Ray Charles Acoustic Cover Songs

Welcome to my Ray Charles acoustic cover songs page where you'll find free Ray Charles guitar chords and lyrics in a free pdf download, as well as some free acoustic guitar demos on several classic songs.

I've also added some of the Ray Charles album covers to this page so you know where the songs originated.

Jump links to quickly access the sections.

Cry | Rainy Night In Georgia
Seven Spanish Angels | What I'd Say
You Don't Know Me

Ray Charles Acoustic Cover Songs
Demos, Chords & Lyrics

1. Cry

Ray Charles released this song as a single back in 1965 from his album "Sweet And Sour Tears". It reached #11 on the Contemporary Chart and #58 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Several artists had top songs with this song before Ray Charles recorded his version. Those include Ruth Casey and Johnny Ray & The Four Lads  in the 50's. Ronnie Dove released a version after Ray in 1966. Country artist Crystal Gal took the song to #1 in 1986.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: G, Gbm, B, Em, A7, D, D7, B7, E7, C, A7m, Daug, Cm, E, Gb, F, Gmaj7
Chords & Lyrics

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2. Rainy Night In Georgia

This one was a big hit in 1970 by Brook Benton but was recorded a year earlier by Tony Joe White, who wrote the song.

Ray Charles put this song on his 1972 album "Through The Eyes Of Love". As popular as his version was, it was never a single release.

This is one of Ray Charles best songs in my opinion.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: down down up down down up down up and repeat
  • Picking: a few string bends
  • Chords: EbMaj7, Fmaj7, F, A#7, Dm, Am, F7, Bb, Emaj7, G#, G, A#, C7
Chords & Lyrics

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3. Seven Spanish Angels

In 1984 Ray collaborated with country artist Willie Nelson for a duet on this song written by Tony Seals. They scored a #1 hit. Ray had this one on his album "Friendship".

Ray Charles had 8 hits on the country charts but this was his most successful.

Alison Krauss and Jamey Johnson have a duet on this song and Corb Lund has also recorded the song.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: 3rd fret
  • Rhythm: down down up down down up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: D, A7, D7, G
Chords & Lyrics

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4. Ray Charles What I'd Say

After finishing a gig in 1958 and having time to fill, Ray Charles laid this one onto his audience which was a song he'd written but not yet recorded. When it was released it spawned what today we call soul music.

Since that time Charles used this song to close every show. He was 28 at the time of this release . From the album of the say name, this song became his first top 10 and his first gold record.

  • Drop D Tuning: Yes
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: a steady up and down
  • Picking: a few riffs
  • Chords: D, G, A, D7 
Chords & Lyrics

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5. You Don't Know Me

Several country artists had recorded this song including Eddy Arnold in 1955 and Jerry Vale in 1956.

But it was Ray Charles in 1962 who took the song all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song hails from his 1962 album Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music Vol Two". 

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: down down up down up and repeat
  • Picking: No
  • Chords: D, Faug, D7, G, Ddim, B7,Em, A7, Gb, E7, G7, Dmaj7, G, Gm
Chords & Lyrics

Buy Full Lesson

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Thanks for stopping by my Ray Charles acoustic cover songs page and I hope the info here was useful in helping you learn how to play of these Ray Charles hits on the guitar.

Ray Charles Official Website

Ray Charles And Stevie Wonder



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