The U2 Acoustic Guitar Collection: 19 Iconic Songs

u2 best of u2 songs

Capture the soaring melodies and rhythmic drive of Dublin’s finest. This collection brings together 19 of U2’s most enduring tracks, arranged specifically for the acoustic guitar.

From the anthemic power of The Joshua Tree to the soulful depth of Rattle and Hum, we’ve stripped these stadium classics down to their core components.

Whether you are looking to master the rhythmic pulse of "Desire" or the delicate phrasing of "All I Want Is You," these guides offer a direct path to playing the music of Bono, The Edge, Adam, and Larry with authenticity and feel.

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U2 Acoustic Songbook | 19 Classic Guitar Covers”

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U2 Guitar List

All I Want Is You
Angel Of Harlem
Desire
Electrical Storm
Hallelujah Here She Comes
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
In A Little While
Kite
Love Comes Tumblin
Love Rescue Me
Mysterious Ways
One
Song For Someone
Staring At The Sun
Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Where The Streets Have No Name
With Or Without You
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

All I Want Is You - Learn To Play On Guitar

all i want is you u2

All I Want Is You ... info soon.

Video lesson and chord sheet in the zip file below.

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Angel Of Harlem - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of Rattle And Hum featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Angel Of Harlem

Angel Of Harlem is a track from the 1988 album Rattle And Hum. The track was released as a single and was #1 in New Zealand and Canada and #14 in the US.

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Desire - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of Rattle And Hum featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Desire

Desire is a well-known song by the Irish rock band U2. It was released as a single and is part of their album "Rattle and Hum," which came out in 1988. "Desire" was one of the standout tracks from this album.

The song "Desire" was a commercial success and charted in several countries. In the United States, it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming one of U2's most popular songs.

Over the years, "Desire" has been covered by various artists, showcasing its enduring appeal. One notable cover is by the American rock band Gene Loves Jezebel, who released their rendition of the song in 1990.

"Desire" was written by U2's core members, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. The song's energetic and catchy style, combined with its memorable harmonica intro, has made it a fan favorite and an essential part of U2's extensive music catalog.

Chords And Strumming

This one I play with drop D tuning with the three chords D, C and G with no lead required. For rhythm play a steady up and down pattern.

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Electrical Storm  - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of The Best Of 1990 - 2000 featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Electrical Storm

Electrical Storm is a song by U2, featured on their 2002 compilation album "The Best of 1990–2000." This track was released as a single and gained recognition for its inclusion on this compilation album, which primarily highlighted U2's hits from the 1990s.

Although "Electrical Storm" was not part of a standard studio album, it received a warm reception. The song charted in several countries, marking its popularity among U2's fan base.

"Electrical Storm" was primarily written by U2's core members, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. It represents a compelling addition to the band's repertoire, further solidifying their standing as one of the most influential rock acts in the world.

The song was not as widely covered by other artists compared to some of U2's more famous songs. It remains closely associated with the band and their unique style.

The song was a #1 in Canada, #2 in Ireland and a #5 in the US. It was also a top 10 in a few other countries.

Chords And Strumming

Play in standard tuning with a capo 2nd fret with down-strokes along with ddudud-dududu and repeat pattern. No lead as you move through the chords Em, G, D, A, C, Bm, D#, A# and Dm.

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Hallelujah Here She Comes - Learn To Play On Guitar

hallelujah here she comes u2

Hallelujah Here She Comes  is promoted as being on the 1980-1990s album but the track is not listed, so I'm not sure about where this track can be found but it was never released as a single.

Chords And Strumming

This one is played with a capo 2nd with these chords but too high for my vocal range. Play a steady shuffle strum here with the chords A, D and E. No lead required.

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I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of The Joshua Tree featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For is a classic song by U2, featured on their critically acclaimed 1987 album "The Joshua Tree." The song is one of the standout tracks from this iconic album.

Chart-wise, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" performed exceptionally well. It reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, cementing its place as one of U2's most popular and enduring songs.

The song was primarily written by U2's core members, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. It remains one of U2's most recognizable and celebrated works, known for its emotional depth and the powerful blend of rock and gospel elements.

Chords And Strumming

I play a down up down up steady shuffle rhythm pattern here with standard tuning and no capo, but the original key is a capo 1st fret. No lead work in this one with the chords C, F and G.

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In A Little While - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of All That You Cant Leave Behind featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song In A Little While

In A Little While is a track on the 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind. The song was never released as a single but it was used as a promotional single.




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Kite - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of All That You Cant Leave Behind featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Kite

Kite is a track from the 2000 album All That You Cant Leave Behin. This track was never released as a single.

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Love Comes Tumblin - Learn To Play On Guitar

love comes tumblin u2

Love Comes Tumblin is a lesser-known but significant song by U2. This track was originally released in 1982 as part of the "Three" EP, an early recording in the band's career.

This track did not receive widespread chart success or radio play like some of U2's later hits. It remains more of a deep cut in their catalog, primarily cherished by devoted fans and those interested in the band's early works.

Love Comes Tumblin is an example of U2's earlier, more post-punk sound, before they transitioned into the more anthemic and globally popular style they would become known for. This track reflects the band's experimentation and evolving musical direction.

Chords And Strumming

The chords here are Am, Em and D with no lead and in standard tuning. For rhythm play  down-strokes or down down down up and repeat pattern.

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Love Rescue Me - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of Rattle And Hum featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Love Rescue Me

Love Rescue Me is a soulful and powerful song by U2, featured on their 1988 album "Rattle and Hum." This track is known for its emotive and bluesy sound and is one of the standout pieces on the album.

The track received positive critical acclaim but did not chart as a single, as it was not officially released as one. It remains a fan favorite, known for its heartfelt lyrics and captivating musical arrangement.

"Love Rescue Me" was co-written by U2's core members, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., along with B.B. King. The collaboration with King added a distinctive layer to the song, making it a unique and memorable part of U2's musical legacy.

Chords And Strumming

Play arpeggio note and down-strokes for rhythm here in standard tuning with the chords A, A7, D and E with no lead required.

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Mysterious Ways - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of Achtung Baby featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Mysterious Ways

Mysterious Ways is from the highly successful 1991 album Achtung Baby and the song itself was a #1 hit in Ireland and Canada and reached #9 in the US.




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One - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of Achtung Baby featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song One

One is a song by U2 that came out in 1991 on their album "Achtung Baby." It's one of their most famous and touching songs.

"One" did really well on the charts and lots of people loved it. In the United States, it reached the No. 10 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which is a big deal.

A lot of artists have covered "One" over the years, like Mary J. Blige, Johnny Cash, and Ed Sheeran.

"Some interesting things about 'One' are that the band almost didn't put it on the album because they didn't agree. But it became one of their best songs. " The song "One" was mostly written by U2's core members. It's a song that lots of people love and find inspiring, and it's a big part of U2's amazing music.

Chords And Strumming

For chords here you'll need an Am, D7, Fmaj7, G and C played in standard tuning and no lead. I play a down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern in this one.

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Song For Someone - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of Songs Of Innocence featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Song For Someone

Song for Someone is a touching and reflective song by U2, featured on their 2014 album "Songs of Innocence." The song stands out for its heartfelt and personal lyrics, making it a notable track on the album.

While "Song for Someone" was not released as a single, it received attention and positive feedback from both fans and music critics.

Unlike some of U2's other songs, "Song for Someone" hasn't been widely covered by other artists over the years. It remains more closely associated with U2 and their unique style.

Chords And Strumming

I play a drop D tuning here with a capo 2nd fret and the chords D, E, Gbm, A and B. Some lead required here while playing arpeggio with down-strokes and a down down up down and repeat pattern in a few sections.

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Staring At The Sun - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of The Best Of 1990-2000 featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Staring At The Sun

Staring at the Sun is a song by the Irish rock band U2. It's from their album called Pop, which came out in 1997. They released it as a single on April 14, 1997, through Island Records.

The song did really well, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart, number one in Canada and Iceland, and number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the US, it was also number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and Adult Alternative Songs charts. It did well in other countries too, like Finland, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, and Norway.

The song has a line that says "Stuck together with God's glue," which was taken from the title of an album by another Irish band called Something Happens, who are friends with U2. U2 thought the song could become as popular as their song "One." They released a new mix of "Staring at the Sun" for a compilation album called The Best of 1990-2000.

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Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of All That You Cant Leave Behind featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Stuck In A Moment You Cant Get Out Of

Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of was a single release from the 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind and peaked at #1 in Ireland and Canada and reached #2 in the UK.

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Sunday Bloody Sunday - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of War featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Sunday Bloody Monday

Sunday Bloody Sunday is one of U2's most iconic and politically charged songs. It was released as the opening track from their critically acclaimed album "War," which was released in 1983. The album was a significant commercial success, reaching number one in the UK Albums Chart and number 12 on the US Billboard 200.

The song itself addresses the Troubles in Northern Ireland, particularly the Bloody Sunday incident in 1972, where British soldiers shot and killed unarmed civil rights protesters in Derry, Northern Ireland.

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" was released as a single in 1983 and achieved moderate success on the charts. It reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart but did not chart as highly in the US, peaking at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Chords And Strumming

I play a capo 1st fret in standard tuning here with some lead. Play a down up down down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with the chords m, F, C, Eb and a Dm.

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Where The Streets Have No Name - Learn To Play On Guitar

where the streets have no name u2

Where The Streets Have No Name ... info soon.

Chord sheet and video lesson included in the zip file below.

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With Or Without You - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of The Joshua Tree featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song With Or Without You

With or Without You is undeniably one of U2's most cherished and emotionally resonant songs. It found its home on the band's 1987 album "The Joshua Tree," where it quickly emerged as a cornerstone of U2's musical legacy. This track is widely acknowledged as not just one of U2's finest but as a pinnacle of rock music.

This musical masterpiece made an indelible mark on the charts, climbing to the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.


Chords And Strumming

For rhythm I play down-strokes and a quick shuffle near the end while in standard tuning. No lead here as you play through the chords, D, A, Bm and G.

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Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses - Learn To Play On Guitar

Album cover of Achtung Baby featuring U2 best of U2 songs and the song Whos Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses can be found on the 1991 album Achtung Baby. It was the 5th single from the album and peaked at #2 in the Us and #3 in Italy and was a top 10 in several countries.

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U2 has spent decades defining the sound of modern rock, and their catalog remains a goldmine for acoustic players. By focusing on the songwriting heart of tracks like "Everyday Is Like Sunday" and "Stuck In A Moment," you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the band's musical evolution.

Bookmark this U2 repertoire as we continue to add more classics and deep cuts to the list. Pick a song, tune up, and start bringing these legendary Irish anthems to life on your own guitar today.

Who Is U2?

u2 song lyrics

Formed in Dublin in 1976, U2 is one of the world's most influential rock bands, featuring Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. Known for their unique sound and socially conscious lyrics, they rose to global stardom with the 1987 masterpiece The Joshua Tree.

Beyond hits like "With or Without You," U2 is famous for record-breaking world tours and extensive philanthropy. Their ability to blend chart-topping success with a commitment to global activism has cemented their legacy as enduring icons of rock and roll.

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