Classic Rock Artists
On The Acoustic
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This classic rock artists page has a list of rock artists I have covered songs for on the acoustic guitar.
Visit the A-Z- Directory to see other classic rock artists, or scroll to the bottom of this page.
Use jump links in menu below to quickly get to each song.
Classic Rock Artists A-I
Chords, Pdf's, Demos, Tutorials
1. Andrew Gold
Lonely Boy was a big song for Andrew Gold when it was released back in 1977. It reached #7 in both the US and Canada, hit #11 in the UK and reached #32 in Australia.
The track is from his 1976 album, "What's Wrong With This Picture". It was also used in several films including Boogie nights, The Waterboys and The Nice Guys.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = mainly downstrokes - few places use some arpeggio
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = A/Db, D, E/Ab, A, Gbm, E6, C7#sus, C#7, Abm7, C#m, Am/Gb, B7sus, B7, Esus, E, Dmaj7, B
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2. Andy Taylor
Take It Easy was part of an album called "American Anthem Soundtrack" which came out in 1986. The movie was a sports film starring Mitch Gayload and actress and wife of Wayne Gretzky, Janet Jones.
The single peaked at #24 in the US and #30 in Australia.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = mainly downstrokes but with some up strokes
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = G, C, D
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3. Beck
Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime was written in about 15 minutes by James Warren from the British group The Korgis. The scored a #5 on the UK charts and a #18 in the US. Several artists
have covered this song including Beck, who released his version in 2004 from the album "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind". But Beck's version did not chart.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 1st fret
- Rhythm = downstrokes and then a down down up down down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Gbm, Dmaj7/D#, Dmaj7, C7#sus, C7#, Bm, Esus, E, Dbm, D, A , A/Eb
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4. Billy Idol
White Wedding was a #10 in the US and a #6 in the UK when it came out in 1982.
The song hails from the album "Billy Idol".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = downstrokes for the most part with some upstrokes and shuffle to catch a few riffs
- Picking = main just riffs in places
- Chords = B, E, D, A, Bm
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5. Billy Mann
Killed By A Flower is off of Billy Mann's first album titled "Billy Mann".
The song was never released as a single to my knowledge.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 7th fret
- Rhythm = down down up down up down down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking = No
- Chords = G, A, C, Bm, Am7, A7, G6, Am, D/Gb
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6. Bob Welch
Sentimental Lady was first recorded by Fleetwood Mac in 1972. Bob Welch, who wrote the song, decided to record it himself in 1977 for his French Kiss album.
Several members of Fleetwood Mac are also on this Welch track. The song reached #3 in Canada and #8 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = down down up down down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Gbm, Em, Dmaj7, G, A, Bm, D
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7. Bruce Hornsby
The Way It Is hails from the 1986 album of the same name.
It reached #1 in Canada, The Netherlands and the US and was a top 10 in several other countries.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = a steady up and down shuffle
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Am, Em, D, C, G, F
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8. Bryan Ferry
This Is Tomorrow was released back in 1977 and was a #9 hit for Ferry in the UK.
The track is originally from the album "In Your Mind".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = downstrokes
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = A, E, D, Db, B7, B, Gb, D#
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9. Chris Cornell
Nothing Compares 2 U was actually written by Prince who has his own version. Cornell released a link to his version the day after Prince died.
The song is from his album "No One Sings like You Anymore".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down down down up down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = C, G6, Am, D, G, E7, A#, F, Em
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10. Chris Thompson
If You Remember Me was written by Thompson after he left Manfred Mann and formed the group "Night" in 1979. The song reached #17 in the US.
The song was in the film "The Champ" which was remade in 1979.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 1st fret
- Rhythm = down down down up down up and repeat will work
- Picking = No
- Chords = D, D/Gb, G, Gm, Bm, Em, A7sus, A7, A, Gb, Gbm, E
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11. Citizen Cope
Sideways was never released as a single to my knowledge but does feature Carlos Santana on the track.
It can be found on the album "The Clarence Greenwood Recordings" from 2004.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down down up down up and repeat
- Picking = No
- Chords = Em, D, Em/Eb, Am
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12. Daughtry
Battleships was a single released in 2014 by Chris Daughtry from his album "Baptized".
The song peaked at #20 in the US and #37 in Canada.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 1st fret for original key - I'm on the 3rd
- Rhythm = down down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking = No
- Chords = C, Fmaj7, G
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13. Dave Mason
We Just Disagree was the 2nd single from Dave Mason's album "Let It Flow" back in 1977.
The song peaked at #12 in the US and #10 in Canada. Country artist Billy Dean also covered the song in 1993 and had a #9 hit with his cover.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = steady up and down shuffle
- Picking = No
- Chords = E, A, B, Dbm
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14. David Gray
Babylon was released back in 1999 and was David Gray's 2nd single from his album entitled "White Ladder".
The song hit #1 in the US and was a top 10 in the UK.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 1st fret
- Rhythm = steady up and down shuffle
- Picking = No
- Chords = D, A, Em, A7sus, A7, Gbm, Dmaj7
Buy Full Lesson
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15. Don Felder
All Of You is actually part of the soundtrack from the 1981 movie "Heavy Metal".
To my knowledge the song was never released as a single.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down down up down up down up and repeat will work - you'll also use downstrokes and a down up down up pattern - have a few riffs throughout
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Em, A, G
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16. Donnie Iris
Ah Leah hails from the 1980 album "Back On The Streets". The song was originally going to be an anti-war song but when that lead to a dead end, writers Mark Avsec and Donnie Iris turned it into a love song.
The song reached #6 in Canada and #19 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = main downstrokes
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = A, C, G, E, D, Em
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17. Donavon Frankenreiter
Beautiful Day is a song from the 2006 album entitled "Move By Yourself".
To my knowledge the song was never released as a single.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down down up down down up down up and repeat
- Picking = No
- Chords = Amaj7, Dbm, Gbm, Dmaj7, Bm
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18. Edwin McCain
Couldn't Love You More ... can be found on the 2004 album called "Scream And Whisper".
I don't believe this song was ever released as a single.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = 1-2-3- up up down up (1,2,3 being arpeggio notes)
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Gbm, E, D, Bm, Asus2, Esus, A/Gb
Buy Full Lesson
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19. Elliott Smith
Waltz #2 is from Elliott Smith's alum "X0" which was released in 1998. It was the first single from the album but it did not chart in the US.
In the UK the song reached #52 on the chart.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 3rd fret
- Rhythm = down down up down up and repeat
- Picking = some riffs in the rhythm
- Chords = Em, D, C, G6, Am/C ,G, G6#11#3, Gb, B7, Am, D/Gb
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20. Gary Moore
Over The Hills And Far Away is a Gary Moore song from 1986 and hails from his album "Wild Frontier".
The song reached #20 in the UK.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down down up down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Em, G, C, D, A, E, Gbm
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21. Greg Kihn
The Breakup Song has been featured in four films since it's release back in 1981 and also was on one of the Soprano's episodes.
The reached reached #11 on Billboard in the US as a single and hails from the album "RockihnRoll".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down up down up or downstrokes or both
- Picking = riffs in the rhythm
- Chords = Am, F, G, C, Dm
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22. Henry Gross
Shannon hit the airwaves in 1976 and reached #6 in the US and #1 in Canada and New Zealand for Henry Gross.
The song can be found on his album titled "Release".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 3rd fret
- Rhythm = down down up down up down up down up down up .. and repeat
- Picking = No
- Chords = D, Em, A7, A/Db, Bm, Bm/A, Bm/G#, Gb, G, A7sus, C, A7sus, Esus, E, Dsus4, D5
Buy Full Lesson
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23. Herman Brood
Never Be Clever released this song as a single and to my knowledge has not appeared on any of his albums.
Because Herman Brood is Dutch, the song reached the top 10 in the Dutch market.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down up down up and repeat
- Picking = a few riffs in the rhythm
- Chords = A, Asus(maj7), Gbm, D, E, Gbm, C, G
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24. Ian Gomm
Hold On is a single from Gomm's very first album released back in 1987 entitled "Summer Holiday".
The song did well reaching #18 in the US and #44 in Canada.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = a steady shuffle with a down down up down down pattern going on
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Dm, Am, A+, C, Gm
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25. Ian McCulloch
Faith And Healing was a single back in 1990 and hails from the album "Candleland".
The song reached #10 in the US and #96 n the UK.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = a steady shuffle
- Picking = Yes within the rhythm
- Chords = G, C, D
Buy Full Lesson
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That you for stopping by this classic rock artists page and I hope the info here was helpful.
Other Classic Rock Artists
Alice Cooper | Andy Kim | Bahamas
Big Head Todd | Billy Joel | Billy Squier
Bob Seger | Bon Jovi | Bruce Springsteen
Bryan Adams |Chris Isaak | Colin Hay
Daniel Powter | Dave Edmunds
Dave Matthews | David Bowie | David Lee Roth
Eddie Money | Elton John | Elvin Bishop
Elvis Costello | G Jeils | Gary Wright
George Harrison | Gerry Rafferty | Glenn Frey
Hall & Oates |Harry Nilsson | Huey Lewis
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