Classic Rock Bands
(A-F)
Welcome to this section on classic rock bands which are bands that are non USA. The links below will take you over to the other bands in this section which had to be split into three sections as page length (when finished)
would be too long for all bands to live on one page in the new format.
Other Rock Bands (A-F) | (G-R) | (S-Z)
Click drop down menu to quickly access to the artists on this page.
Classic Rock Bands A-E
Visit the A-Z- Directory to see other non American classic rock bands, or scroll to the bottom of this page.
1. Ace
How Long is from 1974 and the debut single by the band Ace from their "Five-A-Side" album.
The song peaked at #3 in Canada and the US and #20 in the UK.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 3rd fret
- Rhythm: down up down up down down and repeat
- Picking: Yes blended into the rhythm
- Chords: G, Fdim, Am, Em, Dm, Gsus
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2. A-Ha
Take On Me was first recorded in 1984 for the bands debut album "Hunting High And Low". The song was then remixed with some additional music added.
The first release failed to chart in the UK but with that second release, the song went to #2. In the US, with the help of MTV, the song reached #1.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: down up stop up down up stop up and repeat
- Picking: Yes a riff in the rhythm
- Chords: Am, D, G, C, G6, Em, D/Gb, Bm, F, D7
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3. Aphrodite's Child
It's Five o'clock was the name of the groups 2nd album and single which came out in 1970.
This song was a #1 in Belgium, France and Italy and #6 in Switzerland.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: 1-2 down up down up and repeat ... (1-2 are notes on the chord)
- Picking: Yes within the rhtyhm
- Chords: G, D/Gb, Em, C, D, G6, D/C, D/B, D/Bb, Em/D, Am, F, E
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4. Bananarama
Cruel Summer hit the airwaves back in 1983. The song was a single with no album attachment.
The band put the track on their 2nd album in 1994 called "Bananarama". The song hit #8 in the UK and #9 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo:4th fret
- Rhythm: a steady down down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: a few riffs in the rhythm
- Chords: Am, F, G
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5. Blue Swede
Hooked On A Feeling was from the Swedish band Blue Swede and this song was also the name of the 1974 album. BJ Thomas first recorded the song in 1969.
The Blue Swede version hit #1 in the US in 1974.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: down down up up down up and repeat
- Picking: a few riffs
- Chords: A, Amaj7, A7, D, Dm, Esus, E, Db, Gbm, Asus2maj7
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6. Bravebelt
Dunrobin's Gone is found on the Brave Belt II album but I don't believe the song was a single back in 1972
The band pre-dated BTO and was post The Guess Who.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: D, G, A, Bm, Gbm, Em, A7
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7. Chilliwack
Fly At Night was a 1976 single release and reached #7 in Canada and #76 in the US.
It can be found on the bands album "Dreams Dream Dream".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: 1-2-3 up down up down up (where 1-2-3 are notes on the chords) then a down up down up and repeat
- Picking: No
- Chords: D, G, Em, Am, C
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8. Climax Blues Band
Couldn't Get It Right released this song in 1976 as a single from their album "Gold Plated".
The song came out of nowher according to bassist Derek Holt and the song went to #10 in the UK, #8 in Canada and #3 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: a quick shuffle and then and down down up down down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: Bm, A, G, Esus, E, D
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9. Cutting Crew
I Just Died In Your Arms was the debut single for the group Cutting Crew back in 1986 and hails from their album "Broadcast".
The song was a monster hit reaching #1 in Canada, US, Norway and Finland and hitting the top 10 in several other countries.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: downstrokes .. then a down up down up down down up in the middle of the song
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: Bm, Em, A, Gbm, G, Gb
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10. Daft Punk
Get Lucky comes from the bands 4th and final album "Random Access Memories" from 2013. American singer Pharrell Williams is on this track. The song took 18 months to complete but it paid off.
The song was a #1 in many European countries as well as the US and #2 in Canada.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: a steady up and down shuffle pattern
- Picking: No
- Chords: Am, C, Em, D
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11. Daddy Cool
Eagle Rock was released back in 1971 by this group in Australia and was a best seller down under. In New Zealand, the song charted 3 times in 1971, 1986 and 1990.
The track in from the album "Daddy Who? Daddy Cool".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: use a down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes and few riffs
- Chords: A, E, G
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12. Del Amitri
Always The Last To Know came out in 1992 from the Scottish group Del Amitri.
The song is from their album "Change Everything" and reached #22 in Canada, #13 in the UK and #30 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: downstrokes with a few upstrokes
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: G, Em, C, D, Am, Bm, G6
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13. Depeche Mode
Personal Jesus was the lead single from this bands 7th album called "Violator" when it was released back in 1990.
The song peaked at #13 in the UK and reached #28 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: down -1-2-3 down up (1-2-3 are notes) and a steady up and down shuffle
- Picking: just a few riffs
- Chords: Em, A, G, Gb, A, Am, F
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14. Dexy's Midnight Runner
Come On Eileen hit #1 in both the UK and the US when it was released back in the summer of 1982.
The song hails from the bands album "Too-Rye-Ay".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down down up down down up and repeat and later downstrokes
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: C, F, Bb, Bbm, G, Em, A, D, Gbm
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15. Diesel
All Come Together is a song from Johnny Diesel from Australia and was his first single from his 3rd album "Solid State Rhyme".
The song peaked at #17 in Australia.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down down up up up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: No
- Chords: C, B, Am, G, D, Eb, Ab, Fm, Gsus
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16. Doucette
Mama Let Him Play is from Canadian rocker Jerry Doucette and was released in 1978. The song peaked at #43 in Canada but never charted outside the country.
It can be found on the album "Doucette".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 3rd fret
- Rhythm: downstrokes
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: A, D, G, Gbm
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17. Duran Duran
Save A Prayer was first released in the UK as a single in 1982 from their album "Rio". It hit #2 on the charts.
Three years later in 1985 they released the song in the US where it peaked at #16.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: No
- Chords: Dm, F, A#, G, Bm, D, Gbm
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18. Edward Bear
You Me And Mexico was a single that hit the airwaves back in 1970 and reached #3 in Canada and #68 in the US.
The song hails from their 1969 album "Bearings".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 3rd fret
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up
- Picking: a few riffs
- Chords: D, Em, Gbm, G, A, Ab
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19. English Beat
Save It For Later was released as a single back in 1982. The band was known as "The Beat" in the UK and "The English Beat" in Canada and the US.
The was the bands last album called "Special Beat Service". The song reached #47 in the UK and #58 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down down down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: a few riffs
- Chords: Dsus2, A/E, G, D, A
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20. Faces
Stay With Me was this bands only major hit when it was released as a single back in 1971. Faces of course was a band in which both Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood were both members.
The song if from their 3rd album "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink". The song reached #4 in Canada, #6 in the UK and #17 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: down up down up shuffle then use a down down down up down up and repeat
- Picking: a few riffs
- Chords: D, C, G, A
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21. Fools Garden
Lemon Tree is a song from the german group Fools Garden. The bands lead singer wrote the song while waiting for his girlfriend one afternoon and struck gold as the song went
on to become a #1 hit in several countries. It peaked at #26 in the UK when it was released in 1995.
The song can be found on their album "Dish Of The Day".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down root up down up and repeat
- Picking: No
- Chords: Em, Bm, Am, D7, G, D, C, A7, D7, B7
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22. Free
All Right Now was released twice. First in 1970 from the bands album "Fire And Water" where it reached #2 in the UK and #4 in the US.
The later in 1973 the song was re-released and went on the become a top 10 in several countries.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: downstrokes with a bit of shuffle rhythm
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: A, D, G
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That you for stopping by this classic rock bands page and I hope the info here was helpful.
Other Non USA Classic Rock Bands
ABBA | Air Supply | April Wine
Bad Company | Badfinger | Blondie
Dire Straits | Echo And The Bunnymen
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