How to play House of the Rising Sun on guitar
The arpeggio song every beginner wants. Five chords, one picking pattern, and it sounds finished from the first run-through.
At a glance
- Key A minor
- Time 6/8
- Level Improver
- Chords Am, C, D, F, E
Why this song is worth learning
This is the song that teaches arpeggios. The right hand plays the same six-note pattern through every chord, so once the pattern is in your fingers the only thing that changes is the shape your left hand is holding. It is also in 6/8, which is a gentler introduction to counting than it sounds: count to six, one note per count.
The chords, as shapes
| Chord | Frets (low E to high e) |
|---|---|
| Am | x 0 2 2 1 0 |
| C | x 3 2 0 1 0 |
| D | x x 0 2 3 2 |
| F | 1 3 3 2 1 1 |
| E | 0 2 2 1 0 0 |
x means do not play that string, 0 means play it open. Tap any shape on the page to hear it.
Play along
Press play. The track counts you in, clicks the beat and lights up the chord you should be holding. Drop the tempo while you are learning and raise it once you can get through without stopping.
Chord order
| Verse | Am C | D F | Am C | E E | Am C | D F | Am E | Am E |
|---|
Each group is one bar. Count 6 beats per bar.
The picking pattern
Am — one bar of the pattern
5:0 4:2 3:2 2:1 3:2 4:2
C — one bar of the pattern
5:3 4:2 3:0 2:1 3:0 4:2
D — one bar of the pattern
4:0 3:2 2:3 1:2 2:3 3:2
F — one bar of the pattern
6:1 4:3 3:2 2:1 3:2 4:3
Every note comes straight out of the chord shape, so if you can hold the chord you can play the pattern. Numbers are string:fret, counting string 1 as the thin high E.
How to learn it
- Learn the five shapes on their own. Am and C you may already know. D and E are straightforward. F is the hard one, so use the alternative below until the barre is comfortable.
- Play the pattern on Am alone, slowly, one note per count of six. Pick the notes cleanly rather than quickly.
- Add C. Play four bars of Am, then four of C, keeping the right hand moving through the change.
- Work through the chart two bars at a time. Am to C, then D to F, then back.
- Put the whole eight-bar verse together at a slow tempo with the play-along, then raise the tempo.
Tips that matter
- The F is optional at first. Use Fmaj7 (xx3210) instead. It keeps the same feeling and needs three fingers rather than a barre.
- Let the notes ring. Do not lift your left hand between notes. The whole chord should be held while the right hand picks through it.
- Count out loud. Six per bar. Beginners rush bars three and four more than any other part of the song.
Questions about House of the Rising Sun
What chords do you need for House of the Rising Sun?
Am, C, D, F and E. The F is the only difficult one, and Fmaj7 (xx3210) works as a substitute while you build up to the barre chord.
Is House of the Rising Sun good for beginners?
Yes, it is one of the best first fingerpicking songs. The picking pattern repeats unchanged through every chord, so you learn one right-hand movement and apply it five times.
What time signature is House of the Rising Sun?
It is usually written in 6/8, which means six beats to the bar. In the arpeggio version you play one picked note per beat, so each chord lasts six notes.
Is this song copyrighted?
The song itself is a traditional folk ballad in the public domain, which is why it has been recorded by so many artists in so many different arrangements. The arrangement on this page is our own.