Top 30 Best Songs of the 80’s for Acoustic Guitar

May 16, 2021 by Klaus Crow

The 80s gave birth to a lot of legendary bands and artists. It was also the time MTV was launched (a real Music Television channel at that time ) and from that emerged MTV unplugged which gave artists a platform to turn their songs into acoustic diamonds.

MTV is not what it used to be anymore, but fortunately Youtube has become the new MTV and we can once again enjoy our favorite music in all it’s creative diversity, plugged or unplugged.

Today we got a list with 30 pop songs of the 80’s that are perfectly suited for the acoustic guitar. There are songs you might not have thought of before or didn’t dare to try, that will turn into really great tunes when you play them on your steel string.

I searched high and low for beautiful acoustic versions of these songs from the artists themselves. I hope the arrangements and videos inspire you to pick up your guitar from the stand and light a new spark. 

You can click on the title of each song to hear the song on Youtube. Click on “Chords” for the chords & lyrics to the song.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases via amazon links.

Pick out one or two songs every day. Enjoy the pleasure of jamming along and working out these songs, adding your own personal touch.

Have a great one!

1 – Angel of harlem – U2 (1988) – Chords – More Chords on Amazon

2 – Free Falling – Tom Petty (1989) – Chords 

3 – Waiting on a friend – The Rolling Stones (1982) – Chords

4 – Every breath you take – The Police (1983) – Chords

5 – Wicked game – Chris Isaak (1989) – Chords

6 – Heaven – Bryan Adams (1983) – Chords

7 – Never Tear Us Apart – INXS (1988) – Chords 

8 – End of the Line – Traveling Wilburys (1988) – Chords

9 – Sweet dreams – Eurythmics (1983) – Chords

10 – Careless Whisper – George Michael (1984) – Chords 

11 – Wanted Dead Or Alive – Bon Jovi (1986) – Chords

12 – Men at work – Down under (1980) – Chords 

13 – Janie’s got a gun – Aerosmith (1989) – Chords

14 – Jack and Diane – John Mellencamp (1982) – Chords

15 – The River – Bruce Springsteen (1980) – Chords – More on Chords Amazon

16 – Faith – George Michael (1987) – Chords

17 – Graceland – Paul Simon (1986) – Chords

18 – Woman – John Lennon (1981) – Chords 

19 – Every rose has it’s torn – Poison (1988) – Chords

20 – True colors – Cindy Lauper (1986) – Chords 

21 – The one I love – REM (1984) – Chords 

22 – Holding back the years – Simply Red (1985) – Chords

23 – Patience – Guns n’ Roses (1988) – Chords 

24 – Crazy little thing called love – Queen (1980) – Chords 

25 – Sunday bloody sunday – U2 (1983) – Chords

26 – La Bamba – Los Lobos (1987) – Chords 

27 – I want to know what love is – Foreigner (1988) – Chords 

28 – Stop loving you – Toto (1988) – Chords 

29 – Eternal Flame – The Bangles (1989) – Chords 

30 – Kokomo – The Beach Boys (1988) – Chords 

If you want some great guitar songs from all times you might also like Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners

So what is your favorite 80s song for the acoustic? I always appreciate your comments. I read them all.