100 Greatest Acoustic Rock Songs

The use of acoustic instruments in the folk genre paved the way for new acoustic avenues in rock. Musical experimentation in the 60s helped shape new music genres. Acoustic rock is preferred globally because of the peaceful sound produced from acoustic instruments. Use of the electric sound is minimal in acoustic rock songs. It’s the sound of unplugged instruments that gives acoustic rock songs an aesthetic sense of calm. Many folk artists and folk bands in the 60s started experimenting outside the realms of folk and came up with acoustic ballads that found their way in the acoustic rock genre.

How Acoustic Rock Came Into Being

With the 70s arrived a fresh wave of acoustic sound. Many rock bands in the 70s blended the acoustic sound with the edgy electric sound. The diverse amalgamation made new pathways for usage of acoustic instruments in various genres of rock. Many country rock bands and Southern rock bands of the 70s incorporated use of acoustic instruments with the hard-hitting electric sound. Acoustic ballads came into prominence in the 60s and 70s and ever since the acoustic rock sound has evolved. The strains of acoustic rock are prevalent in various genres of rock. Classic acoustic rock songs have become anthems and are often played by music radio stations all over the world.

As the popularity of acoustic sound grew, a number of record companies started releasing compilations of acoustic rock songs. Hair metal bands and glam metal bands of the 80s were known for their signature acoustic rock ballads and power ballads. With the 80s emerged a polished acoustic sound, thanks to advances in technology and new recording techniques incorporated by sound engineers in recording studios. Acoustic rock songs of the 80s received significant airplay on radio stations. In the 90s many alternative bands and grunge bands included acoustic rock songs in their albums. MTV’s television show ‘MTV Unplugged’ in the 90s witnessed a plethora of grunge/alternate bands and artists performing acoustic versions of their songs.

Since the 2000s a number of emo bands and indie bands have taken acoustic rock songs to a new level. The modern rock acts have continued to spread the nostalgia of acoustic sounds through their music. Ballads and acoustic rock songs are excessively popular with crowds at live concerts. Many bands love to include acoustic rock songs in their set list and get the crowds holding their smartphones and lighters lit up in the night skies. Acoustic rock has become an entity of sorts… and it will remain that way until eternity.

The space below showcases a list of epic acoustic rock songs

100 Greatest Acoustic Rock Songs

1. More Than Words- Extreme
2. Patience- Guns N’ Roses
3. Tears In Heaven- Eric Clapton
4. Yesterday- The Beatles
5. To Be With You- Mr. Big
6. Blowin’ In The Wind- Bob Dylan
7. Shape of My Heart- Sting
8. Have You Ever Seen The Rain- Creedence Clearwater Revival
9. Dust in the Wind- Kansas
10. Soldier of Fortune- Deep Purple
11. Heart of Gold- Neil Young
12. American Pie- Don McLean
13. Crash Into Me- Dave Matthews Band
14. Wish You Were Here- Pink Floyd
15. All Apologies- Nirvana
16. She Talks To Angels- The Black Crowes
17. Better Together- Jack Johnson
18. Love Is On The Way- Saigon Kick
19. Iris- Goo Goo Dolls
20. Going To California - Led Zeppelin
21. When The Children Cry- White Lion
22. Cannonball- Damien Rice
23. A Horse With No Name- America
24. Two Steps Behind- Def Leppard
25. Wild Horses- The Rolling Stones
26. Touch, Peel and Stand- Days of the New
27. Angie- The Rolling Stones
28. Wanted Dead Or Alive- Bon Jovi
29. Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson
30. Wonderwall- Oasis
31. Lady In Black- Uriah Heep
32. The Joker- Steve Miller Band
33. From The Beginning- Emerson, Lake & Palmer
34. I Live My Life For You- Firehouse
35. The Times They Are A Changin’- Bob Dylan
36. Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?- Bryan Adams
37. Babe, Im Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin
38. Your Decision- Alice In Chains
39. Maggie May- Rod Stewart
40. I’m Yours- Jason Mraz
41. Daughters- John Mayer
42. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
43. Tangerine- Led Zeppelin
44. Peaceful Easy Feeling- The Eagles
45. Jack and Diane- John Mellencamp
46. Night Moves- Bob Seger
47. Right Here Waiting- Richard Marx
48. Love Will Keep Us Alive- Eagles
49. The Blowers Daughter- Damien Rice
50. Silent Lucidity- Queensryche
51. Holiday- Scorpions
52. Never Going Back Again- Fleetwood Mac
53. Life Uncommon- Jewel
54. Love of A Lifetime- Firehouse
55. When The Stars Go Blue- Ryan Adams
56. Miles Away- Winger
57. No Rain- Blind Melon
58. Norwegian Wood- The Beatles
59. The A Team- Ed Sheeran
60. Amanda- Boston
61. Every Rose Has It’s Thorn- Poison
62. Is This Love- Whitesnake
63. Blackbird- The Beatles
64. Love Song- Tesla
65. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes- Crosby, Stills & Nash
66. I Will Follow You Into The Dark- Death Cab For Cutie
67. The Scientist- Coldplay
68. Heaven- Warrant
69. High Enough- Damn Yankees
70. Everything You Want- Vertical Horizon
71. Straight Form The Heart- Bryan Adams
72. Bulletproof Weeks- Matt Nathanson
73. Free Fallin’- Tom Petty
74. The Flame- Cheap Trick
75. Ready For Love- Bad Company
76. Little Lies- Fleetwood Mac
77. Never Say Goodbye- Bon Jovi
78. Behind Blue Eyes- The Who
79. When I Look Into Your Eyes- Firehouse
80. Beth- Kiss
81. You Can Close Your Eyes- James Taylor
82. The Clap- Yes
83. Where You Goin’ Now- Damn Yankees
84. Now and Forever- Richard Marx
85. Nutshell- Alice In Chains
86. Barely Breathing- Duncan Sheik
87. Living In Your Letters- Dashboard Confessional
88. One Week- Barenaked Ladies
89. Hollow Years- Dream Theater
90. Father and Son- Cat Stevens
91. Temple of the King- Rainbow
92. Only Women Bleed- Alice Cooper
93. You and I- Scorpions
94. Sympathy- Goo Goo Dolls
95. My Sweet Lord- George Harrison
96. Joshua Radin- Star Mile- Joshua Radin
97. Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough- Patty Smyth and Don Henley
98. Changes- Ozzy Osbourne
99. Back To You- Bryan Adams
100. Sunshine- Nazareth