House of the Rising Sun Chords: The Animals

"House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals (their 1964 arrangement of the traditional folk song) is the song that taught a generation of guitarists how to arpeggiate. The famous picking pattern in 6/8 time, the haunting Am-C-D-F progression, and the modal feel make it one of the most recognizable acoustic guitar parts in pop history.

The Chords

• Am
• C major
• D major
• F major
• E major

The verse: Am-C-D-F, Am-C-E-E. Six bars per verse cycle. The progression alternates between the V chord (E) at the end of the second line, which gives the song its tense, unresolved feeling.

The Famous Arpeggio Pattern

The picking pattern in 6/8 plays each chord as a six-note arpeggio:

• Beat 1: thumb on the bass note (5th string for Am)
• Beat 2: index on the 3rd string
• Beat 3: middle on the 2nd string
• Beat 4: ring on the 1st string
• Beat 5: middle on the 2nd string
• Beat 6: index on the 3rd string

Six notes per chord. The pattern repeats for every chord in the verse. The bass note shifts to whichever string holds the new chord's root.

The 6/8 Feel

The song is in 6/8 time, which means six eighth notes per bar with the accent on beats 1 and 4. This creates the lilting, waltz-like swing that gives the song its character. Don't try to play it in 4/4. The rhythm won't match the recording.

The F Chord Workaround

F appears in the verse. If the F barre is too much, use Fmaj7 or Mini-F as substitutes. The song's mood doesn't suffer.

Common Mistakes

• Playing in 4/4. The song is in 6/8. The picking pattern fits six notes per bar, not four.
• Bass note buzz. The thumb has to clearly hit the bass note for each chord. If it's muddy, the song loses its anchor.
• Tempo rushing. About 75 BPM in dotted-quarter pulse, or 225 BPM if counting eighth notes. Slow.

FAQ: House of the Rising Sun Questions

What key is "House of the Rising Sun" in?

A minor. The progression cycles through Am as the home chord.

Is the picking pattern hard?

Intermediate. The right-hand independence required to play 6 notes per bar smoothly takes a few weeks of practice.

Can I strum this song instead of picking?

You can, but the song loses most of its character. The arpeggio pattern is the song's identity. Strumming through Am-C-D-F sounds plain.

What's the time signature?

6/8. Six eighth notes per bar with a pulse of two dotted-quarter beats.

Why does the song have an F chord?

The F is borrowed from A minor's parallel major (A major), used as a chromatic chord that adds dramatic color. It's one of the moments that gives the song its haunted feel.