When you first started playing guitar, it was to get girls, right? Perhaps you were influenced by the party scene in Animal House where the collegiate folkster attracts a gaggle of swooning females by strumming his acoustic and singing “I Gave My Love a Cherry” (If you need a refresher, check out the brilliant scene above).

Of course, there are plenty of other songs that work just as well, and rock a bit harder. We've compiled the 10 listed below to help you up your game. Seriously, though: If you intend to add these pieces to your act, God love you, but don’t blame us if you meet up with your own personal John Belushi.

10) “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You”
Led Zeppelin
A Spanish-sounding chord progression works every
time; it’s exotic, and it gets the blood hot. Just ask
Shakira. And if you’re not one for commitment, the lyrics
to this Zep ballad will make your dubious intentions
known beforehand.

9) “Your Body Is a Wonderland”
John Mayer
Just cut right to the carnal chase, buddy. Mayer isn’t
singing about the wonders that science and medicine
have taught us about certain viruses and bacteria
that dwell in the epidermis. Viruses, bacteria—bad call.
Concentrate on her exterior features instead. If this
sounds too complicated, just play her “Daughters.”

8) “Baby I Love Your Way”
Peter Frampton
Rumor has it that Frampton made it with all of
Madison Square Garden after performing this song in
New York on his 1977 tour. OK, so maybe he never
got to the back row—but to think he even got as far
as midcourt with lines like “I can see the sunset in
your eyes/Brown and grey and blue besides.” We’re
guessing that the talk box was the deal-closer.

7) “You and Me”
Lifehouse
Waltzes are the ticket to romance. Why? Because
women like to dance. To make this one work, you’ve
got to make eye contact with your subject when you
sing the line “I don’t know why … I can’t keep my
eyes off you.” No, not literally cornea to cornea. That
would be painful, not to mention creepy.

6) “Wonderful Tonight”
Eric Clapton
Whatever you do, stay away from “Tears in Heaven”—
it may sound sexy, but it’s tragic. Stay positive and
optimistic. Talk about the future, as in later on tonight.
Clapton’s classical cadences at the end of each guitar
phrase make for a nice dramatic flourish. And if
you plan to attempt the lead bends, please, try not to
suck—your night depends on it.

5) “Name”
Goo Goo Dolls
Face it, pal—if you get any attention from successfully
performing any ballad in the Goo Goo Dolls’ repertoire,
you must realize that what’s-her-face is fantasizing
about Johnny Rzeznik, not you. So if you play
“Name” once, be prepared to play it on every subsequent
date. Your lady friend’s suggestions about how
you should style your hair will follow soon enough.

4) “Just Like Heaven”
The Cure
What’s more romantic than idealistic, unrequited
love? A song about same, sung in a fake British
accent, with lots of ocean metaphors, that’s what.
She’ll think Shakespeare himself is crooning. Besides,
Robert Smith in his makeup and raven’s-nest hair
is the next best female fantasy to Johnny Depp in
Edward Scissorhands.

3) “Melissa”
Allman Brothers Band
The open-string drones atop the chord changes create
a dreamy atmosphere—one liable to hypnotize a
woman even from 50 paces away. If the woman you're after
has a three-syllable name with the accent on the second,
insert hers in the place of “Melissa.” Some names that
will work: Marisa, Roberta, Mercedes, Bonifa, Mandible, and Pancreas.

2) “Crash”
Dave Matthews Band
It’s a jam-band ballad—say no more! Everyone
knows that the DMB’s adherents are into herbs,
crystals, radical environmentalism, and, most important,
loose morality. Oh, come on—this whole exercise
is based on stereotypes. Loosen up. No,
wait...that’s not what I meant! Where’s your sense
of humor? Funny, I feel strangely attracted to you
when you argue with me. I can tell you feel the
same. Can I have your phone number?

1) “More Than Words”
Extreme
Power. Ballad. Put the two together and you’ve got
a recipe for romance (not to mention the seeds of
emo). We all know that Nuno Bettencourt’s sensitive
chord voicings could explode into a blistering
flurry of two-handed tapping at any moment—but
they don’t. That’s the ticket: holding back. Waiting
for just the right moment to make the move. OK,
now solo.