🎸 More Popular CCR Guitar Songs to Learn on Guitar

 These songs defined the Southern rock sound of the late '60s and early '70s, blending swampy rhythms with powerful storytelling.

Whether you’re strumming through “Up Around The Bend” or locking into the groove of “Down On The Corner,” these arrangements focus on rhythm accuracy, chord progressions, and lead fills that capture that unmistakable CCR vibe.

Each lesson comes with a full lesson, demo and downloadable chord sheet, and the option to dive deeper with the full tutorial.

Bad Moon Rising was the lead off single from the bands Green River album which was released in the spring of 1969, four months before the album came out. This track was also written by John Fogerty.

The song reached #2 in the US and #1 in the UK. The inspiration came to John Fogerty after watching a 1941 film called The Devil And Daniel Webster.

With its irresistible melody and catchy lyrics, this song is a timeless classic that has been covered by countless artists.

Before You Accuse Me appears as a gritty blues track on the band's commercial peak, the 1970 album Cosmo's Factory. It was not released as a single, functioning instead as a deep cut that showcased the group's reverence for R&B roots.

The song was originally written and recorded by rock pioneer Bo Diddley in 1957. While CCR’s rendition is a faithful electric tribute, the song gained further fame decades later when Eric Clapton released an acoustic version.

For Creedence, it served as a clear signal that despite their pop success, they remained dedicated students of American blues history.

Born On The Bayou serves as the opening track on the band's second album, Bayou Country, released in 1969.

While it became a staple of their live shows and a defining example of "swamp rock," it was originally released as the B-side to the massive hit "Proud Mary."

Because of this pairing, it did not chart separately on the Billboard Hot 100, though the single itself reached number 2. Interestingly, songwriter John Fogerty wrote this ode to the swamp despite having never lived in one; the setting was purely mythical, inspired by movies and his own imagination.

Cotton Fields is a high-energy folk cover found on the 1969 album Willy and the Poor Boys.

Written by the legendary bluesman Lead Belly, the song was a standard long before CCR touched it. While it was not promoted as a main single in the United States, it became a surprise international smash, famously hitting number 1 on the music charts in Mexico.

The recording features a unique countrified arrangement that highlights the band’s ability to modernize traditional folk music, utilizing a distinct rhythmic drive that separates it from The Beach Boys' more polished version of the same era.

Down On The Corner is a standout track from the 1969 concept album Willy and the Poor Boys.

Released as a single, it performed brilliantly, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song lyrics describe a fictional jug band performing on a street corner, which the actual band brought to life for the album cover and television appearances.

In a memorable promotional stunt, the band members dressed up as the characters from the song—complete with washboard and gut bass—to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, blurring the line between the song's fiction and reality.

Fortunate Son was the other single released from the Willy And The Poor Boys album.

This single managed to reach #3 in the US and #2 in Australia but never quite made it to the top. It was also written by John Fogerty. The track is a symbol of protest against the Vietnam War.

The song's distinctive guitar riff was created by John Fogerty to mimic the sound of a military march, adding to its rebellious and anti-establishment tone.

Green River was without a doubt the bands most successful single release. Bad Moon Rising, Lodi, Green River and Commotion all came from that record. This track was also written by John Fogerty.

Green River" reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969 and was a top 10 in several other countries.

The title track of the album, "Green River" is a homage to the Green River, which runs through the band's home state of California. It evokes a sense of nostalgia for the countryside and the joys of simpler times.

Have You Ever Seen The Rain was the first of two singles released by CCR in 1971 from their Pendulum album. The song was written by John Fogerty

And this song was a huge hit across several countries and did make it to #1 in Canada. In the US, Have You Ever Seen the Rain reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1971.

This is probably one of the first CCR songs most people learn on guitar because it's a simple play and a great tune.

Hello Mary Lou appears on the band's final studio album, Mardi Gras, released in 1972.

Included as a single, it managed to chart but failed to break the Top 40 in the US, reflecting the band's waning momentum.

The song is a cover of the Gene Pitney-penned hit made famous by Ricky Nelson in 1961. Unlike much of the Mardi Gras album, which controversially featured Doug Clifford and Stu Cook on vocals, this track features John Fogerty singing lead, offering fans one of the few moments on the record that captured the classic, driving Creedence sound.

Hey Tonight charted in three countries when it was released as a single in 1971 from the Pendulum album.

It hit #1 in Belgium and Denmark and #9 in Australia and was written by John Fogerty. Hey Tonight reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1971.

The song's upbeat tempo and infectious energy make it a fan favorite. It is often performed live and is known for its catchy chorus and memorable guitar riff.

I Heard It Through The Grapevine of course is an older Marvin Gaye song from the 1960s but was covered by CCR for their 1970s album Cosmos Factory.

The track is over 11 minutes in length in this version from Creedence and they went ahead a released a single of the song three years later in 1973. It hit #10 in the Netherlands.

I Put A Spell On You was released on several albums. The first was in 1968 from the Creedence Clearwater Revival album and never cracked the top 40. The track was not written by John Fogerty  but instead by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, which was a hit for him.

A re-release in 1972 fared better with the song reaching #12 and #3. The final release was in 1990 but the song only charted in The Netherlands at #64

CCR's rendition of "I Put a Spell on You" showcases John Fogerty's powerful vocals and the band's ability to infuse their own style into a classic blues-rock song.

Lodi was  released in 1969 as the B-side to "Bad Moon Rising," and tells the tale of a struggling musician who gets stuck playing in a small town that he never meant to stay in.

Written by John Fogerty, the song’s emotional core revolves around dashed dreams and the feeling of being trapped by circumstance — a relatable theme for many artists. With its laid-back rhythm and melancholic tone, Lodi stands out as one of CCR’s most reflective and heartfelt tracks.

Long As I Can See The Light was mainly a B-side to Looking Out My Back Door but still managed to reach #20 in the UK and went to #1 in Norway.

The song hails from the 1970 album Cosmos Factory and featured John Fogerty playing electric piano and sax on the track which was written by John Fogerty

Although it was not released as a single, the song has become a beloved track in CCR's discography.

Looking Out My Back Door (often spelled "Lookin' Out My Back Door") appears on the 1970 blockbuster album Cosmo’s Factory. It was a smash hit, climbing to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

While many listeners at the time assumed the surreal lyrics about elephants and giant spoons were drug references, John Fogerty has consistently stated the song was actually written for his three-year-old son, Josh.

The whimsical imagery was inspired by the Dr. Seuss book And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, and the song serves as a lighthearted tribute to the Bakersfield sound.

Proud Mary was the breakout hit from the 1969 album Bayou Country. It reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first of five Creedence singles to stall at that runner-up position.

Written by John Fogerty shortly after he received his discharge papers from the National Guard, the song captures a sense of freedom and escape.

While CCR’s original version is a rock standard, the song gained a second life when Ike and Tina Turner covered it in 1971, transforming the mid-tempo roots rocker into a high-energy funk and soul explosion.

Ramble Tamble is a popular CCR song but was never released as a single.

It appears on the Cosmos Factory album of 1970 and was written by John Fogerty.

While it wasn't released as a single, "Ramble Tamble" is an album track that showcases CCR's ability to explore extended instrumental sections and display their prowess as a rock band.

Someday Never Comes serves as a poignant highlight on the 1972 album Mardi Gras. Released as a single, it reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the band's final entry into the American Top 40.

The song is deeply personal; John Fogerty wrote it about his divorce and the disintegration of the band, using the lyrics to explore the loss of childhood innocence.

It stands as a sad, autobiographical farewell, as the group officially announced their breakup shortly after the song helped close out their recording career, making the title painfully prophetic.

Travelling Band was written by John Fogerty and was included on the 1970 album "Cosmos Factory" and was written by John Fogerty.

The song peaked at #2 in the US and #8 in the UK.

Travelin Band" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1970 and reached #8 in the UK.

It became one of CCR's biggest hits and a concert staple.

Up Around The Bend is a driving rock anthem found on the 1970 album Cosmo’s Factory. Released as a single, it continued the band's incredible streak of radio dominance, reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

John Fogerty wrote the song just days before the band was set to depart for a European tour, needing one more high-energy track to complete their setlist.

The song is famous for its opening high-pitched guitar riff, which is one of the most recognizable in rock history and has been covered by acts ranging from Elton John to Hanoi Rocks.

Who'll Stop The Rain also features on the seminal 1970 album Cosmo’s Factory. It was released as a double A-side single with "Travelin' Band" and reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song was inspired by John Fogerty's experience at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, where he watched the deluge of rain soak the crowd.

While often interpreted as a protest against the Vietnam War due to its somber tone and "rain" metaphor, Fogerty maintains that its primary inspiration was simply the wet, muddy reality of that historic festival and the resilience of the audience.