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Rod Stewart Unplugged Hit Songs
On The Acoustic
Here on this Rod Stewart unplugged hit songs page you'll find a collection of free demos, full lesson tutorials available for purchase along with several free chord sheets in .pdf format and some rhythm tips on playing each song and a bit of info on some of the best of Rod Stewart top songs on the acoustic.
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Rod Stewart Unplugged Hit Songs - Tutorials
1. Forever Young
Rod Stewart wrote this song as a sorta knockoff version of the Bob Dylan song of the same name for his 1988 album "Out Of Order". In fact, Stewart send his version to Dylan to get his permission and agreed to pay Dylan royalties from the song.
On the charts the song reached #12 in the US and #9 in Canada. Since 1988, Rod Stewart has re-recorded several versions of the song.
The demo button is the link for the Rod Stewart Forever Young cover.
- Drop D Tuning = Yes
- Capo = 2nd Fret
- Rhythm = a steady shuffle pattern will work for this one
- Picking = No
- Chords = D, G, A, Bm , Em
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2. I Don't Want To Talk About It
Neil Young's Crazy Horse Band first released this song back in 1971. It was written by Danny Whitten, a member of Crazy Horse at that time. Cover versions of the song may the song popular over the years including the Rod Stewart version released from his "Atlantic Crossing" album from 1988.
An updated version of the song became a #1 for Rod Stewart and has served him well over the years.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 3rd fret
- Rhythm = root up down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = Am, D, G, C, D/Gb, Em, Dsus
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3. Mandolin Wind
From the album "Every Picture Tells A Story" from 1971, this song was never released as a single but many critics claim that it should have and likely would have been a top 10 hit.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = a steady up and down will work for this one
- Picking = just riffs
- Chords = A, G, D
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4. Ooh La La
This song was written by Ronnie Lane and Ronnie Wood back in 1973 when Wood, Lane and Rod Stewart were members of the band "Faces". Both Lane and Stewart tried singing lead in 1973 for this song but decided Ronnie Wood should do the lead vocals, which he did. Of course Ronnie Wood is best known as the guitarist for The Rolling Stones.
For his 1998 album "When We Were The New Boys" Stewart did his version and was a top 40 on the charts in several countries.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 1st fret
- Rhythm = just play a root up down up root up down up and repeat and that will work
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, Em, G, A7
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5. Sailing
The Sutherland Brothers wrote and recorded Sailing back in 1972. Rod Stewarts girlfriend at the time turned him onto the duo and he took a liking to this song Sailing as a track from his 6th studio album "Atlantic Crossing" which debuted in 1975.
He had no intention to release the song as a single, but that's what happened, and it was an International success reach #1 in several European countries, but peaking at #58 in the US.
Download the Rod Stewart Sailing lyrics below.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = starts out with arpeggio and then eventually moves into a down down up down up down up - and repeat - as you move across the chords - then switchs back to arpeggion and back again
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = G, A, Gbm, D, B7, Bm, E, E7
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6. Some Guys Have All The Luck
Jeff Fortgang wrote this song and in 1973 it became a top 40 hit for the group "The Persuaders"peaking at #39.
In 1984 Rod Stewart released his version and had a #10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down down up - to start - then - down down down up - down down down up and continue
- Picking = a little
- Chords = D, Bm, Em, C, A7sus, A7, A, G
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7. The First Cut Is The Deepest
Cat Stevens must of had a huge grin on his face after he wrote this song, unless of course he didn't realize that six different artists would have hits with his song over the years.
Those artists included, P.P. Arnold in 1967, Keith Hampshire in 1973, Rod Stewart on 1977, Dawn Penn in 1994, Papa Dee in 1995 and Sheryl Crow in 2003.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = some arpeggio in the beginning and then down down up down up - down down up down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = A, D, E
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8. The Killing Of Georgie
Rod Stewart wrote this song in 1976 and scored a #2 hit in the UK.
The song was written with an uptempo Part I and a more sombre Part II about a gay man who was taken down in New York City. Stewart mentioned that the story was about one of his former band mates in the group "Faces".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 3rd fret
- Rhythm = root down root up down up and repeat this pattern
- Picking =
- Chords = G, Gmaj7, C, G, Dm, A#, Csus, (F-Fm optional ending)
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9. They Can't Take That Away From Me
This song was written back in 1937 by George Gershwin. Rod Stewart did an album in 2002 of Pop Standards and this song made it onto that album.
The song was released as a single and made in onto the Adult Contemporary chart peaking at #27.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down down up down down as you move thru the chords.
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = G, F, Eb, D7, Edim, Am7, Am7/B, Am7,G7, Gb, Bm, E7, A7, Gmaj7
Unavailable At This Time
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10. You Wear It Well
This song hails from the 1972 album "Never A Dull Moment" and was a #1 hit in the UK and a #13 in the US.
This song follows a similar vibe as Maggie May, a hit from 1971.
Below are the You Wear It Well chords.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = root down up root up down up - and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, Em, D/Gb, G, A7sus, A7, A
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11. You're In My Heart
In 1977 this song was released as a single from the "Foot Loose And Fancy Free" album and was a top 10 in many countries.
Rod Stewart wrote this song and it was a #1 for him in Australia and Canada as well it hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = root up down up root up down up and repeat as with a few stops here and there
- Picking = No
- Chords = D, Dbm, Bm, A, G, C, B, Am, Edim
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Thank you for stopping by my Rod Stewart unplugged hits songs page. I hope this info was helpful. Next time you're at a party and someone yells to play Rod Stewart songs, you'll be prepared.