Beach Boys Most Popular Songs
On The Acoustic

Barbara Ann was a huge song for this band back in 1965, reaching #1 in several countries and a top 5 in a few others. Dean Torrance of Jan and Dean is singing lead with Brian Wilson on this one.

The track can be found on their album "Barbara Ann".

Just three chords here and they are E, A and a B but some lead required in standard tuning with a capo 2nd fret. For rhythm play a down up down up down up rhythm pattern.

Fun Fun Fun was a single release in 1964 and hails from their album "Shut Down Vol 2".

The song reached at #5 in the US and #9 in Australia.

I use a capo 2nd fret here in standard tuning with a down up down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. Some lead work with the chords D, G, A, D/Gb, A7 and a  D/E.

Hawaii was a release back in 1964 and did well in Australia reaching #9 on the charts, but it never charted anywhere else. 

It was recorded in 1963 for the album "Surfer Girl".

Here I play a capo 1st fret with a down down down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern and some lead work. The chords in this one are Am, D, G, C, Em and an A.

Help Me Rhonda hails from the 1965 album "The Beach Boys Today".

This song had two versions but the second version was the single release and hit #1 in the US. Roy Orbison and Johnny Rivers both covered this one.

Some lead in this one played in standard tuning with a capo 1st fret. Play a down up down up rhythm pattern with a riff and picking blended in using the chords C, Dm7, Am, F, D7 and a G.

Kokomo was The Beach Boys first #1 in nearly 18 years after their last hit in 1970 called Cottonfields, which was a #1 overseas. Their last US hit was Good Vibrations in 1966.

So 22 years between #1's in the US. John Phillips from The Mama's and The Papa's, Scott McKenzie (are you going to San Fran - Cisco), Mike Love with Terry Melcher, wrote this one. From the album "Still Crusin".

For chords here you'll need a C, F, G, Cmaj7, Gm, D7, Fm and C7 played in standard tuning with no lead work. For rhythm play a root down up root up down up and repeat pattern.

Sloop John B was a #1 in the UK and a few other European countries and managed to peak at #3 in the US back in 1966.

The track is from their album "Pet Sounds".

I play a drop D tuning here with down strokes to start and then a root down up down up root up down up rhythm pattern. No lead but a few riffs as you play through the chords G, D, C, G7, Am and a D7.

Surfer Girl was written and sung by Brian Wilson on this track from 1963. The song was a #7 in the US and reached #19 in Australia.

The track is from the album of the same name.

This one is played in standard tuning with a down down up down up down down and repeat rhythm pattern but no lead work. The chords you'll need are D, Bm, G, A7, Dmaj7, D7, Gm, Em, D7, Gbm, Bm and an E.

Surfin Safari was one of the first singles released by The Beach Boys from their debut album from 1962. The song peaked at #14 on the charts.

This one is played in standard tuning with the chords A, D, E and a B7 using a steady down up down up down down down up and repeat pattern with some lead in the middle of the song.

Surfin USA was a re-write with the permission of Chuck Berry of his song Sweet Little 16. So if those two songs sound similar, now you know why. The track is from the 1963 album Surfin USA.

The re-written song managed to reach #3 on the US Billboard and Cash Box charts.

Only three chords here consisting of D, A and G using a down up down up down up and use a rock and roll riff. Some lead in this one and I'm playing with drop D Tuning.