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
- More Than Words- Extreme
- Patience- Guns N’ Roses
- Tears In Heaven- Eric Clapton
- Yesterday- The Beatles
- To Be With You- Mr. Big
- Blowin’ In The Wind- Bob Dylan
- Shape of My Heart- Sting
- Have You Ever Seen The Rain- Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Dust in the Wind- Kansas
- Soldier of Fortune- Deep Purple
- Heart of Gold- Neil Young
- American Pie- Don McLean
- Crash Into Me- Dave Matthews Band
- Wish You Were Here- Pink Floyd
- All Apologies- Nirvana
- She Talks To Angels- The Black Crowes
- Better Together- Jack Johnson
- Love Is On The Way- Saigon Kick
- Iris- Goo Goo Dolls
- Going To California - Led Zeppelin
- When The Children Cry- White Lion
- Cannonball- Damien Rice
- A Horse With No Name- America
- Two Steps Behind- Def Leppard
- Wild Horses- The Rolling Stones
- Touch, Peel and Stand- Days of the New
- Angie- The Rolling Stones
- Wanted Dead Or Alive- Bon Jovi
- Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson
- Wonderwall- Oasis
- Lady In Black- Uriah Heep
- The Joker- Steve Miller Band
- From The Beginning- Emerson, Lake & Palmer
- I Live My Life For You- Firehouse
- The Times They Are A Changin’- Bob Dylan
- Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?- Bryan Adams
- Babe, Im Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin
- Your Decision- Alice In Chains
- Maggie May- Rod Stewart
- I’m Yours- Jason Mraz
- Daughters- John Mayer
- Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
- Tangerine- Led Zeppelin
- Peaceful Easy Feeling- The Eagles
- Jack and Diane- John Mellencamp
- Night Moves- Bob Seger
- Right Here Waiting- Richard Marx
- Love Will Keep Us Alive- Eagles
- The Blowers Daughter- Damien Rice
- Silent Lucidity- Queensryche
- Holiday- Scorpions
- Never Going Back Again- Fleetwood Mac
- Life Uncommon- Jewel
- Love of A Lifetime- Firehouse
- When The Stars Go Blue- Ryan Adams
- Miles Away- Winger
- No Rain- Blind Melon
- Norwegian Wood- The Beatles
- The A Team- Ed Sheeran
- Amanda- Boston
- Every Rose Has It’s Thorn- Poison
- Is This Love- Whitesnake
- Blackbird- The Beatles
- Love Song- Tesla
- Suite: Judy Blue Eyes- Crosby, Stills & Nash
- I Will Follow You Into The Dark- Death Cab For Cutie
- The Scientist- Coldplay
- Heaven- Warrant
- High Enough- Damn Yankees
- Everything You Want- Vertical Horizon
- Straight Form The Heart- Bryan Adams
- Bulletproof Weeks- Matt Nathanson
- Free Fallin’- Tom Petty
- The Flame- Cheap Trick
- Ready For Love- Bad Company
- Little Lies- Fleetwood Mac
- Never Say Goodbye- Bon Jovi
- Behind Blue Eyes- The Who
- When I Look Into Your Eyes- Firehouse
- Beth- Kiss
- You Can Close Your Eyes- James Taylor
- The Clap- Yes
- Where You Goin’ Now- Damn Yankees
- Now and Forever- Richard Marx
- Nutshell- Alice In Chains
- Barely Breathing- Duncan Sheik
- Living In Your Letters- Dashboard Confessional
- One Week- Barenaked Ladies
- Hollow Years- Dream Theater
- Father and Son- Cat Stevens
- Temple of the King- Rainbow
- Only Women Bleed- Alice Cooper
- You and I- Scorpions
- Sympathy- Goo Goo Dolls
- My Sweet Lord- George Harrison
- Joshua Radin- Star Mile- Joshua Radin
- Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough- Patty Smyth and Don Henley
- Changes- Ozzy Osbourne
- Back To You- Bryan Adams
- Sunshine- Nazareth