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Help, Best acoustic songs to play




Tagged As: Best Acoustic Guitar Song

Question:
I just got an acoustic...I have been playing an electric guitar for three years now. It quickly occurred to me that the same old distortion-ey songs won't cut it on the acoustic guitar.  I have been tapped to play a few songs at a party on a friend's boat in a few weeks.  I was wondering, what songs can be pulled off the best on acoustic guitar?  I am looking for something with a nice full sound and lameness of the band is certainly not a factor…

Answer:
Definitely include a Beatles medley and possibly encouraging a singalong. Stuff like: Yellow Submarine, Things We Said Today, Eight Days A Week, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, parts of Abbey Road, etc. Even stuff like Day Tripper can easily be done acoustically. Their songs are timeless. If you could only see - tonic just about anything by matchbox 20. Try some distortiony songs, you'll be surprised how cool they sound when you do them on an acoustic.  I learn everything on my acoustic and it really brings out the song better because you can really hear every note. Also, try everlong by the foo fighters.  Really cool song. What songs do you like which are played on acoustic? Have you never heard any acoustic guitar songs?  Not to mention that many distortion-ey songs can be played on acoustic if arranged properly.  Be creative or do a google search. Extreme:  More Than Words and Hole Hearted Ringo Starr:  No No Song (Good party song) Bob Segar and Pink Floyd songs are also pretty good. Whatever you do, don't play Rock and Roll by Led Zep--it ends up sounding more like Hot Rod Lincoln when converted to acoustic! How about some classic folk like Bob Dylan or Peter, Paul, and Mary?  These are often popular in most age groups and are easy to sing. Oh Man... What do the folks like?  I got a buddy who has a great crowd galvisiner / pleaser in   'Woolie Boolie'.  Be your self!  Next thing ya know you'll be cleaning up some your electric stuff. Have a good time!  Can I count how many times I’ve been asked for 'Free Bird'? Nobody mentioned the classic 'Angie' by the Stones, so I’ll mention it, ANGIE - Rolling stones. I'll second More Than Words.  I think you also have to decide if you want songs with or without lyrics, and if you want others singing along.  If the answer to the latter is yes, pick some songs everybody knows.  Any blues progression with some riffs thrown in can sound pretty good all by itself (you can tinker with a I IV V progression for hours).  And, if you're good, you can reproduce just about any song on a solo acoustic. America's Ventura Highway is easy Party on a boat? Jimmy Buffet Or Sister Golden Hair Songs that come instantly to my mind.... Little Wing and Wind cries Mary all along the watchtower I don’t know why The Joker Sorry and Revolution Song Cajun moon, End of the line, Sensitive Kind Every Breath you take Hotel California Love in Vain And of course anything by the Beatles (well almost anything).

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Visitor Comments

  1. Comment #1 (Posted by Nikki )
    Try Fade to black and nothing else matters by metallica
  2. Comment #2 (Posted by Gabriel)
    "On Your Porch" - The Format
  3. Comment #3 (Posted by Patrick Copeland )
    Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees
  4. Comment #4 (Posted by emicia)
    please put some newly made up acoustic songs onto this website because then it will be of use to me i first visited this site looking for simple acoustic songs to play on my acoustic gutitar but i don't feel i've found any to my liking please put some more modernsongs onto this website
  5. Comment #5 (Posted by Craig Hedrick )
    Neal Young has tons of songs esepcially for acoustic, some not so much sing-along, but really good stuff. If you want to show off some acoustic chops, try "Needle and the Damage Done" by the same, sounds really good, but not that hard to play.
  6. Comment #6 (Posted by Tony P)
    angie - rolling stones Layla (unplugged) - eric clapton Tears from heaven - eric clapton if you could only see - tonic Daniel - fuel (cover) Yesterday - jose feliciano light my fire -jose feliciano wish you were here - pink floyd fragile - sting classical gas - mason williams moonlight sonata - beethoven under the bridge - red hot chili peppers i couldve lied - red hot chili peppers drive - incubus and i love her - the beatles days go by - dirty vegas everybody hurts - R.E.M one - U2 Those should keep you going for a while!
  7. Comment #7 (Posted by shean )
    play your own music. you have metallica on your website, so I don't see much strength in your creativity, but that could also mean you're just young. listen to other kinds of music...i don't mean country with your girlfriend, or whatever you listen to to get laid...musically, here are some things to listen to: the police, jeff buckley, pearl jam, soundgarden, beethoven.. if you already consider any of this "pussy music" then you have no hope to expand your influences and/or creativity...you'll be the old guy at the party that still plays Nothing Else Matters. Read a book about Mozart. Read a book about Jim Morrison - a book, not the movie. Listen to these selections and then see what it is to play them, they are difficult, but certainly manageable by anyone with hard work. Be cool dude (or if your a girl, the opposite). Check back in with me once you've gotten your feet a bit wet. Party.
  8. Comment #8 (Posted by NJ)
    neon by john mayer is a nice one
  9. Comment #9 (Posted by Anonymous)
    crazy on you by heart

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