House of the Rising Sun

How to play House of the Rising Sun by The Animals on guitar

This song is worth learning because it has a strong, haunting feel and a memorable progression that sounds bigger than the shapes are. You can make it feel steady and dramatic without needing fast changes, so it is a great pick for building confidence.

All of the chords are open shapes, so your left hand can stay relaxed and focused on clean fretting. The main change to watch is the move through A, C, D, and F, since that shift can feel less natural than the others. Keep each shape close to the fretboard and aim for smooth, even transitions.

Start by looping A to C, then add D, then F until the motion feels automatic. After that, connect the full progression slowly and make sure each chord rings clearly before you speed up. Once the changes are solid, play along with the track and let the steady pulse carry you.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.