The fingerstyle guitar tab (chord melody) for “House of the Rising Sun” is available for download as a PDF.

House of the Rising Sun

“The House of the Rising Sun” is a traditional American folk song (also known as “Rising Sun Blues”), with roots possibly in 18th-century English ballads, adapted in the U.S. South by the early 20th century. Its origins remain uncertain, often linked to warnings of ruin in New Orleans—perhaps a brothel, gambling house, or prison—first collected in Appalachia in the 1930s. Early recordings include Clarence “Tom” Ashley’s 1933 version, followed by Lead Belly (1940s), Woody Guthrie, and Josh White.

Bob Dylan’s 1962 acoustic take on Dave Van Ronk’s arrangement inspired The Animals’ electrifying 1964 rock version, recorded in one take. Featuring Eric Burdon’s gravelly vocals, Hilton Valentine’s iconic A minor arpeggio guitar intro, and Alan Price’s pulsing Vox Continental organ, it became a transatlantic number-one hit, hailed as the first folk-rock smash and a cornerstone of the British Invasion.

Video

In the video below, I perform the piece as transcribed.

Fingerstyle Guitar Tab

The guitar tablature below is a fingerstyle chord melody arrangement of the piece.

Download “House of the Rising Sun” Fingerstyle Tab/Just Chords & Melody (2 Pages each) as a PDF’s.

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