Best Guitar Songs by The Monkees – Acoustic Tutorials

While they were originally assembled for television, their music quickly took on a life of its own – delivering hits like I'm a Believer, Daydream Believer, and Last Train to Clarksville that topped the charts and became part of 60s pop culture.

On this page, you’ll find 6 easy-to-follow acoustic guitar lessons featuring some of their most popular songs. Each tutorial includes chord breakdowns, strumming tips, rhythm guidance, and more to help you capture that jangly, upbeat Monkees sound.

A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You is a song written by Neil Diamond, which was recorded and released by The Monkees in 1967. The song was produced by Diamond's frequent collaborator, Jeff Barry, and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It was one of several hits for The Monkees in the mid-1960s, and helped cement their place as one of the most popular bands of the era.

Interestingly, "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" was actually a solo recording by Monkees member Davy Jones, with the other band members providing backing vocals.

Daydream Believer is the opening track on the 1968 album The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees. Released as a single, it topped the Billboard Hot 100, holding the number 1 spot for four weeks.

Written by John Stewart of The Kingston Trio, the song is instantly recognizable for its piano intro and the spoken word segment where Chip Douglas cues Davy Jones with "7a," to which Jones annoyed replies, "What number is this, Chip?"

This studio banter was intended to be cut but was left in, becoming an iconic part of the song’s charm.

I'm a Believer appears on the band's 1967 smash hit album More of the Monkees. As a single, it was an absolute juggernaut, staying at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and becoming the biggest-selling record of 1967.

The song was penned by Neil Diamond, who had intended to record it himself until the producers convinced him it was perfect for the TV group.

Pre-release orders were so high that it was certified Gold within two days of release, a rare feat that underscored the intense "Monkeemania" gripping the nation at the time.

Last Train to Clarksville kicks off the group's self-titled 1966 debut album, The Monkees. It was their debut single and an immediate sensation, rocketing to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 shortly after their television show premiered.

While it sounds like a catchy pop tune, writers Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart actually crafted it as a subtle protest against the Vietnam War.

The lyrics describe a soldier taking a train to an army base—implied to be near Fort Campbell, Kentucky—uncertain if he will ever return home, adding a layer of poignancy to the upbeat "Oh, No-No-No" chorus.

Papa Gene's Blues is a song written by Michael Nesmith of The Monkees, and was included on their 1966 self-titled debut album. The song features Nesmith on lead vocals and acoustic guitar.

Despite not being released as a single, "Papa Gene's Blues" became a fan favorite and has since become a classic of 1960s rock music.

The song's blend of rock, country, and blues influences helped pave the way for the country-rock movement that would emerge in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Valleri is featured on the 1968 album The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees. Released as a single, it reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song had actually been written years earlier by Boyce and Hart and was aired on the TV show in 1967, but the label didn't release it until demand from radio DJs became overwhelming.

The track is legendary among musicians for its complex, flamenco-style guitar solo. While often attributed to a band member, that blistering acoustic run was actually played by session virtuoso Louie Shelton, who nailed it in a single take.