happy People is found on the 1991 the album "Out Of Time" which released this single that hit the top 10 in the US, Canada, Norway and the UK and featured Kate Pierson from the B-52's in both the music video and on the track itself.
Chords And Strumming
Chords here are G, Em, Bm, C, E and A using some arpeggio and then basically just a down down up down up down up and repeat pattern with some down strokes along the way. In standard tuning and with a small riff for lead.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Chords & LyricsBack To Song List
6. Talk About The Passion - Learn To Play On Guitar
Talk About The Passion hails from REM's debut album entitled "Murmur" but as a single was only released in the European market. The song failed to make the charts.
The song was about hunger around the world and the music video made this point, but according to Stipe the song itself failed to showcase that fact.
Chords And Strumming
No lead but some riffs blended into the rhythm in standard while playing a down up down up rhythm or use a down down up down up and repeat that as you sing. The chords needed are D, C, A , G6, Em13, Em7, A and a Dsus2/F.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Chords & LyricsBack To Song List
7. The One I Love - Learn To Play On Guitar
The One I Love was released in 1987 from the album "Document" with three singles, and this song becoming the band's first top 10 hit reaching #9 in the US and #11 in Canada.
Chords And Strumming
Played in standard tuning and some lead required, play a root down up root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with the chords Em, D, G, C and D#.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
Chords & LyricsBack To Song List
Whether you're a longtime fan of Michael Stipe and company or just discovering R.E.M.’s impact on modern rock, these songs offer something for every acoustic player.
From upbeat hits to introspective ballads, their catalog is both emotionally rich and musically accessible. Bookmark this page and come back often as more R.E.M. lessons may be added in the future.
If you liked this best REM guitar songs page, you might like ... (click images)
REM Documentary
Acoustic Versions Of Rock Songs
Tutorial Pricing: $3.25ea OR any 10 for $10
(use code "Any10410" at checkout)
Paid Requests for $25ea
(comes with any 8 freebies -> so 9 for $25)