House of the Rising Sun has become a classic folk tune since its commercial release by The Animals in 1964. Hilton Valentine’s ominous arpeggiated guitar chords lay down a track, while Alan Price’s organ solo sounds like an approaching freight train.
Beginner guitarists find this tune easy to learn due to its straightforward chord progressions and riffs. So let’s begin with its intro riff.
1. Am E Am C D F
A minor chord works great in many songs; experiment with this chord on your acoustic guitar to hear how well it works with other notes.
Beginners may find it challenging to play this chord, requiring dexterous fingers that can quickly move between strings and frets. With practice however, you can quickly learn this chord as its sound of F to G relieves tension while its subsequent resolution via Am relieves it further.
2. C G B D
Hilton Valentine’s House of the Rising Sun intro riff is one of the most iconic guitar riffs ever written. Although its playing pattern may seem simple at first, it offers subtle picking patterns over arpeggiated chords for maximum impact.
This song features a 6/8 tempo (two dotted quarter notes per bar). This track can help develop flatpicking techniques; alternatively you may play it using either fingers or pick.
3. F G B D
This riff serves as the opening line to House of the Rising Sun, making it an excellent song to learn flatpicking with either your fingers or pick.
A chord written without bass notes usually indicates that you should play its root note; with certain inversions of chords requiring another note in the bass part.
4. C G B D
Hilton Valentine’s ominous introduction to House of the Rising Sun has become one of the most iconic guitar riffs in rock. It is easy to understand why.
This song is an ideal piece to learn to play as it provides ample opportunity to practice open chord shapes, flatpicking techniques and arpeggiated chords – though mastery may take longer. Be patient as you build your skills – eventually you’ll get there!
5. F G B D
House of the Rising Sun is an iconic folk tune popularized by The Animals during their 1960s famed performance. This piece offers great opportunities for flatpicking practice!
This song tells a cautionary tale about life in a brothel in New Orleans and was made popular by Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, and Eric Burdon among others.
6. C G B D
This traditional folk song about a New Orleans brothel became a hit for The Animals in 1964, with Hilton Valentine providing its foundation. This version features his arpeggiated guitar riff.
It marked the first time a rock rhythm had ever been applied to a traditional folk song, performed live between stops on their tour with Chuck Berry. The Animals sang it live between stops during their tour with Berry; ultimately it reached #1 both in Britain and America.
7. F G B D
Hilton Valentine’s introduction of House of the Rising Sun never ceases to amaze, making an impactful statement about its appeal and versatility. It stands as testament to both the song itself as well as to all types of musicians around the world who enjoy performing it.
Folk legend Dave Van Ronk included it in his repertoire while Bob Dylan took it up as his own. Eric Burdon and The Animals gave it great exposure with their 1964 rendition.
8. C G B D
Although made famous by The Animals who recorded it in 1964, this traditional folk tune has been played for centuries. The chords aren’t too difficult to learn and this song makes an excellent way to practice your fingerpicking techniques.
Here we will go over both the intro riff and verse riff in detail; both feature similar chord progression and picking patterns with slight modifications here and there.
9. C G B D
House of the Rising Sun became a global hit when recorded by The Animals in 1964, and Hilton Valentine’s ethereal guitar intro remains an integral component of this timeless song.
This song by The Animals is an adaptation of an old folk tune about New Orleans brothels as sources of misery for its protagonist, while becoming an allegory for gambling addiction.
10. C G B D
Although The Animals made famous this song with their version, its original composition can be traced back many decades before to multiple artists like Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan.
Hilton Valentine’s introductory riff to House of the Rising Sun stands as one of the most renowned guitar intros ever written. Not only can this piece serve as an exercise in fingerpicking technique for beginners but it can also serve as a great fingerpicking exercise.