House of the Rising Sun (Traditional)
No lyrics here
Copyright rules mean this note has chords and structure only — pull the words up separately (Spotify/lyric site) while you play.
Song Info
- Artist: Traditional (best known via The Animals)
- Key: Am
- Capo: none
- Difficulty: Intermediate
Free Chord Chart
Ultimate Guitar — House of the Rising Sun (Chords)
Songsterr — House of the Rising Sun (synced playback, free) — useful for this one since it’s fingerpicked; the cursor follows along in real time.
Chords Used
Am, C, D, F, E, C/E, E7, F7, Dm
Song Structure & Chord Progression
Matches the free chart linked above (verified 2026-09-19) — adds the Coda ending and a couple of chords (C/E, F7, Dm) that were missing before:
- Intro: Am – C – D – F – Am – E – Am – E
- Verse (×6, same loop each time): Am – C – D – F – Am – C – E – E, with the intro’s Am–C–D–F–Am–E–Am–E figure between verses
- Organ solo section: Am – C – D – F – Am – C – E – E – Am – C – D – F – Am – E – Am – C/E – D – F – Am – E – Am – E
- Coda (ending): Am – Dm – Am – Dm – Am – Dm, slowing down
No chorus, no bridge — but there is a distinct ending Coda using Am/Dm.
Picking Pattern
The chart suggests a rolling 6-feel picking pattern (fast eighth notes within a 6/8-style bar) rather than a straight strum — a steady arpeggio through each chord’s notes, low string to high, fits well. Open the link above to see the exact pattern widget.
Practice Notes
- Can play through with this chord sheet
- Arpeggio pattern feels smooth on one chord
- Can play the full loop without looking
- Can sing + play together
Practice Log
| Date | Minutes | Notes |
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