Songs you MUST LEARN TO PLAY - Play These At Every Gig 

"The Quiet Beatle" Thank you so much for honoring George that way. That's exactly how I like to remember him. I love that guy.

These are great crowd pleasers. I haven’t learned Wonderwall or Layla yet, but they’re going on the list. I didn’t see Johnny Cash mentioned in the comments. I’ve been surprised at the universal appeal of his hit songs

Country Roads is my first pick

I have been playing guitar since 1974. I am a solo finger style melodic guitar player. I think James Taylor goes over very beautiful. Fire and rain and you got a friend knock them dead. And there’s nothing like the good old classic song on any Sunday. Beatles songs always are great and so are the Eagles. I haven’t been playing out in quite a while because Covid got the best of everybody. I need to get back out and play more, I’m a very experienced guitar player. I am 70 years old. Can learn and play just about anything I want. Harmonica solos never mind I play those on guitar. They really sound super cool but it’s really hard to do anyway thanks for the video. You got some great ideas. Have a great night.👍😄😎🎼🎵🎶🎸

I learned "Something" by the Beatles to play anytime someone says "play something." But then I never remember to play it when it happens!

1. Piano Man billy joel 2. Stand By Me John Lennon version 3. Here Comes The Sun George Harrison 4 Wonder Wall by Oasis 5 Layla (acoustic version) Eric Clapton

Great list. You can probably add Brown Eyed Girl... they love to sing the chorus. I Could Walk 500 Miles by the Proclaimers also gets them going. Margaritaville and Mustang Sally are also good.

Always Sweet Home Alabama

My band just started doing a hard(ish) rock version of Stayin Alive. It's been killing. Stuck in the Middle is a long proven ear worm too.

On a whim I pulled out “Day in the Life”. After the show I got kudos from the manager who was apparently a big Beatles fan. Great tune!

I'm 65 yo...I first picked up a guitar at 13...I learned to play and chord one with a Beatles fake book...it was the best "etude" on the planet to learn chords, finger independence, chordal harmonies and melody...and just damn good song structure...this list of yours is uncanny, b/c I keep these same songs in my repertoire...I might throw in "Dead or Alive", "Norwegian Wood", and a few others...but yea, this is good stuff...thank you for sharing.

Bossa Nova Baby, Muskrat Love, Mama Look A Boo Boo, wows em every time

Everyone always sings along "LayyyyyyLa" Can't help it.

As a weekend warrior for the last 50 years it does my heart good to see musicians even thinking about playing to the room. More often than not it seems musicians tend to play what they want to play at any given moment. My hats off to you for your diligence! As a wedding band leader for years I had no choice but to learn to read a room - picking wrong songs at a wedding can be deadly. In general I would at least like to see musicians get a better sense of when to call a slow song, this is critical not just at weddings but all gigs. You've got to watch for that sudden drop in energy after a few up tempo selections. I think this is a good place to start for those who haven't put much thought into it. Thanx for your insights Frank!

Good practical choices. To reciprocate, I'll provide five bankers of my own. 😊 1. I also always include at least one Beatles song in my set - most often it's 'Here Comes the Sun', but I sometimes use 'Hey Jude' (because everyone joins in on the 'Na-na-na- nanana-na' section which you can spin out for ages), 'Penny Lane', 'She's Leaving Home' or 'Norwegian Wood' depending on the venue/audience. 2. I don't do 'Wonderwall', but I sometimes include the Oasis song 'Half The World Away' (because I'm in the UK, and everyone knows it because it was used as the theme song here for a TV series called 'The Royle Family'). 3. 'Sunny Afternoon' - The Kinks 4. 'Rocket Man' - Elton John 5. 'Rotterdam' - The Beautiful South

Here comes the sun great idea

72 now, but me and a buddy played clubs, house/yard/block parties, and you name it for several years in the suburban Detroit area. We're both self taught on acoustic, electric, and vocals. We had quite a following! Best times anyone could have with their clothes on!

Great suggestions. I find Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard to have a similar effect with crowds. That opening riff always gets their attention.

Good songs. Blister in the Sun was always one to get a response, even from the mortuary crowds.

All good suggestions. Maybe it's because I'm in Virginia, but Country Roads, Moondance, Friends in low places, and Friend of the Devil always get people singing along too

Great post! We all “profile” our audience. When the bachelorettes walk in Drops of Jupiter crushes wonderwall etc…older crowd dock of the bay….sometimes the 25yr old requests Cat Stevens 😂 you never know! We move the radio dial till it hits right

The thing that always makes the biggest difference to me when my wife drags me into a bar with a singer... does it seem like the singer loves the songs or is the singer bored? It's an honor to hear anyone who will buck up and play for an audience (it's an ego risk), but it's charming when its the former. (Btw, your voice is so solid, I would give my wife a nod hearing your first song and just settle in and enjoy... and there's no need for every song to be special. Sometimes you want one that's ho-hum so you can 'check out', as it were, and share some observations about the crowd, the drinks, the bar art, etc. ;)

Got bored during a gig and played Alice’s Restaurant (original version 29min.)…the last time I ever played that venue!

Man, your tone is hilarious. Having a great time discovering your videos. Gonna break 2 legs to Jason Statham …

I find a new room, or sometimes rooms I have played many times, a song I can always start with is Bryan Adams Cuts Like A Knife. Gets the vocals going and is a good middle of the road song. :)

Well spoken! I've had to learn so many songs that I didn't necessarily like but I knew I could get the crowd going. The trick is to find stuff you still like to play but people will gravitate to. My go to's: Gimme 3 Steps, American Girl, 2 tickets to Paradise, My Sharona, Jessie's Girl, things like that. Hell, even Friend in Low Places. Everyone has heard them and these songs make no one angry. Remember what you're getting paid for when you gig. People want to sing along and buy more drinks.

They all love the harmonica. Probably on 1/4 of my songs even if it's just for a little riff between verses. Beatles are crowd pleasers especially if there is a high "Woooo!" in the song. Everyone wants to sing that along with you. Mary Jane's Last Dance is a good harmonica hook. I'd add, Sweet Caroline, No Matter What, Every Rose Has Its Thorn, Neil Young, Long Haired Country Boy, Country Roads, America, We Just Disagree. Throw in a seldom known/heard song and ask the crowd to guess song/performer.

This is awesome. Wow.

You are amazing!! Great video and great suggestions! I played clubs for 30 years and you nailed it!!!!

Thank you sir! this is awesome! I was really looking forward to learn some new songs.

Thanks for all of these tips man, I love your channel.

I hope I grow the gonads to finally book and play a solo acoustic gig soon. I've almost never played in front of an audience and I'm way, way, way past due at 47 y/o!

I like your impressions of B.Joel and G. Harrison.

I’m glad I found your videos today my friend you are a treasure thank you for the tips 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This is actually a pretty excellent little list. Thanks.

Mate I like your honesty...I play both the electric and acoustic guitar.. I don't think I have enough guts to perform live professionally. But I do sing for family and small groups of friends.. I find your videos both insightful and educational. I'm happy that you are following your passion . So thank you and I look forward to seeing more content from you 🙏

Another great video.

Frankie !! You rock thanks for sharing ! Loving the channel !

As a Rock Bass player my five that always work without fail : R Stones 'Dead Flowers' ' It's All Over Now'. No matter how you play them they come out good. We did the second one by Molly Hatchet. 'Glory Days' Springsteen with two guitars, no keys. Geogia Satt 'Battleship Chains'. Clapton 'If I Don't Get There By Morning' (live) So thats my five.

I did solo and duo acoustic gigs for years, and you had me reliving a few of the more challenging clubs. And, by the way, you do not talk too much.

Excellent video

Nice video. Had to check it out. Piano man is my go to opener LOL! Thanks for the reinforcement! This is good though you are a craftsman and you know your craft well!

Great tips. I'm actually learning to Stand by Me now to play at my students graduation. I know how to play the guitar for it for years but never learned the complete lyrics.

Hi Frank, you floated across my RU-vid and I really like what you share- I play guitar and sing, and I love that you share all this great knowledge and skill with us. I will be catching up on all your content . Keep on keeping on !

Excellent. I've told my band friends that you are being paid to get the crowd going so they buy drinks and this is a great suggestion you've made. I'll work these into my set. Thank you.

Yes you have some good songs there. My "go to" songs..."Sweet Caroline"--I do it well (Got on Boston WBZ TV once) and can get the whole train singing on the way to Boston Red Sox Fenway Park, "Country Roads" another one that gets people singing, "Lean on Me" is liked by everybody (once got $50 tip for that one), "You are My Sunshine"--great one to dedicate to woman and children and everyone knows it, Instrumental "Heart and Soul" and "Fur Elise" are a good mood setter too. Just some of the songs I play. Got my first YT "strike" today after 18 years on YT---My non-monetized version of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer"--like I'm taking food off the Henley Family table. The copyright thing is out of control. 5 STARS! --Van

Yo must add Country Roads which is the worlds most beloved song in my experience.

Thanks 😊🎸

This video is very helpful to me

Yep, Wonderwall. I learned that when it came out "new" in college. I hadn't played it in 20 years when a group of "girls" (20s/ early 30s?) came up and rather snickeringly requested it. Like riding a bicycle, it came back to me, and I had them smiling and dancing the rest of the night. And when the girls stay, so do the boys. And the tip jar gets filled. Something I wish more band mates understood. Like my bass playing friend who insisted our bar band learn some Dream Theater, because Mustang Sally and the Stones are "boring"...still smh...

This was so cool to see! I never like to play covers however I don’t have gigs so this will help!

Sweet Caroline 500 Miles Friends In Low Places Blister In The Sun Folsom Prison Day The Music Died 8675309 Mary Janes Last Dance Night Moves Are some of my sure fires for solo acxoustic gigs!

Great video. Fantastic suggestions both here and in the comments. Copperhead Road, Steve Earle. I saw her standing there, Beatles. Cecelia Simon and Garfunkel always seem to fly 😊

Thanks for the video. I especially appreciate when in doubt play anything from the Beatles. I have had success With I’m a Believer.

Great song suggestions, digging the channel!

Brilliant. I have analysis paralysis when it comes to a set list. When in doubt, play the Beatles. Funny. The wonder wall bit was spot on. It always felt like a place holder lyric and they couldn’t come up with anything that worked better…so they just left it in. Thanks

Fun take on things. Subscribing.

I can get really cliche but these work. Dock Of The Bay Otis Redding: I Can't Help Falling In Love Elvis: Whole Lotta Shakin' Jerry Lee Lewis: Norwegian Wood Beatles: Honky Tonk Women The Rolling Stones. People actually like certain chord progressions and you used them.

😂 Death of a Troubadour...yep...but it kept me going for a while... The Boxer was a good la-la-la thingy...

Great first choice. But I wouldn't get away with the rest in my local bars. Some even have a no Oasis policy. My go to crowd pleasers, for most generations, is Bear Necessities. National Express by Divine Comedy. Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon. Staying Alive by The BeeGees and Take Your Mama Out by Sissor Sisters. I've loads more obviously, but they always go down well. And to finish Big Love by Lindsay Buckingham. It's a finger picking blaster of a tune which goes down a storm.

Pretty woman..You’ve got it..Don’t be cruel..Stuck in the Middle..Boot Scootin’ Boogie..I can Help..are in my regular setlist, along with a couple of yours. Thanks. I like your pace in this informative video !

Glad the algorithm brought me here. Subscribed today.

The 20 to 40 year old demographic don't have any money but the 40 to 80 crowd does, so aside from Piano Man and Here Comes the Sun... I have had good luck with Blue Bayou, Feather Theme (Forest Gump Theme), LOVE (corny but effective), and Happy Together. Thanks for the list you gave. The old joke is: when in doubt play Elvis or Mustang Sally...

Good vid, you have a new subscriber

At this frat party I was chilling on the stairwell playing The Riddle Song "my love gave me a chicken that had no bone..." when some drunken bastard in a toga smashed my guitar over my head. Great party.

"Jumbalaya" especially if you live and or play where there are country music fans. If that works well then follow with a Johnny Cash song. I use "Folsom Prison Blues", pick the intro and nice hard driving 4/4 song. I am based out of Atlanta and play in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina.

Speaking of playing the guitar for a piano song, I do an acoustic guitar version of " Walkin in Memphis." It works every time, every crowd,

Hey Frank, here's your buddy Frank from germany ;-) Here are my secret weapons: I do : 1: Ring of fire by Johnny Cash- None of the audience can resist to the chorus, I sing one of them a capella, folks love it. 2: Personal Jesus also in the Cash version. Sometimes as number one, to bring the audience to clap their hands to the guitar intro, often works good and makes them comfortable. 3: I'm on fire by the BOSS! Evrybody knows the chorus 4: I can't help falling in love by the King! I can sing him pretty well, so I get the audience with that catchy ballad! And it also has some nice chord progressions. 5.Wish you were here-Pink Floyd An iconic intro, most people recognize, and I introduce the song as the song we want to remember all the loved ones, who are not here with us anymore. Please excuse my english, I don't know if every word is fine, but I think, you'll get the intention. A few mor songs I love to play : Homeward bound - Folsom prison blues - Heart of gold - Ghostriders in the sky - Wicked game- Won't back down- Heart of gold (here we go, harmonica champ ;-)) Bye!

Here comes the sun yes and sweet Caroline La bamba twist and shout hey jude

Mr. Jones. Unexpected gems

Some Dolly will appeal to many? UK based 😊

You are pretty hilarious!

When my band was still together we loved Stand by Me for that very reason. We mixed it up a bit sometimes playing it in 6/8, and sometimes, if we played in 4, we would go double time on the last chorus, in full rock mode... depending on the crowd tho :) Playing solo, one of my go to's is Under the Milky Way by The Church. Everyone seems to love it and it works really well.

Agree with everything but Wonderwall lol

OK, it may not be a good opener, but I've learned that EVERY demographic loves Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Ya got one thing for sure. You have to play what's already in peoples heads. It's almost not fair to the audience..... we know whats in there.. ❤❤❤

I host a Live Music, Karaoke and Open Mic Show.....all in the same show. I play with a variety of Local Musicians and Singers. I have a 1st Chair Symphony Violinist that jams with me often. Weve fou d that anything Alabama is a hit, Mustang Sally, Spooky, and of course, Devil went down to Georgia. Those work anywhere, with ANY audience

Not sure about Wonderwall. I guess it works for you. I had to look it up. Made me think of step back from the edge my friend. The unplugged segment on MTV gave me the idea to do Ridin' the Storm Out on acoustic.

I was just thinking of adding Piano Man! I'm working on Mellencamp's "Small Town" which I think would go over well, too. The biggest singalong I ever got, and it was so big I got choked up, was with American Pie.

good list - might try piano man, good opportunity to play harp. Daydream Believer is a pretty sure-fire crowd pleaser I've found

No - stay strong and just play your best crowd killer! An acoustic version of the Misfits’ ‘last caress’ is bound to wake up any zoned out crowd

2:04 Piano Man by Billy Joel 3:40 Stand By Me by Ben E King 5:29 Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles 6:55 Wonderwall by Oasis 8:05 Layla by Eric Clapton

Hmmm.. Wonderwall “was the saved” you… don’t know if you meant that as a pun or not but it worked..!😆 Excellent suggestions, I’ll be subscribing.!

The Joker is a go to, and great for a few simple loops. Playing that slide guitar solo on a standard tuned and picked acoustic six string kind of sucks though lol. Same with Night Moves. Or Dream on down in Dm. The lyrics even give the implied directive to “Sing with me, sing for the year”

There's a great cover of Madman across the Water

You, me and Julio down by the schoolyard works well for me; if, like me, you can't whistle, then just go La la la la.... works fine 🙂

Something by the Beatles after playing here comes the sun just like the album

I like your laid-back style of presenting. And maybe some of these tunes might work on sax as well.🙂

A few I have ready 1.Tracks Of My Tears by Smokey Robinson 2.Simon Smith And His Dancing Bear by Randy Newman and3.Believe by Cher. That last one because I knew it would be a challenge to arrange for acoustic guitar and voice, but it certainly makes people sit up and pay attention. I avoid Oasis because their stuff is done to death over here in the UK - tho the songs are great.

Piano man is an amazing choice. You can even whistle the harmonica part. Though I feel like I can get away with not learning Wonderwall, it’s a great point to never discount something that is cliché because that means it was trendy and that means someone in that room probably likes it… a lot. Years ago, I saw a house band take a break in the guitar player picked up an acoustic and played and sung an acoustic version of Ozzy’s song Mama I’m Coming Home. It really resonated with the crowd, and with me. It sent me on a quest to find amazing songs that can be translated to a single acoustic. My favorite of that search is Bon Jovi’s song Dead or Alive. That, and ever faithful Margaritaville by the late Jimmy Buffett have pulled me out of pinches in everywhere from living rooms to cruise ships. Great video! It gets a Like and a Subscribe!!

Great list. My favorite, guaranteed to knock out any bar audience, is guy van duser's version of Stars and Stripes. Pull out you fingerpicks and blast away. The only technically hard part is the picolo solo, which isn't really necessary. Everything else in my repertoire (Van Ronk, Fahey, Jorma, and Kottke stuff) wouldn't work for your context/audience, though...

Great songs. What key harmonica are you using for Piano Man?

I think Tom Waits: Chocolate Jesus is a good novelty song...but depends on your audience...it is an irreverent but harmless song but some may be offended by Waits mention of Jesus in this way.

All of this seems like perfectly sound advice and obviously based on long experience. To be sure, you might come up with another 5 songs, and still another 5 songs--but that's understood. This topic might even form a recurring channel segment (not tellin' ya what to do!) 😜🎸

Del Amitri - Tell Her This. DADGAD tuning with Capo VI. Nobody does it. Especially well! Got more famous on an episode of ""Scrubs back in the day. Del Amitri really is a mostly unknown GREAT BAND!

Comment before watching video: Please don't let it be Mustang Sally! Comment after: (sigh of relief)... Very interesting. One song that always works for me, is Steve Miller's "The Joker". "No Woman No Cry" is also a guaranteed crowd pleaser if you have the voice for it and play it as a ballad the way Marley did it live. Then there's "American Pie", "Ring Of Fire" and "Nothing Else Matters". "Blowin' In the Wind" only works if you've heard Neil Young's version and play it in a mood like he did and "Knocking On Heaven's Door" needs a drunk audience (just like "Mustang Sally"). But there are several other Bob Dylan songs that are safe crowd pleasers - "I Shall Be Released", "Mighty Quinn" and "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" just to mention three. If you've got guitar chops a little bit beyond just trumming chords, you can try "Little Wing" and "Smoke On The Water". For "Smoke On The Water" you need to be able to play the riff and bass line at the same time. That sounds daunting (and impressive) but it's not actually that difficult. For "Little Wing" you need to be able to keep full chords ringing while you play some fill ins. You can keep the fills very simple though. In fact you should keep them simple, there's no room for guitar fireworks in an acoustic troubadour setting.

I have a completely different take on this. Given any audience, of any age group, among them they will have varying tastes in music. You cannot make guesses as to what they may or may not like. I suggest that you should first focus on selling yourself to the audience. Like any sales situation, your “clients” have to buy you first. If they like you they will buy what you have to sell. Secondly, I believe that you should select songs with which you have an emotional connection. Something that moves you. If you do, that emotion will be obvious to the audience. And they will connect with you. If you just select songs you think they will like, you will most often miss. Just my two cents.

Good video. And some good tracks in there. That said, artists I personally would stay clear of would be Billy Joel. And possibly James Taylor. Billy Joel would send me either in the direction of the bar for a drink or the door… sorry. That said I agree with songs that normally would be played on piano. Harmonica is an interesting idea. Beatles, Rolling Stones and Dylan used Harmonica to good effect. Some early Jethro Tull too. Stand By Me is a tune that a band I was in always got received well every time. There are plenty of other tracks that can be uttered almost in the same breath. Beatles tracks are great. Personally I might also include some Animals, mainly because I’m originally from the North East of England, and The Hollies, CSN&Y, etc. Hmmm Wonderwall, well it’s a track that many musicians will generally refuse to play, including myself. But I’d be very rich if I took ten quid for every time someone has asked for Wonderwall. There are a whole host of classic tracks. Any Eric Clapton track, like The Beatles is always worth a punt at a gig. As I mentioned I’m from the North East, therefore there are certain artists that I need to have in my repertoire. Chris Rea, Sting/The Police, Mark Knophler, Lindisfarne, The Animals, Bryan Ferry. My recommendation is learn tracks for artists from your home town or area. My thing is British Roots Folk music, therefore knowing a good back catalogue of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Martin Carthy, throw in a few Tull acoustic tracks, some, Dubliners, Christy Moore. There was a folk club I used to play that always ended the night with a sing along to Wild Mountain Thyme. It was essential to know the song. It doesn’t even need a guitar.

Fat Bottomed Girls, Turn the Page, Feel Like Making Love, Hurt's so Good, Norwegian Wood. These are some of my go-to crowd pleasers.

My five go to Songs are: Lose yourself - Eminem, Despacito, I will survive, wonderwall and I want it hat way - backstreet Boys