The only thing you have to do is hold a certain chord and play it's bass-string followed by this riff:

e |----------x----------|
B |------x-----x--------|
G |----x---x-----x------|
D |---------------------|
A |---------------------|
E |---------------------|

So an F-riff would look like this:

e |------------1--------|
B |--------1-----1------|
G |------2---2-----2----|
D |---3-----------------|
A |---------------------|
E |---------------------|

And an Am-riff like this:

e |------------0--------|
B |--------1-----1------|
G |------2---2-----2----|
D |---------------------|
A |---0-----------------|
E |---------------------|

Bass-strings:
Am: open fret A-string
C : 3rd fret A-string
D : open fret D-string
E : open fret E-string
F : 3rd fret D-string

All you need to do now is play the chords in the right order. Pretty easy right?


Am        C         D       F
There is a house in New Orleans

Am           C        E      E
they call the Rising Sun

Am          C         D        F
Its been the ruin of many a poor boy

Am          E        Am  C  D  F  Am  E  Am  E
And God, I know I'm one

(this is repeated throughout the rest of the song with different lyrics)



My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new blue jeans
My father was a gamblin' man
Down in New Orleans

Now the only things a gambler needs
is a suitcase and a trunk
and the only time he's feeling satisfied
is when he's on a drunk

Now mothers, Tell your children
Not to do what I have done
And spend your life in sincere misery
in the House of the Rising Sun

Well I've got one foot on the platform,
the other on the train.
I'm going back to New Orleans
to wear that ball and chain

There is a house in New Orleans
they call the Rising Sun
Its been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God, I know I'm one