Easy Eagles Songs to Play on Guitar
October 18, 2024 by Klaus Crow
You would say there’s no introduction needed for The Eagles, but there’s a new generation out there who have to be enlightened. So here’s a small prelude before we start off.
The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971, known for their distinctive blend of rock, country, and folk music. They became one of the best-selling bands in history with hits like “Hotel California,” “Take It Easy,” and “Desperado,”.
Their 1976 album Hotel California is considered one of the greatest rock albums of all time, and the title track has become an enduring classic. The band broke up in 1980 but reunited in 1994 for the Hell Freezes Over tour and album, symbolizing their lasting influence in rock history.
As a guitar student you cannot get around The Eagles. Their songs are a must addition to your guitar routine and repertoire. The beautiful chord progressions, guitar licks, intro’s and solo’s contain a great treasure to learn from and level up your playing.
Fortunately for the beginner, many of their biggest hits feature simple chords, chord progressions and strumming patterns, making them perfect for both beginner and intermediate guitar player.
Now make yourself a nice cappuccino, take your guitar out of the stand, allow yourself to indulge with your favorite Eagles songs and enjoy a great moment!
Bask in the bliss of practice!
1. “Take It Easy”
Jackson Browne, co-wrote “Take It Easy” with Eagles’ Glenn Frey, which was released in 1972 on the self-titled debut album, “Eagles“. Browne originally started writing the song but got stuck, and Frey helped finish it. Frey once said the song was “a great opener” because of its message of not taking life too seriously.
The primary guitarists on “Take It Easy” by the Eagles were Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon. Frey played the lead guitar and was heavily involved in the song’s arrangement, while Leadon contributed a distinctive banjo part that helped define the song’s country-rock sound.
“Take it easy” starts relaxed with the intro playing G – G – G6sus4 (3×2013) – Gadd9sus4 (3×0013) and then comes in with a basic uptempo strumming pattern: Down-down-up-up-down-up. Great for practicing simple chord changes and singing along.
Chords: G – G6sus4 – Gadd9sus4 – D – C – Em – Am
2. “Hotel California” (Acoustic Version)
“Hotel California” was written by Don Felder, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey of the Eagles. Don Felder composed the music, while Henley and Frey wrote the lyrics. The song has a really recognizable and awesome chord progression that every guitar player has to learn throughout their guitar endeavor.
Don Henley, the primary lyricist, explained that the song is about the excesses and hedonism of American life in the 1970s, particularly in California.
The chords for the song, if played with the capo on the 2nd fret, are Am – E7 – G – D – F – Dm – E7 for the verses and F – C – E7 – Am – F – C – Dm – E7 for the chorus. For the strumming pattern you can play a basic 4/4 rhythm pattern.
3. “Peaceful Easy Feeling”
“Peaceful Easy Feeling” was written by Jack Tempchin, not a member of the Eagles, but a frequent collaborator with the band. The Eagles recorded the song for their debut album, and it became one of their signature tracks.
He recalled writing it after spending time in a coffee shop, observing the relaxed California lifestyle, and thinking about the comfort of knowing that, even if love doesn’t work out, you’ll still be okay.
The guitarist on “Peaceful Easy Feeling” was Bernie Leadon, the Eagles’ original lead guitarist and multi-instrumentalist.
4. “Tequila Sunrise”
“Tequila Sunrise” was written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey of the Eagles. The song was featured on their 1973 album Desperado. Bernie Leadon, the Eagles’ lead guitarist at the time, made use of a B-bender guitar (which mimics a pedal steel) which helped give the song its distinct country-rock flavor.
The chord for the song are G – G6 – Am – D7 – D – Em – C – Bm – E – B7 – Em7 – A7
5. “Lyin’ Eyes”
“Lyin’ Eyes” was written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey of the Eagles. The song, released in 1975, became one of the band’s most successful hits.
The guitarist for “Lyin’ Eyes” was Don Felder, with significant contributions from Bernie Leadon, especially for the country-influenced flavor of the track. Felder and Leadon played interwoven guitar lines which were characteristic for The Eagles’ overal sound. The chords for the songs are G – Gmaj7 – C – Am – D7 – D – C/D – Em – Bm – F/G – A7.
6. “Desperado”
“Desperado” was written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey of the Eagles. It’s one of the band’s most iconic songs, released in 1973 as the title track of their second album, Desperado.
Don Henley, the primary lyricist, explained that the song was originally inspired by his interest in the Old West and the outlaw image, but it evolved into something more personal.
The guitar parts were primarily played by Glenn Frey, with Bernie Leadon contributing as well. The song itself is more piano-driven, nonetheless it’s a great to song to learn to play on the guitar.
7. “Best of My Love”
“Best of My Love” was written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and J.D. Souther. Released in 1974 on the Eagles’ On the Border album, it became the band’s first No. 1 hit.
Don Felder and Joe Walsh played significant roles in shaping the song’s sound. They emphasized the importance of harmony and interplay between their guitars, which helped create the track’s smooth and layered feel.
The song is fairly easy to play because of the slow and easy strumming parts and the chords in the verses are two bars / measures each which gives you time to play smooth transitions.
8. “New Kid in Town”
“There’s a New Kid in Town” was co-written by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and J.D. Souther and was recorded by the Eagles for their 1976 album Hotel California.
The guitar work on “There’s a New Kid in Town” features contributions from Glenn Frey and Don Felder. Frey, known for his rhythm guitar playing, provided the primary acoustic elements, while Felder contributed the electric guitar parts.
The song does have a few bar chords like F#m7 – C#m – B and F#, so if you’re beginner you might want to practice your bar chords first or you can play the easier version with the capo on the 2nd fret.
9. “One of These Nights”
“One of These Nights” was written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley, and it became a significant hit for the Eagles. Musically, the song marked a shift for the band, incorporating influences from R&B and disco, particularly inspired by their studio time with the Bee Gees.
Don Felder highlighted the meticulous nature of their recording process. Felder noted that there was a strong emphasis on perfection, stating that “no mistakes were allowed” during performances, which kept the quality high.
10. “Already Gone”
“Already Gone” was co-written by Jack Tempchin and Robb Strandlund. Jack Tempchin also wrote the Eagles’ hit “Peaceful Easy Feeling.”
The guitar work on “Already Gone” features contributions from Don Felder and Glenn Frey. Felder, who had recently joined the Eagles, played a significant role in shaping the song’s sound. The main part is a rock’n roll blues rhythm with easy but lovely guitar licks perfect for the beginner / intermediate player.
The chords for the song are G – D – C – C/E – C/F – C/F# – F
11. “I Can’t Tell You Why”
Glenn Frey played the rhythm guitar in addition to handling the lead guitar work on the studio version of the song. The chords for the song are Bm – A – D – G – F#7 – Am – F – C – E7.
12. “Wasted Time”
“Wasted Time” was written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey of the Eagles. The track was a part of Hotel California (1976), and its lush arrangement, especially with the inclusion of piano and orchestral elements, sets it apart as one of the Eagles’ most poignant ballads.
Although the guitar is not in the front of the song you can definitely play it acoustic wise along with the nice country/blues guitar licks that appear frequently throughout the song.
13. “The Long Run”
“The Long Run” was written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Henley explained that the song was a metaphor for the changing musical landscape at the time, particularly with the rise of disco and punk, and the Eagles questioning their own longevity. The line “Who is gonna make it? We’ll find out in the long run” sums up their concerns about staying relevant in an evolving industry.
Glenn Frey played rhythm guitar and contributed significantly to the solos, while Joe Walsh and Don Felder added distinctive slide guitar parts.
14. “Love Will Keep Us Alive”
“Love Will Keep Us Alive” was written by British songwriters Pete Vale, Jim Capaldi, and Paul Carrack (Mike + the Mechanics fame). The song was included in the Eagles’ 1994 album Hell Freezes Over.
Paul Carrack explained that the song was originally written for his solo career, but when it came time for the Eagles’ reunion, the track fit perfectly.
15. “Take It to the Limit”
“Take It to the Limit” was written by Randy Meisner, along with Don Henley and Glenn Frey and released in 1975 on the Eagles’ album One of These Nights. The song became one of the band’s biggest hits and was notable for Meisner’s powerful lead vocals, particularly the high notes he hit during the chorus.
Randy Meisner, who originally sang lead vocals, faced challenges performing the song, particularly during the Hotel California tour. His challenges with hitting high notes, coupled with personal struggles, resulted in increased tensions within the band, ultimately leading to a confrontation with Glenn Frey that played a role in his exit from the Eagles.
The chords for the song are C – F – G – E7 – Am – Dm – Fadd9
16. “Doolin-Dalton”
“Doolin’ Dalton” was co-written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley, along with J.D. Souther, and is featured on the Eagles’ 1973 album Desperado. The song tells the story of two infamous outlaws, Doolin and Dalton, capturing themes of adventure and the consequences of a lawless life.
Don Felder, who joined the band shortly after the album’s release, contributed significantly to their guitar dynamics, emphasizing a combination of melody and harmony.
17. “Seven Bridges Road”
“Seven Bridges Road” was written by Steve Young, an influential yet often overlooked songwriter in the outlaw country genre. Regarding the Eagles’ version, which became the most famous interpretation, Young initially had mixed feelings about it. He thought it sounded “too bluegrassy, too gospel” at first, but he grew to appreciate it over time.
The Eagles included the song on their live album “Eagles Live.” The song can be played using only three chords D – C – G.
18. “Pretty Maids All in a Row”
“Pretty Maids All in a Row” was written by Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh with his longtime collaborator Joe Vitale. The song was a standout for Walsh on Hotel California, because it marked one of his rare vocal performances with the band.
Walsh had already written a few verses and the melody, later Vitale joined him at his house, and within two or three hours, they wrapped up the song, with Vitale adding the chorus and refining parts of it. Despite not being one of the more famous tracks from Hotel California, it gained recognition, even being praised by Bob Dylan in a 2020 interview.
19. “After the Thrill is Gone”
“After the Thrill Is Gone” was written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey of the Eagles. The song was released on the band’s 1975 album One of These Nights.
Henley mentioned that he and Frey were aware of the B.B. King song “The Thrill Is Gone” and used it as a starting point for exploring what happens once the initial thrill in life or love diminishes. He described it as looking at the question, “Now that the thrill is gone, what comes next?”
The guitar work on the track was performed by both Bernie Leadon and Don Felder. Leadon played the pedal steel guitar, adding a country vibe, while Felder contributed the lead guitar parts.
20. “The Sad Café”
“The Sad Café” was written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and J.D. Souther, and it appeared on the Eagles’ The Long Run album in 1979.
Henley has mentioned that the song is a nostalgic look at a time and place where many of the band members, along with other musicians and artists, used to gather—places like the Troubadour in Los Angeles.
Joe Walsh played the lead guitar on this track, adding his distinctive style to the song’s introspective tone.
The chords for the song are : A – Dm – E – Bm7b5 – E7 – Dm7 – F#m – C#m7 – Bm – Esus4 – Dsus4 – D
