Popular Songs From The 60s

Step back into one of music’s most creative decades with these popular songs from the 60s, featuring artists and bands that defined an era.

From harmony-rich pop and heartfelt folk to the rise of rock’s golden age, this collection showcases the songs that shaped modern music.

Some groups — like The Rolling Stones — went on to span generations, but the 1960s are where their legendary journeys began. Each of these 60s guitar lessons brings a timeless hit to life on the acoustic guitar, capturing the sound and spirit of the decade. Grab your guitar and rediscover the songs that made the 60s one of the most unforgettable chapters in music history.

The 60s Decade

Adam Faith - Poor Me
Barry McGuire - Eve Of Destruction
Billy Roberts - Hey Joe
Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home
Bobby Vinton - Blue On Blue
Boyce & Hart - I Wonder What She's Doin Tonight
Brian Hyland - A You're Adorable, Sealed With A Kiss
Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth, Kind Woman, Mr Soul, On The Way Home, Rock And Roll Woman

The 60s began with a new generation of folk and pop voices that shaped the sound of an era. These early hits capture the acoustic charm and social spirit of the decade.

Chad & Jeremy - A Summer Song
Cilla Black- Anyone Who Had A Heart, You're My World
Cliff Richard - Daddy's Home - Devil Woman - Lucky Lips - My Foolish Heart - Summer Holiday
Clyde McPhatter - You're Moving Me
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising - Before You Accuse Me - Born On The Bayou - Cotton Fields - Down On The Corner - Fortunate Son - Green River - Have You Ever Seen The Rain - Hello Mary Lou - Hey Tonight - I Heard It Through The Grapevine - I Put A Spell On You - Lodi - Long As I Can See The Light - Looking Out My Backdoor - Proud Mary - Ramble Tamble - Someday Never Comes - Travelling Band - Up Around The Bend - Who'll Stop The Rain
Cupids Inspiration - Yesterday Gone
Dion - Blues Comin On, In The Still Of The Night, Ruby Baby, Runaround Sue, The Wanderer
Donovan - Catch The Wind, Mello Yellow, Season Of The Witch, Sunny Goodge Street, Sunshine Superman
Dorothy Moore - Misty Blue

As the decade unfolded, the British Invasion and American folk scene collided — giving us soulful ballads, protest songs, and pure pop brilliance.

Every Mothers Son - Come On Down To My Boat
Freddie And The Dreamers - I'm Telling You Now
Friend And Lover - Reach Out Of The Darkness
Gary US Bonds - This Little Girl Of Mine
Gary Lewis And The Playboys - Count Me In, This Diamond Ring
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - Lady Willpower, Woman Woman, Young Girl
Gene Pitney - 24 hrs from Tulsa, It Hurts To Be In Love, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Tower Tall, True Love Never Runs Smooth
George Benson - On Broadway
Gerry And The Pacemakers - I Like It, I'll Be There

These next artists brought melody and harmony to center stage — from gentle acoustic favorites to the driving rhythms that defined the 60s radio sound.

Herman's Hermits - Can't You Hear My Heartbeat - I Understand - I'm Into Something Good - Mrs Brown - No Milk Today - Silhouettes - There's A Kind Of Hush
Jay And The Americans - She Cried
Jimi Hendrix - Angel, Waterfall
Jimmy Clanton - Venus In Blue Jeans
Joe Dolan - Make Me An Island, You're Such A Good Looking Woman
Joe South - Dont It Make You Wanna Go Home, Games People Play
Lobo - Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend - How Can I Tell - I'd Love You To Want Me - It Sure Took A Long Long Iime - Me & You & A Dog Named Boo - Rings - Stoney
Los Bravos - Black Is Black

The mid-60s delivered everything from Hendrix’s psychedelic edge to the polished pop of Herman’s Hermits — proof of the decade’s wild musical range.

Mary Hopkin - Goodbye - Those Were The Days
Neil Sedaka - Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Calendar - Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen - Laughter In The Rain - Right Next Door To An Angel - What A Surprise
Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky
Otis Redding - Sittin On The Dock, These Arms Of Mine
Paul Revere And The Raiders - Indian Reservation, Kicks
Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman
Peter & Gordon - A World Without Love, I Go To Pieces, Lady Godiva, Woman
Peter Paul & Mary - If I Had A Hammer, Right Field
Pickettywitch - Baby I Won't Let You Down
PJ Proby - Niki Hokey

Folk anthems and soul classics shared the charts, showing how 60s music connected emotion, storytelling, and timeless melody.

Procol Harum - Whiter Shade Of Pale
Ralph McTell - From Clare To Here, Streets Of London
Ray Columbus And The Invaders - Til We Kissed
RB Greaves - Take A Letter Maria
Roy Orbison - California Blue - Communication Breakdown - Crying - Dream Baby - I Drove All Night - In Dreams - Mean Woman Blues - Not Alone Anymore (Wilburys) - Only The Lonely - Ooby Dooby - Pretty Paper - Pretty Woman - Running Scared - She's A Mystery To Me - You Got It - You're My Baby
Scott McKenzie - San Francisco

From the haunting “Whiter Shade of Pale” to the soaring emotion of “Crying,” these songs remind us why the 60s still resonate today.

Shocking Blue - Venus
Small Faces - Itchycoo Park
Spiral Staircase - More Today Than Yesterday
The Animals - Boom Boom, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, The House Of The Rising Sun, It's My Life, River Deep Mountain High
The Association - Never My Love, Windy
The Avengers - Out Of Sight Out Of Mind
The Beach Boys - Barbara Ann - Fun Fun Fun - Hawaii - Help Me Rhonda - Kokomo - Sloop John B - Surfer Girl - Surfin Safari - Surfin USA

The late 60s was a golden age of harmony and experimentation — from surf rock to soulful sing-alongs.

The Beatles - A Day In The Life - Across The Universe - All My Lovin - And I Love Her - Anna - Can't Buy Me Love - Come Together - Do You Want To Know A Secret - Don't Let Me Down - Drive My Car - Eight Days A Week - Eleanor Rigby - Fixing A Hole - For No One - From Me To You - Get Back - Girl - Help - Here Comes The Sun - Here There And Everywhere - Hey Jude - Honey Don't - Honey Pie - I Am The Walrus - I Feel Fine - I Saw Her Standing There - I Should Have Known Better - I Want To Hold Your Hand - I'll Cry Instead - I'll Follow The Sun - I'm Only Sleeping - It's Only Love - I've Just Seen A Face - Kansas City - Love Me Do - Lovely Rita - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - Mean Mr Mustard Man - Mr Postman - Oh Darlin - Please Please Me - Polytheme Pam - Michelle - Norwegian Wood - Nowhere Man - Ob Bla Di Ob Ba Da - Penny Lane - Rain - Revolution - Rocky Raccoon - She Said She Said - Something - Strawberry Fields - The Ballad Of John And Yoko - The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill - The Long And Winding Road - The Night Before - Til There Was You - We Can Work It Out - What Are You Doing - When I'm 64 - With A Little Help From My Friends - You Wont See Me - You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
The Beau Brummels - Don't Talk To Strangers, Laugh Laugh, Turn Around
The Brothers Four - Greenfields, The Green Leaves Of Summer
The Buckinghams - Don't You Care
The Byrds - Chimes Of Freedom - Hickory Wind - I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better - Mr Spaceman - Mr Tambourine Man - Turn Turn Turn

Few decades can match the 60s for sheer creative energy. These groups redefined what guitar-driven music could be.

The Classics IV - Spooky, Traces
The Cuff Links - Tracy
The Dave Clark 5 - Because, Everybody Knows
The Easybeats - Friday On My Mind
The Flying Machine - Smile A Little Smile For Me
The Fortunes – Here It Comes Again, You've Got Your Troubles
The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup
The Four Pennies - Juliette
The Four Seasons - Big Girls Don't Cry - Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - My Eyes Adored You - Oh What A Night - Sherry - Walk Like A Man - Working My Way Back To You
The Grass Roots - Midnight Confessions, I'd Wait A Million Years, Sooner Or Later, Two Divided By Love

Catchy hooks, big harmonies, and clean guitar tones filled every jukebox — these were the feel-good hits of the 60s.

The Hollies - Bus Stop - Carrie Anne - Gasoline Alley Bred - He Ain't Heavy - Long Cool Woman - Look Through Any Window - The Air That I Breathe
The Left Banke - Walk Away Rene
The Lettermen - The Way You Look Tonight
The Love Affair - A Day Without Love
The Lovin Spoonful - Darlin Be Home Soon - Did You Have To Make Up Your Mind - Do You Believe In Magic - Nashville Cats - Rain On The Roof - Summer In The City - Wild About My Lovin - You Didn't Have To Be So Nice
The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreaming, Creeque Alley, Monday Monday
The Marbles - The Walls Fell Down
The Marmalade - Baby Make It Soon, Reflections Of My Life

From California sunshine to British pop perfection, these artists gave us songs that are still sung — and strummed — today.

The Merry Go Round - Live
The Monkees - A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You - Daydream Believer - I'm A Believer - Papa Gene Blues - The Last Train To Clarksville - Valeri
The Myddle Class - Free As The Wind
The Outsiders - Time Wont Let Me
The Paris Sisters - I Love How You Love Me
The Raspberries - Go All The Wall, Let's Pretend, Should I Wait
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
The Rolling Stones - As Tears Go By - Beasts Of Burden - Brown Sugar - Everybody Needs Somebody To Love - Good Times Bad Times - Honky Tonk Woman - It's All Over Now - Jumpin Jack Flash - Lady Jane - Miss You - Out Of Control - Out Of Time - Paint It Black - Ruby Tuesday - The Last Time - Time Is On My Side - Under My Thumb - You Can't Always Get What You Want ,

The Monkees, The Stones, and their peers turned guitar pop into global culture — fusing energy, rebellion, and irresistible melody.

The Rooftop Singers - Walk Right In
The Ronettes - Be My Baby
The Searchers - Love Potion #9, Needles And Pins, What Have They Done To The Rain, When You Walk In The Room
The Seekers - A World Of Our Own - Georgy Girl - I'll Never Find Another You - Morningtown Ride - Red Rubber Ball - The Carnival Is Over - Walk With Me
The Steam Machine - Let The Feeling Begin
The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Tremloes- Silence Is Golden
The Turtles - Happy Together, You Baby
The Vogues - You're The One
The Walker Brothers - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore
The Who - Bargain - Behind Blue Eyes - Don't Let Go The Coat - Goin' Mobile - It's Hard - Let My Love Open The Door - Love Ain't For The Keeping - Pinball Wizard - So Sad About Us - Squeeze Box - Waiting For A Friend - Without Your Love - You Better You Bet
The Wonders - That Thing You Do
The Yardbirds - For Your Love
The Youngbloods - The Wine Song
The Young Rascals - Good Lovin, How Can I Be Sure, It's A Beautiful Morning
The Zombies - She's Not There, Tell Her No, Time Of The Season
We Five - You Were On My Mind
Zagar & Evans - In The Year 2525

The 60s closed on a high note — uniting Motown, pop, rock, and folk into a sound that still inspires new generations.

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The 1960s were a decade of transformation — from the British Invasion to the rise of folk, soul, and psychedelic rock. These 60s guitar lessons bring that history to life, one classic at a time. With easy chords, rhythmic strumming, and full-song demos, you’ll relive the energy that made the 60s one of music’s most beloved eras. Explore the next evolution of sound with our Motown Rhythm & Blues page for even more soulful favorites.

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