Best Acoustic Songs

[ckandes1]

I'm just looking for some intermediate Acoustic Tabs that're challenging and fun to play, and most importantly, great sounding. I wanted to get some variety in what I'm learning, so I figured some outside opinions would make that more feasable.

I'd be interested in learning anything that's less complicated than Classical Gas (I've been working on it for ages but've never had the patience or time to just sit down and get all the way through it, plus I struggle through some parts as it is).

Suggestions?

By the way, I figured someone would ask what kind of music style I like.. I'm pretty open but right now here are a few of my favorite bands:
Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Alice in Chains, Audioslave, Shinedown, Metallica, 10 Years, Clapton, Zeppelin, Queen, and really everything in between

[aschleman]

Just by the list of bands you have given... here's a list of songs I like to play by them...

John Mayer:
Neon, Gravity, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, Somethings Missing, Why Georgia, Covered in Rain, 3x5, Love Song for No One.

Jack Johnsons:
Posters, Flake, Banana Pancakes, If I Could, "Sittin, Waitin, Wishin", Breakdown.... and a slew of others...

Shinedown:
.45, Beyond the Sun, Save Me (Acoustic version)

Metallica:
Fade to Black, Nothing Else Matters, Unforgiven, Low Mans Lyric.

Alice In Chains:
Anything from the Unplugged album... especially Nutshell

10 Years:
Wasteland... they don't really have any other acoustic versions of their songs..... I have heard an acoustic version for Through the Iris that was pretty sweet... I like their independant released album "killing all that holds you" too... check it out.

Eric Clapton;
Tears in Heaven, Wonderful tonight, Crossroads.... and just about any other song by Slowhand.

There's a pretty good list of songs to get you started....

[Scotttaylor72]

Alice in Chains is one of my favorite bands and there's a few songs they have that are fun and sound great.

1. is Nutshell... what a great song.
2. Got Me Wrong
3. Rooster
4. Down in a Hole

[aschleman]

I'm going to add "Over Now" to the list of good AnC songs.

[ckandes1]

lets see, I already know the major riffs for Nutshell, Down in a Whole, Nothing Else Matters, Fade to Black (that's a great one, esp right after the intro solo), the unforgiven, banana pancakes, and Tears in Heaven. I guess I'll give a few John Mayer songs a shot but last time I tried I couldnt get a grasp on his playing style

[aschleman]

John Mayer's playing style is a bit different. He uses a lot of weird chords and a lot of blues riffs.... The biggest thing about his style is that it's very sloppy (even though he makes it sound clean and effortless) he grips the neck and uses his thumb to fret the E string a lot of times... Songs like "Who Did You Think I Was" he plays very loosely and sloppy... I would say the most prevelent influence on his style is Stevie Ray Vaughan especially his phrasing in his solos... Neon is a pretty tough song to get a hold of because it's pretty much mostly sweeping... It makes it easier to learn his songs if you can see him play it. He uses some weird hand positioning that is really conventional... even though he went to Berkely... that doesn't mean he's a proper player. That's his style in a nutshell I suppose... Also practice your travis picking if you want to get that popping acoustic/percussion soudn that he gets in a lot of songs. Similar to Jack Johnson...

[findinghomer]

i recommend shine down's .45 easy to learn, and sounds great on an acoustic

[ckandes1]

yeah i gave mayer another shot and i def. can't figure it out haha, i'm gonna have to watch some videos if i really want to play his songs. there's nothing wrong with playing differently than what's expected, thats what makes it unique! that's why i love his style.

i'll check out 45! :)

[jiujitsu_jesus]

I'd also recommend some Gipsy Kings tracks, in particular the ones from their self-titled album. Not only do they sound cool, but they have both rhythm and lead parts to work with. "Inspiration" is one of my favourites.

[R. Shackleferd]

A few Zep acoustic songs...
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, Ramble On, Friends (open tuning though), Gallows Pole, Over the Hills and Far Away

And just to throw out another fav of mine when I was a beginner: Is There Anybody Out There, and Mother, off The Wall (Pink Floyd).