Featured as the soundtrack in two science fiction movies in the eighties: An American Werewolf In London (1981) and Twilight Zone: The Movie (1982), “Bad Moon Rising” can be found on CCR’s 1969 album entitled “Green River”.
There have been many theories as to exactly what this song is about. According to John Fogerty in Rolling Stone Magazine ( issue 649) the lyrics were inspired by a movie called “The Devil And Daniel Webster”, where a hurricane wipes out most of a town. He claims that this is where he got the idea for the words “I feel the hurricane blowin’, I hope you’re quite prepared to die.” Overall, he said the song is about the “apocalypse that was going to be visited upon us.”
Like most of CCR’s catalog, the song is not too difficult to play but may take a little practice getting the right rhythm. I have included different methods and a backing track below that you can use to play along with the song. Have fun!
Bad Moon Rising Guitar Lesson – Barr Chords
AUTHOR’S NOTE: It’s a simple lesson for playing Creedance Clearwater Revival’s Bad Moon Rising. Nothing great. No need to comment on the playing quality as I’m still a noob at this.
Bad Moon Rising Guitar Lesson – With Chords
Bad Moon Rising Backing Track
Bad Moon Rising Chords
I have put together a PDF document that you can use for a chord reference to the song. You can download it to your computer by clicking here Bad Moon Rising – Song Chord Sheet
Related posts:
Welcome to Free Guitar Lessons Blog.
25 responses so far ↓
1 attwood2mg // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
heaps good i learned that realy quick.. keep it man..
2 sadsack987 // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
Nice cover of a great tune. The pinky move on the D chord was very helpful. Always a pleasure to see how other solo guitarists interpret a band song. Thanks much.
3 DHY2KA // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
Hey! I didn;t know George Carlin Played the guitar… JK Rock on dude..LOL
4 crguitar411 // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
you can play all with open chords D ,A & G is all you need
5 MST720 // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
I would play this but I just hate playing bar chords
6 boardndude // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
It’s a stock Fender Squier Affinty Tele. The bottom of the Fender line, but a nice player. It’s played through a Peavey Bandit 112.
Mine gear is a lot different now, but I still have that Tele and it’s upgraded with GFS Lil Puncher HB pups and a Wilkinson 3 brass saddle ashtray bridge. A real keeper.
7 Tarnski // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
Hey that was really good, thanks for that. Great sound you have there with the tele, whats your set up, amp etc?
Well done, from a struggling Brit! Thanks!!
8 brandonzeppieri217 // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
o true sorry man, the colours were wrong on my screen plus i thought your name was board nude lol sorry about that, great job though!
9 boardndude // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
I pretty sure that those orange things are pants.
10 brandonzeppieri217 // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
do you have any pants on? lmao grreat song though
11 BoxingMadLad // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
thanks finally some1 who says tha strumming like up, down, down or watever
12 boardndude // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
It’s an A. E shaped barred at the 5th fret. Thanks, and thanks to all those who commented before you.
13 limegreentj // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
i just have one question, i looked up chords for this and its D A and G. it seems to me that you are playing A#. Although it sounds good it throws me off because you do the little mute slide. when i play standard A it sounds good too. great lesson none the less
14 TABWISH // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
nice…great lesson and fills..
15 jimboc88 // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
yes mate you can as its the way i play it
16 eddiewhippert // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
thanks for the explanation – it helps a lot
17 videoaces // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
thank you, howard hesseman.
18 lenwalker123 // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
handy little lesson.thanks!
19 pizzaeater9 // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
This Is the most helpful tutorial of this song ive found. Thanks it helped a lot.
20 rmcclel // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
fantastic video best tutorial of this song so far
21 Tubbergen // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
Nice job, but i got 1 question: isn’t it Down down Up (Down without touching the strings) than Up again and than Down up?
22 boy1er1990 // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
brilliant thanks, great teacher!
23 JosSlagers // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
“Nothing great. No need to comment on the playing quality as I’m still a noob at this.”
That was great! don’t mind if I comment to say you play this song really well? It has been very helpfull
24 ukchris64 // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
Great sound and a good video, but can you do this just using the normal G and A chords instead of using bar chords, I struggle with bar chords see.
25 RalphNelson // May 3, 2009 at 1:59 am
Thanks for demonstrating the pinky move. A lot of others just play the D chord sraight. You gotta have the pinky move or it doesn’t sound right.
I’ve got a Squier Telecaster also. I love it. I play it almost as much as my Gibson Les Paul. A great guitar.
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