Play These Classic Phil Collins Guitar Songs Today
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Phil Collins' music blends heartfelt lyrics with unforgettable melodies — a powerful combination that has captivated audiences for decades. Whether it's the atmospheric build of In the Air Tonight, the soulful ballad One More Night, or the energetic groove of You Can’t Hurry Love, his songs offer a range of acoustic guitar challenges that are both fun and rewarding to learn.
This page features step-by-step lessons for seven of Phil’s most popular tracks, each one arranged for acoustic guitar. You'll find chord sheets, demo snippets, and full tutorials to guide your progress — no matter your playing level.
🎸 Watch the Phil Collins Guitar Lessons Overview
performance clips taken directly from the complete lesson videos.
Click Play, then drag the timeline to quickly preview any Phil Collins 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.
✓ Instant download—start playing in minutes.
✓ Learn at your own pace on any device.
Phil Collins Guitar Lessons Included On This Page
Against All Odds Guitar LessonAnother Day In Paradise Guitar Lesson
Easy Lover Guitar Lesson
Groovy Kind Of Love Guitar Lesson
In The Air Tonight Guitar Lesson
On My Way Guitar Lesson
One More Night Guitar Lesson
You Can't Hurry Love Guitar Lesson
Against All Odds - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” was written and recorded by Phil Collins for the 1984 romantic drama Against All Odds. Collins adapted the song from an earlier unreleased composition called “How Can You Just Sit There?”, drawing on the emotions surrounding the breakdown of his first marriage.
Produced by Collins and Arif Mardin, the recording features a restrained piano-led arrangement that gradually builds around his emotional vocal performance. Released as a single in February 1984, the song became Collins’ first solo No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining there for three weeks.
It also reached No. 2 in the UK. The song received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song and remains one of Collins’ best-known ballads.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
The original key for this one is with a capo on the 1st fret, but you'll need a high vocal range to follow Phil Collins. So my version is played with a capo 5th while singing on the low end. There is a small keyboard riff in the beginning and near the end of the song and once you start singing play a down down up and repeat as you move through the chords which are Dm, Bm, C, F, G, Em, Am7, D7 and a Gsus. No lead in this one.
Just learn the chords, the one rhythm pattern and work in that intro and outtro riff and then find a place where vocally you can sing this number.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Another Day In Paradise - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Another Day In Paradise was written by Phil Collins, became his last #1 of the 80's and his first #1 of the 90s. This song was released as a single from the 1989 album "But Seriously" and was a huge hit worldwide.
The album also won a Grammy for Album Of The Year.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
I play this one in standard tuning with a down down up down down up down up using an arpeggio style and with a riff throughout the song. The chords here are Em, D, Am, C and G.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Easy Lover - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Easy Lover was co-written by Phil Collins and Philip Bailey of Earth Wind And Fire and was released in 1984-85. The song reached #1 in several countries including the UK.
Phil Collins first included the song on his 1990 "Serious Hits Live" album.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
Chords in this one are Fmaj7, Em, C, D, Am7, Bm, Em7 and an Am and a down up down up down up rhythm pattern. Played in standard tuning and with a riff within the rhythm and some isolated lead.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Groovy Kind Of Love - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
Groovy Kind Of Love was another cover Phil Collins did from this original version first recorded back in 1965. Bayer Sager and Munzio Clementi wrote the song in NYC in 20 minutes. Phil Collins released his version in 1988 which also appeared in the film "Buster". His cover reached #1 in several countries and a top 10 in many others.
This song appears on the "Buster" album from 1988.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
This one is played with a down down up down down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern and some lead work required while played in standard tuning. The chords in this one are F, Fsus2(maj7), Gm, Am, A#, Csus, G, D/Gb, Em7/C, Dsus, Am/D and a D7.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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In The Air Tonight - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
In The Air Tonight is a track from Phil Collins when he went solo in 1981 from the group Genesis and his first single was In The Air Tonight. This has become his signature song. It went to #2 in the UK and was a #1 in several European countries. In the US it peaked at #19.
You'll find this one on the "Face Value" album from 1981.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
For this song I play a drop D tuning but that's always optional and with the chords Dm, C, Bb, C, Dm and an F. For rhythm play muted down strokes as you'll see in the demo. No lead work in this one.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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On My Way - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
On My Way was the soundtrack for the Disney film from 2003 entitled "Brother Bear". The song was never released as a single but it was used in promotional spots for the movie.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
For rhythm here play a root down up down root down up down and repeat with a standard tuning. No lead here as you move through the chords C, A#, Am7, Gsus, G, F, Eb, Cm, Ab, Bbsus, Bb, D, G/Db, Em, A, Amaj7, Gm, Gbm, C6, A7sus, A7 and an A.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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One More Night
- Learn To Play
On Acoustic Guitar
One More Night was one of four single from the 1985 alum No Jacket Required. The other three singles were top hits but this one made it to #1.
It was his 2nd #1 in the US market place up to that time.
For rhythm here play a bit of a shuffle that would go down down up down up down up up up down up down up and repeat that as you move though the song.
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
Capo 1st is the original key by since I'm singing on the low end, I'm up an extra fret in standard tuning. No lead and for chords you'll need A, D, D/Gb, G, Em and a C.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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You Can't Hurry Love - Learn To Play On Acoustic Guitar
You Can't Hurry Love was an old song from 1966 first recorded by The Supremes and became a #1 pop song for the group. In 1982, Phil Collins took the song to #1 in the UK with his version.
Phil Collins has said that they were trying to re-make the song with that 60's sound and not to just do a cover of the song.
This one hails from the 2nd solo album of 1982 called "Hello I Must Be Going".
What You'll Learn From This Lesson
I play a down down down up down up fast shuffle pattern for this song but no lead and in standard tuning with a capo 2nd fret. The chords here are G, C, Bm, Em, Am, D, Dsus and a D7.
Guitar Lesson Details - (chords & lyrics sheet incl with lesson)
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Phil Collins may be best known as a drummer and vocalist, but his catalog is filled with rhythm-rich songs that translate beautifully to acoustic guitar. Whether you’re looking to add emotional depth to your playing or simply want to enjoy strumming through some iconic tunes, these lessons are a great place to start.
Once you’ve worked through these tracks, be sure to explore our other pages featuring Genesis songs, or artists like Sting and Don Henley — all known for their dynamic songwriting and crossover appeal.
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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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