You don’t need a huge production to create an incredible song. These four iconic acoustic songs are proof that you just need an acoustic guitar and some great songwriting skills to make it big. However, it’s worth noting that some of the following famous tunes have some non-acoustic elements; though the acoustic guitar is the focal point of each song.
1. “Tangled Up In Blue” by Bob Dylan
This opener is from the 1975 album Blood On The Tracks. It’s one of Bob Dylan’s very best, and part of what makes it so good is the acoustic element to it. Bob Dylan famously stuck with acoustic instruments until he decided to finally go electric, and we’d say both ends of that path are excellent. However, there’s just something about “Tangled Up In Blue”.
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2. “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman
Few acoustic songs are as iconic as this one. “Fast Car” is a haunting song about poverty, hope, addiction, and love. It’s Tracy Chapman’s most well-known ballad. She didn’t get too crazy with instrumentation, either. This song just features some simple chords (C, G, Em, and D) and an enchanting voice. Nobody can tell a story quite like Chapman.
3. “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty
This could very well be the most well-known song on this list, and the credit goes to the legendary Tom Petty. Apparently, this acoustic guitar-focused gem almost didn’t even happen. Back in the late 1980s, Petty and Jeff Lynne were working together when Petty experienced an explosion of ideas. Allegedly, Lynne laughed at him; and that’s when Petty knew he was definitely going in the right direction. It was recorded the very next day and is now an American rock classic.
4. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd is known for their psychedelic prog-rock electric elements, but the acoustic guitar is what makes this particular track so beautiful. This title track from the 1975 album of the same name is probably the most simple and minimal song on the entire album. That’s partly why it’s so beautiful. David Gilmour strums an acoustic 12-string guitar on “Wish You Were Here”, and his notes are processed in a way that makes it sound like an old radio.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives
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