10 Acoustic Guitar Songs - The Songs That Taught Me To Play

These are my top 10 acoustic guitar songs that I learned as a beginner guitar player growing up. In this video I am sharing my top 10 list of acoustic songs that you may or may want to learn. These songs each taught me a valuable lesson about playing and have left a mark on me to this day and they range from easy to hard. Each of these 10 songs is great in their own rite but they are unique to my guitar journey. Everyones journey as a guitar player is different and there are many factors involved. Like who your teacher was, what their influences were and the time period that you learned to play in. I would love to hear what your top songs would be so feel free to leave a comment.
00:00 Intro
01:25 Song1 (Horse w No Name)
03:33 Song 2 (Wish You Were Here)
04:57 Song 3 (You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away)
06:38 Song 4 (Fade To Black)
08:33 Song 5 (Every Rose Has Its Thorn)
09:54 Song 6 (Over The Hills And Far Away)
11:35 Song 7 (More Than Words)
13:00 Song 8 (Fire And Rain)
14:37 Song 9 (The Boxer)
16:30 Song 10 (Layla)
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[@martindiesman1690]

Thank you so much for sharing your journey. At 67 I retired and decided to learn guitar. I’m 75 now. Of course I still have so much to learn. Hearing your journey was so enjoyable and inspiring. It made want to pick up the guitar even more.😊 You have a special knack of humanizing the guitar learning experience. It can be so lovely and frustrating at the same time. Stumbling across your video really made my morning. Thank you so much!

[@FrankPersico]

If it makes you feel any better I’m playing 40 years and I still get frustrated. You are never don’t learning … as soon as you open a new door on the guitar in the form of an improvement the joy is short lived because you learn that behind that door you just revealed 100 new doors lol. Best of luck to you

[@albertolopez8859]

i man 69 and started 3 years ago alone without teacher ...easiar for me to start with electric ....strumming makes me a lot of problems ...the next i like to play country but found that i can not sing so no way ....i am fascinated of Jimi Hendrix ,,,so i started to learn Hey Joe ...now i am trying to play the first layer of Tash Sultana Dschungel ...now after i tryed to learn a tune from Bob Marley i learned to play the rythm in the tune ,,,which is a kind of raeggae ...also the problem with the barcords that they sound nice ...so much to learn in technics sorry for my poor english ..i am german ...greatings from Colombia

[@TheHesseJames]

Learning never stops at any musical instrument. The only important constant is to enjoy it.

[@FrankPersico]

@@TheHesseJames 100%

[@albertgonzalez3151]

I've been playing for 60 years, still get frustrated at times but have learned to appreciate how wonderful the resonance of the guitar soothes my body and soul!

[@jrpipik]

The first day I got a guitar, I learned the E chord. My brothers were into bluegrass and would sit around and play. I think it was "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms." I just kept hammering that E chord. They finally asked me to stop till I learned a couple more chords.

[@FrankPersico]

Hmm i replied to this earlier but for some reason its now showing up right. LOL .. but yes we just keep playing it and playing it until people cant stand it.. then play it some more!! haha

[@briankowald6465]

Started with D

[@SteveBlankenship-zb6sn]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Popspicker]

That was fascinating, love watching how someone’s journey develops. I only started at 50 years old and have the comfort blanket of KZbin and yet I am not even in the same league as people like you. I always admire musicians who could pick up how to play from listening to things over and over again also you have a really listenable, relaxed singing voice …. all in all, a great watch!

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed and thank you for commenting.

[@richardridings7511]

65 now.....Jim Croce's 'Time In A Bottle" made me pick up the guitar, but yeh-soon graduated on to James Taylor ("You Can Close your eyes" -Fav)and the wondrous Guitar style, songwriting ,voice (and Tunings) of John Martyn . Also huge shout out to Mark Knopfler and Sting. Also love a bit of Early America and of course The Eagles.

[@FrankPersico]

Nice influences there. Thanks for sharing.

[@drumreaper]

So glad I ran across your KZbin channel! At my age (70) I find there's still much to be learned. Your style is so laid back and easy to watch. Thanks for doing what you do!

[@FrankPersico]

It’s my pleasure. Guitar is very humbling indeed :)

[@emmanuelalviola4112]

I’m 71 now and still plays those songs you have mentioned. My journey is almost like yours as far as falling in love with acoustic guitars. I was I think 8 years old and my older brother borrowed a guitar from a friend and when he got tired of it he placed it in a corner and I picked it up and started messing with it. I found the C chord with just 2 fingers same with the G chord with one finger playing just the 4 strings since my hand was too small for my fingers to reach the other 2 strings. I found that the song The Wedding I can basically play with just those 2 chords and that was it I got hooked. I sang and played that song all night.

[@FrankPersico]

That’s awesome. Funny how those memories never go away. Thanks for sharing with us all

[@Bushman9]

My first major acoustic guitar accomplishment was Angie. I was so proud of learning that one on my own.

[@FrankPersico]

That’s awesome. Started with the first letter of the alphabet and not a bad one to start with ! 👍

[@TheHesseJames]

That's quite a difficult song to play for the first piece. Just shows you how fantastic this song is that it motivated you enough to bite yourself through it.

[@Bushman9]

@@TheHesseJames Ok, by “first song” I’m not including your typical 3 chord country or blues. Everyone’s first rock chord progression was likely Smoke on the Water… t’was mine. 😆

[@FrankPersico]

@@TheHesseJames i agree... angie was a pain in the ass even when i learned it later on lol

[@TheHesseJames]

@@Bushman9 Was literally my first song as well. I saw a guitar, grabbed it said to myself "Let's see how would I play Smoke on the Water". I thought I totally nailed it by playing it all in halfsteps somewhere on the sixth string :D

[@pietersmidt8593]

Nice story, I had a few chuckles! I started playing guitar in the mid 70's at 14( Alfred's). I got my 1st electric at 15 started a band and the guitar literally didn't leave my hands until I was 31 years old. At 31 I played what was to be my last gig, put my guitar in it's case, and unintentionally did not touch it for 30 years. Last year I sold the tech company I founded 30 years ago and found guitar again. This time I am obsessed by acoustic finger style. Your comment about having to learn songs by playing records over and over at half speed made me laugh. I wore out so many of my favorite albums learning songs. I love U-tube and certainly makes it easier, but there was a certain satisfaction in learning a song by ear the old way. The human imperfections and differences in the way my ear heard the songs is what gave me my style back in the day. There also weren't many kids that would spend their weekends playing the same Clapton lick over and over a 1000 times in order to learn it. So when you put in the work, you got a lot of attention for it. Not a bad thing for a geeky 15 year old.. lol

[@FrankPersico]

Hey there. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us all. Very inspirational especially you coming back after some time away from it. Wish you all the best

[@pietersmidt8593]

​@@FrankPersico Thanks for the reply! I enjoy your channel.. I may yet end up doing some acoustic gigs, I will see how the playing progresses.. It's not like riding a bike, it is going to take some work!

[@FrankPersico]

@@pietersmidt8593 as long as you are enjoying it. all that matter. best of luck to u

[@desireelevin8822]

Yes. ALFREDS CHORD CHART FROM THE MID 1960's. I STILL HAVE MINE. Even my kids used it.

[@ArjunLSen]

I love the way you struck a single chord on A Horse With No Name ans showed how that made music which was more than lots of fancy fingerwork. Not that the fancy fingerwork doesn't count, obviously, but it gives a limited old guy like me some hope

[@FrankPersico]

It’s all in the touch.. dynamics.. tone..and timing… that’s what makes people want to listen. Master the small details and people will want to hear you play. Thanks for commenting

[@DoofsterDan]

Old fart here: the ‘killer’ groove for me was on House of the Rising Sun. By the third lesson it was ‘revealed’-nothing but a simple arpeggio of chords I had to learn anyway- and I was floored.

[@FrankPersico]

Excellent song. Thanks for sharing

[@thomasvernier8506]

Got twenty years on you, but I remember my journey clearly. House of the rising sun, Beatles, moody blues, Santana, Ten years after, CSN. Then my dad moved us to Los Angeles when I was 19 and I got steamrolled by the Southern California sound in the early 70’s. Eagles, Linda Ronstadt etc. so many fun songs I still play 50 years later. Thank Frank! Very enjoyable!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for sharing !! Great music picks as well

[@arepchangkija3218]

Thoroughly enjoyed your journey with the acoustic guitar and songs that resonate to this day. Your personal touch stands out.

[@FrankPersico]

Thank you kindly!

[@candybonhomme5915]

I started playing later in life at 49 but some of those songs were my starters. Wish you were here, horse with no name. My Beatles first was love me do. Brown eyed girl, american pie. You never forget your first songs. Great video.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for watching and posting!

[@FASFatherandSon]

Hmmm, I'm wondering what was the first Beatles' song I tried to play. Might have been "Hard Days Night"

[@daverichards6557]

A beautiful compilation so beautifully told. I really enjoyed listening to this journey of yours. Thank you for sharing.

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for commenting

[@stevejohnston8020]

John Martyn "May you never" inspired my finger style ... Slaps, pull offs, etc. And drop D tuning. 1978.

[@davidkopec5587]

I never heard of that song or artist before. Just listened to the song. Thanks for mentioning it!

[@FrankPersico]

Nice one. Thanks for sharing

[@zzcanasta]

@@davidkopec5587 Listen to John Martyn's 1967 version of the old blues song. 'Cocaine': kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIGyiJiCmppsnqs

[@user-zh3mv7ln1i]

I took some lessons in the early 70's and Alfred was the man back then too!!! Didn't do much after that. Really didn't start getting to it heavy until I was 61 a couple of years ago. Got really bad sick with covid. Pretty much retired now and have time to really get after it!

[@FrankPersico]

Alfred is still going strong. I’m glad to hear you are recovered and playing at full strength!!

[@dougmackey3696]

What a great video. Love the journey with the time stamps. I’m on board.

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed! And welcome

[@chuckcaruso2813]

You’re awesome, Frank. Thanks for helping me and the rest of us on our guitar journey. Keep posting your great videos!

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure! I have a new one coming out on the morning of the 4th.

[@recur9245]

The first son horse with no name love it xD

[@FrankPersico]

👍👍👍

[@charliebrown-np1tv]

thanks Frank, i am retired and now have a few guitars and trying to learn something or anything. your video has given me something to think about.

[@FrankPersico]

Great to hear!

[@erikgainesmusic4399]

The first song I learned on guitar was Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovie, then went on to learn Friends in low places, Killing time and various other country songs by artists like Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Allan Jackson, and George Straight from the 90's. I used to walk down the street to a BBQ place on Thursday nights when I was 12 and play those country songs for 2 pulled pork sandwiches. I thought that was the life.

[@FrankPersico]

Awesome thanks for sharing… hahaha “will play for food” I can relate

[@timjoyce8636]

That WAS THE LIFE!

[@FrankPersico]

@@timjoyce8636 yup. wish i knew it then...

[@MrMusic193]

I really enjoyed your guitar journey. Thanks for sharing this

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jarojasn]

Love the videos, I can relate to this one a lot. Thanks

[@FrankPersico]

Awesome! Thanks for commenting

[@jonathanschmidt4985]

That was so cool mate, would love to see a video or maybe ten of you playing these songs, it would be even cooler if we could see both your hands. Would like to follow your jouney, may help but not be the same as yours. Cheers bud, take care and thanks mate for that, it was inspirational.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the idea! Will deff do more instructional type vids too!

[@oldtimerdad]

I just discovered you a few weeks ago and am loving your videos. They are so straight forward and helpful. Keep em comin!

[@FrankPersico]

Hi there. Thanks for the kind words. I plan on it:)

[@shawnmkramer]

What a great trip down memory lane Frank! So good to revisit the magic of when I first heard these songs. I started playing in 1985 at 13 years old.

[@FrankPersico]

Nice so you are just a bit older than me. Thanks for commenting I’ll have some more vids coming soon that should resonate with us X-ers in particular

[@cozmickid80]

What a great video. Resonated with me a lot. Thanks for sharing!

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mackvismusic8622]

Nice story telling! Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, lots of good players!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much. Yeah this area has created many great players

[@ephraimramkissoon7533]

Tears in heaven, Collin Raye's Love me, Vincent and Richard Mark's Now and Forever especially the bridge. Of course More than Words is special. I heard a guy from Trinidad play Castle's in the Air and Chiquitita and I was blown away.

[@jaepark8922]

Awesome journey ! I grew up in Queens, went to Newtown HS, recall having White Castle burgers and Nathan’s hot dogs on the Blvd. Tried learning to play when my teenage daughter started 15 years ago but gave up - busy life, working. I’m retired now and at 69, just picked up the guitar 6 months ago, it’s slow going but fun. With access to videos like yours, I’m hopeful that my journey is on a path towards lifetime of enjoyment. I love the sound of the dozen or so chords I can play on my acoustic guitar. I’m still at the Horse with No Name stage but hope to advance….

[@FrankPersico]

A fellow Queens native! Thanks for commenting. When you say White Castle in the boulevard do you mean Rockaway Blvd??? Anyhoo good luck with your playing and it will progress. Enjoy the victories along the way!!

[@jaepark8922]

@@FrankPersico I could walk to Queens Blvd from high school in Elmhurst. I’ve been ones on Rockaway Blvd too. Thanks for your encouragement, I love acoustic guitars !!

[@desireelevin8822]

Keep going. You will not regret it.

[@jaepark8922]

@@desireelevin8822 I will for sure ! Thanks.

[@chrisbergonzi7977]

Great tunes all...thanky my man...

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure. Thanks for commenting

[@jameswilliford5478]

Very well done video. Excellent playing and singing with great song choices. You're definitely a talented guitarist and singer as well...really enjoyed your video more than any I've seen in quite a while. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

[@FrankPersico]

Thank you very much! The kind words and support mean a lot to me

[@Bixll09]

Hotel California, Wish you were here, Old Man, More than a feelin, Sound of Silence and the Boxer, etc... My songs I learned from. Started playing at 47, now 57 and I am building my own electrics, an acoustic will also happen. LOL

[@FrankPersico]

Awesome thanks so much for sharing with us all.

[@tedlivermore6955]

Yeah I learned all those too,mostly just listening to cassettes if anyone remembers those

[@DalsPhotography]

@@tedlivermore6955 I do hahaha and I still have them around at home!!!

[@cathywilson2782]

What a wonderful "real life musical journey"! It felt familiar, yet really inspiring- thank you so much!

[@FrankPersico]

You are so welcome!

[@pureinspiration9140]

Thanks for sharing Frank. You are a good player!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much. All the Best to u

[@RobMatthews21]

Fabulous. Really enjoyed it.

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@kenhutley971]

Very interesting video - nothing as revealing as a guitarists' journey. Thank you! Subbed!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the sub!

[@davidvandunk6168]

Nice journey, continue your travels!!!

[@FrankPersico]

Thank you! Will do! :)

[@jesseserna8424]

My parents was country,my dad was a musician and tried to encourage me to learn..but when I became a teenager and heard a Led Zeppelin song “Over the Hills and Far Away “ that really inspired me to learn guitar (which deeply disappointed my dad 😢) 🤷🏻‍♂️..thank you

[@FrankPersico]

Zeppelin can have that effect on people:)

[@steveklinck526]

Many thanks Frank. Love your song choices and I very much appreciate your reminder of the importance of learning to play and sing songs. All the best to you.

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure!

[@TheSamculver]

I loved watching this! Thank you

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks :):) my pleasure

[@AG-wg1sy]

Friday morning video! Awesome! Thanks Frank!

[@FrankPersico]

Hell yesss lol

[@allenconiglio9417]

Great video. I loved it.

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dusandrca3378]

Cool guy! Very nice story and journey! 👍

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks:)

[@fenderben]

Love your vocal tone. 65 yrs old and still learning

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much. The journey never ends. I learn something new in the guitar every time I play or hear someone else play.

[@timgaul2256]

Great video! I added most of these to my list of songs to learn. It’s also great to hear an east coast accent on KZbin.

[@FrankPersico]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@marksmith7789]

Great list thanks!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for watching!

[@EddyfyingArt]

Excellent choices to learn from. Your journey has a few from mine as well. although mine started when I heard Jim Croce. Such an amazing singer/songwriter.😊

[@FrankPersico]

That he was. Thanks for commenting. Welcome to the channel

[@TomLombardi]

Man, that brought back memories! Thank you, I really enjoyed this.

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure. I’m glad you enjoyed it and thanks for commenting

[@margaretmcglynn5077]

Great choices. Love all these songs. So glad you found James Taylor and Simon and Garfunkel. The Jimmy Page sounded really sweet.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much.

[@alanfenn9820]

Very well done Frank! No complaining from me! I love your story! Excellent playing and singing with great song choices. You're definitely a talented guitarist and singer! God bless!Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

[@FrankPersico]

Thank you very much! I appreciate the kind words

[@rdking58]

Started out on my dads acoustic, learning three chords C,F and G. Later learned other chords then on to bar chords. When to electric guitars etc. I have always been of the mind set that the acoustic should be the first guitar to learn on. The strength your hands and fingers. You can't cheat on the sound .

[@FrankPersico]

I agree. It’s easier to transition from acoustic to electric than the other way around.

[@jameswoodford2628]

A lovely reawakening of my own learning curve before online tuition, Hours of replaying the 'record' eventually mastering? The thumb

[@FrankPersico]

Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for posting

[@runner_swt77]

Great job. Thank you

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for watching!

[@ramoncastro3186]

Awesome repertoier of acoustic guitar songs.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks

[@jetjock64]

Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed hearing about your journey. I’m a piano guy who like every American male took up guitar during Covid. Having a blast relearning all these songs on a new instrument. Cheers from Texas.

[@FrankPersico]

Funny you should say that because I am SERIOUSLY thinking of taking piano lessons

[@macstil585]

Man Frank you are such a gas..love this video..we picked up guitar at same time but I dropped it 6 times lol..wish I had been as committed as you..great lesson in perseverance ..interesting mix of songs too🎵🎵🎵🙏

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the comment. Well over the long term I guess I was committed but there were many lengths of time where I slacked and I still feel some guilt about it (hmmm another video perhaps?) so if you wanna talk perseverance I’d say YOU have it. Cuz you ultimately didn’t give it up. Cheers

[@christhacker9450]

I'm in my 50s, and some of mine are Tears in Heaven, Dust in the Wind, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You and Blackbird.

[@FrankPersico]

Great ones indeed! Thanks for sharing

[@edfeten4724]

I loved this video!!!

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you liked it thanks so much

[@MrJimmymcauley]

Very entertaining and informative watch. Thanks.

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@howardowens721]

Useful video. Thank you.

[@FrankPersico]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sutapachowdhury]

Awesome. Thank you❤ I have been learning guitar for about a year now and have only managed a few open chords... I want to learn fingerstyle now... Your video gives me hope and also tells that it takes time, but with practice, one does get there eventually!

[@FrankPersico]

Of course. Proper direction and patience will get you there. Feel free to reach out via email (in the about section of my page) if you had any questions or if you ever wanted to set up an online one on one. I wish you the best in your guitar journey!! And thanks for commenting :):)

[@sutapachowdhury]

​@@FrankPersicothank you❤🙏

[@thefirstdude]

Thanks for your trip down memory lane! I started learning a few years ago and have a long way to go. Your 10 songs here give me hope. Thanks again.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for commenting. You got this! Little by little. I’m playing quite a long time and always learning new things and get frustrated along the way as well! 😝

[@thefirstdude]

@@FrankPersico Thanks. Keep up the good work. I envy your playing and gigging. It looks like fun.

[@TheStrumminCanuck]

Thanks for the video. I was just compiling a list of “crowd Favourites” and can’t believe I’d forgotten, Every Rose. I’m also going to have to learn Fire and Rain as well as Over the Hills and Far Away (not sure if I can sing and play that one at the same time though). Keep Rockin’!

[@FrankPersico]

Hahaha yeah I had forgotten Every Rose myself for quite a few years and then someone had asked me to play it one day and well let’s just say I brought it back. As for fire and rain you can do it. Just take it slow

[@doncarr9435]

Enjoyed this vid immensely.

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ambroseharper8316]

Nice list 😊

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@theguitarcarpenter3574]

I am now subscribed and a fan of your approach. From Washington learning to do mic night songs. Thanks Jay. The Guitar Carpenter.

[@FrankPersico]

Welcome aboard!

[@davejive1]

What a great way of telling us about your stepping stone songs. When I see a young boy or girl who is thinking about picking up a guitar I will show them this video to give them inspiration

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much

[@garryames1824]

That was my first song too. Love it!!!

[@FrankPersico]

That’s cool! Thanks for sharing

[@SuperWhatthehuh]

Very entertaining. Thanks!

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@billsaltz4220]

Really enjoyed your video! It took me back to my early guitar lessons when my teacher had me playing songs from the 30sand 40s! The Beatles were new and that's what I wanted to play! I'm 72 now. Had a stroke in 2011which took out my whole right arm. It's improved,but still hard to sync my two hands. In fact,I'm playing more now than I ever have. Anyway, God bless you and thanks again for your excellent video!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the kind words. Sorry to hear about that. But it’s great that you are playing. I bet it helped you heal in some way. Wish you the best.

[@cheribarkman1784]

Cool list and story.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for commenting

[@kerryfromaj9032]

Rumble by Link Wray was the first song I learned. Then Fever by The Cramps. Started late at 58 and I am 63 now. This guitar endeavour certainly won’t grow cold before I’m gone and gone cold. 🥶 Great video today, it is entertaining yet very educational on your techniques growing along with your learning and experience. My techniques were all over the place day one. No teacher or metronome for a couple years was my biggest hold back. I could watch Marty but until someone actually interacted and showed me it was more of a struggle than needed be.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for contributing. It’s fascinating how we all have different ways of learning … we are all different and it’s cool to see how these differences make us all play differently. Did that make sense?!? lol

[@billbaldwin3564]

I love this guy. Thanks Frank.

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure. Cheers

[@esugumshoe]

Hey Frank your channel is great! I grew up in Queens too!

[@FrankPersico]

Cool, thanks. Queens in da house !! lol

[@brendachristopher2693]

I enjoyed your video, thank you for sharing. I'm 69 years old and I started learning the guitar two years ago, I don't use a pick. Horse with No Name is one of my favourite songs, I need to learn it. I have very small hands so it's been physically challenging but I love the guitar and I'm obsessed! My baby finger is only 1 3/4", that's my obstacle as it makes a lot of chords difficult, 4 finger G is a pain. I have a friend who plays by ear and he pushed me to do barre chords right from the beginning, I'm getting pretty good. ?? He also says "just listen" which is very intimidating. I wonder how important that is at my age and with chords for any song being available immediately, I didn't want to spend hours, days or months trying to learn a song by ear but I have found that it happens naturally to some extent. I'm not musically gifted but I know practicing and enjoying playing produces good results. I'm also learning to sing, that's very trippy, the voice coming out of my face always surprises me but I think I sound good. ?? lol I've learned the following songs, some are fairly new and I'm still working on them. Wish You Were Here Creep Mad World House of the Rising Sun Hotel California Short People For What It's Worth Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald And I Love Her While My Guitar Gently Weeps Where Have All the Flowers Gone Eleanor Rigby Angie Come As You Are Dancing in the Moonlight. My Ding -a-Ling Stray Cat Strut Fire and Rain, I must learn this one.

[@FrankPersico]

Looks like you are doing pretty well. Congrats on your progress!!

[@desireelevin8822]

Some good old songs in your repertoire.

[@davidadkins2563]

Well,, I didn’t start learning until I was 60,,and I like your song choices,, I think I’ll learn them in the order you did,, thanks for a great video..well at least from when you started playing hahaha

[@FrankPersico]

It’s great that you picked up guitar. No matter what age you started you never stop learning something new.

[@mylon999]

Over the hills and far away is one of the first songs I learned to play back in the early 80's. It is probably the reason I wanted to learn to play!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for sharing. I can totally understand as I’m most other guitarists can as well. 🤘

[@JRLNeal]

A great selection of songs Frank and I have to say I was privileged to be a teenager in the 60s in UK so I knew all about the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Eric Clapton. I was a late starter only playing guitar properly when I was 18 in 1969 and I'm now 72. Do I add to this list or also put Don McLean and Donovan. And to make it very folky the King of folk guitar in Britain, Ralph McTell. Check out his most famous song streets of London and many others Clare to Here, ZigZag Line, and the epic Nettle Wine. I also listen to other players but could never play their stuff such as Stefan Grossman., Burt Jansch, John Redbourne, John Martyn.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much and thanks even more for sharing with us. I will check that out!

[@kevinburke6938]

Great songs Frank! I overlap with you on Over the Hills and Far Away, Wish You Were Here, the Beatles, James Taylor, the Boxer, Clapton Unplugged, etc. Great video.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for sharing. And thanks for the kind words

[@albertgonzalez3151]

Dang...6 were on my list and they still are faves!!! First lesson for me when I was 60, but, that's okay, I still learned some andplayed some and truly still enjoy!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@gdslick]

Great video Frank

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks 👍appreciate it

[@ShalomYal]

Thanks much - this was great fun. (I graduated in 84) This gives me sum good ideas as to where to go next

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure.

[@sandycastles7105]

Great Voice!!

[@FrankPersico]

🙏 I appreciate it

[@robertgrimsted877]

Hi frank my first good song I played was house of the rising sun In 1980 love the vids 😀🎸

[@FrankPersico]

Classic!! Can’t go wrong with that one

[@Moselli56]

Best video year Frank! Absolutely excellent explanation of the different styles and how versatile the acoustic guitar is! Well done!

[@FrankPersico]

Wow, thanks! I appreciate it

[@motsnrub]

great stuff

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks!🙏

[@TexasDoug393]

Loved that. I'm getting started on the back end of life (60s) and have a play list of easier to play songs that I actually like, such as Turn the Page (Bob Seeger), a strum version of Angie (Keith Richards), Loving Her Wa Easier (Kristofferson) and, yes, Every Rose Has It's Thorn.

[@FrankPersico]

That’s awesome. Never too late to learn.

[@EdwardMiner-vy1pq]

You sound very spot on!

[@FrankPersico]

Thank you

[@FASFatherandSon]

Hahaha, you took me down memory lanes there Frank. Great video as always. I do it my own way but I have to finish learning "More Than Words." I was like 70 percent complete a year ago

[@FrankPersico]

Music can do that. It’s like grandmas cooking lol.

[@FASFatherandSon]

@@FrankPersico lol, I miss my Grandma's cooking.

[@PeteFolksinger]

Awesome video! I made a video called Pete Finger picking Journey that is similar in themes and songs, but a inverted timeline from your story. S&G were where I started in late 60's, and I am now at 69 only beginning to break into the cool acoustic sounds of 80's and 90's rock. (My latest learn is Don't Stop Believin'). Newer stuff is also greatly added by use of a looper. The Boxer remains a go-to favorite. I played it at a HS assembly in 1972 (my finger picking was way off but sort of passable then), along with American Pie!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks fo much for sharing and for the kind words. all the best to you.

[@JohnMiller-jj9kx]

Great story, great songs

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much

[@alexfavareto733]

Thanks dude. Big time memory lane. 🎉🎉🎉 my first tune that I've learned was The house of the rising sun by The Animals. Big thanks to the father of one of my mates that was crazy about Beatles, Animals, Stones. I remember when he couldn't find a pick he improvised with a tooth pick!!! 😂😂😂

[@FrankPersico]

Rock on! Thanks for sharing!! Cheers

[@jeriboxx4331]

Great list. Dust in the wind, also Fade to Black.. My Dad could play Classical Gas and Malaquena as a kid blew my mind…still chasing them…

[@FrankPersico]

Wow your dad sounds like a talented man!! Thanks for sharing with us all

[@TheHesseJames]

I started guitar playing in 1978 with a book for classical guitar and the last song in it was Malagueña. No tabs, only all that notes in classical notation. Very intimidating but I made it through. Next were Beatles songbook, Cat Stevens. Then, somebody showed me Samba Pa Ti and Stairway and next I found a guitar magazine which had the tabs for the Hey Joe solo which I played for like a thousand times on my electric.

[@FrankPersico]

@@TheHesseJames nice! you sound like you got a GREAT start with that material

[@TheHesseJames]

@@FrankPersico took me a year to get to Malagena though and had to fight through stupid Folk Songs and Waltzes and other totally uninteresting pieces for me at that time. Today I play Flamenco and Classical pieces as well as hammering out AC/DC. Always kept the whole spectrum.

[@hammy1704]

Very interesting collection, James Taylor and Paul Simon are just song writing gods. I’m a 66 year old learner. My music taste is as wide as the Clyde as we say in Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 thanks I enjoyed your video.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Have a great day

[@eddiecarter9831]

I started playing in rock bands when I was 15, but I started on a horrible Sears & Roebuck guitar that my dad had growing up. It was painful to play, but I loved guitar. I went to more acoustic playing in my mid 20s, playing music with my wife and eldest daughter. MTV Unplugged was very influential with opening my eyes to what the acoustic guitar was capable of. Of course, there was Zep, the Beatles, & Tull, but all of those songs were written for acoustic. I didn't realize the acoustic guitar could also interpret electric songs well. Then I went to my first bluegrass show, which included Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, and the legendary Tony Rice. WOW! That really opened my eyes to the magic of acoustic music. I've been doing acoustic solo gigs for around 3 years now (I do include electric as well), and I love the challenge of turning pop and rock songs into acoustic solo pieces. Loving these videos!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the comment and the kind words. Same here. I love the versatility of acoustic and how it is “self contained” so to speak. All you need is an acoustic with you and you got a party lol!

[@kimbercafe11]

Hey some of those old crappy guitars are worth a lot of money now! Very collectible

[@arklife6531]

I will be sharing this with a couple of my students as they bring their own playlists, and I encourage technical skills as i point out used in the songs. Thanks

[@FrankPersico]

That’s great! I’m flattered

[@Russell-u8h]

Good playing

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much

[@alanwinn4250]

This is a fantastic video! I am about to start with the Boxer....any lessons would be greatly appreciated 😂😂 I also learned Over The Hills....by ear 😁😁

[@FrankPersico]

Nice!! Best of luck. If I have time I will try to cover it !! So many video ideas and so little time ;)

[@chriss1492]

I remember going to the midnight movies in high school to see Neil Young’s concert film “Rust Never Sleeps.” We got there early and hung out in parking lot and did what long-haired guys in flannel shirts were want to do to get ready to rock. I was so impressed by the acoustic set, that I bought a guitar a few days later. Needle and the Damage Done was particularly influential. Jimmy Page’s acoustic stuff came shortly after. Some years later I picked up some acoustic blues and Travis picking, and although Im not great at it, I really enjoy it.

[@FrankPersico]

Wow this is great stuff. Thanks so much for sharing. Cheers