Learning to play the guitar is an incredibly rewarding journey, but getting started can sometimes feel overwhelming. Many aspiring guitarists are eager to play their favorite tunes right away, but might feel discouraged by complex chords and techniques. The good news is, there are tons of fantastic songs out there that are perfect for beginners. This guide is your starting point, featuring a curated list of Easy Songs To Learn Guitar that will get you strumming along in no time and build your confidence as you progress.
1. Paranoid – Black Sabbath
Kick things off with a true rock anthem! “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath isn’t just a legendary metal song; it’s surprisingly accessible for beginners. The main riff starts with a powerful E power chord on the 7th fret. You’ll immediately feel the rock energy as you strum this chord twice before launching into a cool hammer-on riff in the same position. The song then progresses with E, A, and D power chords played with consistent downstrokes.
To master “Paranoid”, listen to the song carefully and focus on the rhythm. Once you nail the chord changes and the down-picking pattern, you’ll be rocking out to this iconic 70s hit in no time. Power chords are fundamental for rock and metal, making this a great song to build that foundation.
2. Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
Requires a capo on the 1st fret.
For a soulful and contemporary choice, “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi is an excellent option. This emotionally charged ballad is built on a simple chord progression of C, G, Am, and F chords. These are all common open chords that beginner guitarists often learn first.
You can strum these chords slowly and repeatedly to match the song’s melancholic mood, or try fingerpicking the individual strings for a more delicate and melodic texture. As you progress, you’ll encounter variations like Am7 and Dm7 in the bridge, but these are just slight adjustments from the basic open chords, making them easy to grasp. “Someone You Loved” is perfect for practicing smooth chord transitions and expressive playing.
3. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Instantly recognizable and undeniably fun, “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd features an iconic riff that’s easier to learn than you might think. This southern rock classic revolves around D, C, and G open chord shapes. If you’ve already practiced these fundamental chords, you’ll be able to pick up the main riff quickly.
The riff isn’t overly complex, and with repetition, you’ll increase your speed and get that signature “twangy” sound. A helpful tip is to keep your pinky finger anchored on the 3rd fret of the B string. This positioning will help your other fingers naturally fall into place for the C and G chord shapes. The key to perfecting this riff is playing along with the original song, paying close attention to the beat and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s picking style. Because the riff loops back to the beginning, it’s incredibly satisfying to play repeatedly and a great way to improve your picking hand technique.
4. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
Requires a capo on the 3rd fret.
“Free Fallin'” by Tom Petty, famously covered by artists like John Mayer, is a timeless classic known for its simple yet effective chord progression. With a capo placed on the 3rd fret, you’ll be playing familiar open D, A, and E chords. The song also introduces a Dsus4 chord to add a touch of variation. Don’t let the name intimidate you – Dsus4 is simply a D chord where you place your pinky on the 3rd fret of the high E string instead of the 2nd fret.
“Free Fallin'” sounds great on both acoustic and electric guitar. Try adding a touch of overdrive on an electric guitar for a classic rock feel. This song is excellent for practicing strumming patterns and singing simultaneously, making you feel like a rock star in no time.
5. My Generation – The Who
Want to rock out with minimal chords? “My Generation” by The Who is your answer. This iconic 60s hit is incredibly easy to play, consisting of just two chords: G and F. For that powerful rock sound, play them as power chords. The simplicity of the chords allows you to focus on the song’s energy and the iconic vocal delivery.
“My Generation” is famous for its bass solo, but Pete Townshend’s guitar fills provide perfect cues for you to add your own improvisations. It’s a fantastic song to start developing your soloing skills because the rhythm and chord structure are so straightforward. Let loose and enjoy the raw energy of this classic!
6. House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals takes a slightly different approach. While it uses a few more chords than some of the other songs on this list, the way they’re played makes it beginner-friendly. The song revolves around Am, C, D, E, and F chords. Instead of strumming, you’ll pick each note of the chord individually, ascending and descending in pitch to create the song’s signature bluesy and somber tone. This arpeggiated style is a great way to develop fingerpicking skills.
Later in the song, you’ll encounter a C/E chord. This is simply a C chord with an E note as the bass note. It’s a subtle variation that’s easy to incorporate. You’ll also find E7 and F7 chords, which add 7th notes from the scale, creating a richer harmonic texture. These are simple variations of the open chords that appear sparingly to add musical tension. “House of the Rising Sun” is perfect for exploring fingerpicking and adding depth to your playing.
7. Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus
If you’re ready for some country flair, “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus is a fun, albeit slightly cheesy, choice. This country-style jam is built on just two chords: A and E. The simplicity of the chord progression provides plenty of space for you to experiment with country-style guitar licks using the notes within the A and E open positions.
Explore scales in the key of A to start improvising solos over the top. If you want to get more advanced, try incorporating “chicken pickin'” techniques for that authentic country sound. “Achy Breaky Heart” is a lighthearted and enjoyable way to explore country guitar basics.
8. American Idiot – Green Day
“American Idiot” by Green Day was a massive hit in the 2000s and remains incredibly fun to play today. The main riff consists of three simple power chords played in quick succession: C#, G#, and F#. The fast transitions between these power chords create the song’s energetic drive.
At the end of the riff, there’s a short, sharp hit of the open strings that signals the vocal entrance. The guitar solo is also relatively simple to learn, featuring octave shapes played quickly and an easy lick higher up the neck. “American Idiot” is a high-energy, punk-infused song that’s perfect for practicing power chords and fast chord changes.
9. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
Don’t worry about a thing, because you’ll master “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley in no time! This reggae classic is built on just three chords: A, D, and E, played to a distinctive reggae beat. While the chords themselves are easy, the reggae strumming pattern can be a bit tricky for beginners to grasp initially.
Start with a regular strumming rhythm as you get comfortable with the chord changes. Once you’re feeling more confident, you can explore the more complex reggae beat strum. “Three Little Birds” is a feel-good song that introduces you to reggae rhythms and simple chord progressions.
10. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana is practically a rite of passage for guitar players. This groundbreaking grunge anthem features just four power chords. They are played on the 1st fret of the E string, 1st fret of the A string, 4th fret of the E string, and 4th fret of the A string. The rhythm is straightforward, allowing you to channel plenty of grunge attitude.
The key to nailing the rhythm is to strum each chord a couple of times and then fill the spaces between chords with muted strums of the strings. For the verses, you can even simplify it further by holding down the 1st fret of the high E and B strings and plucking them. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is an essential song for any beginner guitarist looking to explore grunge and power chords.
11. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison is undeniably singable and puts you in a good mood instantly, thanks to its cheerful G major key. It features easy-strumming open G, C, D, and E chords. This feel-good classic is perfect for practicing your vocals while playing guitar.
Once you have the chords and rhythm down, challenge yourself with the fun, riff-like intro. “Brown Eyed Girl” is a crowd-pleasing song that’s great for developing strumming accuracy and vocal coordination.
12. Wonderwall – Oasis
Capo on the 2nd fret.
“Wonderwall” by Oasis might elicit groans from some crowds due to its ubiquity, but it’s undeniably a seminal song that every guitarist should have in their repertoire. It’s built around basic G, C, D, and Em chords, but with a slight twist. Hold down the 3rd fret of the B and high E strings on all of these chords. This creates that iconic “Wonderwall” treble-heavy tone.
Later in the song, you’ll encounter a G transition chord. This simply involves moving from the 3rd fret of the low E string to the 2nd fret while keeping the rest of the strings open (except for the B and high E strings, which remain fretted at the 3rd fret). The G transition chord is played briefly to smoothly lead into the Em chord. This chord movement is common in many songs, making “Wonderwall” a valuable learning piece.
13. Zombie – The Cranberries
“Zombie” by The Cranberries is soulful, somber, and emblematic of the 90s. It’s surprisingly simple to learn, using just four chords: Em, Cmaj7, G, and D. The Cmaj7 chord might sound complex, but it’s essentially the same as an open C chord without fretting the 1st fret on the B string.
There’s a unique satisfaction in belting out “What’s in your heaaaad” while playing through this comfortable chord progression. “Zombie” is a powerful and emotionally resonant song that’s easy for beginners to play and sing along to.
14. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan/Guns N’ Roses
Originally by Bob Dylan and famously covered by Guns N’ Roses, “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is both enjoyable to play and easy to sing along with. The verse progression is G, D, Am/G, D, C, alternating between Am and C as the final chord in the sequence.
For the chorus, the chord progression simplifies to G, D, and C. The song then reverts to the verse progression for subsequent verses. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is a timeless classic that’s great for practicing chord transitions and dynamic playing.
15. The Joker – Steve Miller Band
“The Joker” by the Steve Miller Band is a real earworm. You might not immediately recognize the title, but you’ll likely know the tune when you hear it. It’s incredibly easy to play, consisting of G, Cadd9, and D – all very simple chords played in a steady pattern.
As you gain confidence playing these chords and transitioning between them, you can start fingerpicking the notes individually to mimic the bass line and add your own little licks and embellishments. “The Joker” is a catchy and fun song for practicing chord changes and basic fingerpicking.
16. Buck Rogers – Feeder
“Buck Rogers” by Feeder is a 2000s legend that still holds up today. The song has a very simple arrangement with an open Em chord and power chords at the 7th and 9th frets of the low E string. This forms the basic rhythm of the song. The chorus introduces an additional power chord at the 5th fret of the low E string. All chords are strummed in a consistent beat that’s easy to follow. “Buck Rogers” is a high-energy, catchy song that’s great for practicing power chords and rhythmic strumming.
17. All The Small Things – Blink 182
“All The Small Things” by Blink 182 is pop-punk at its finest, a smash hit crowd-pleaser guaranteed to get people singing along. It revolves around a C power chord on the 3rd fret of the A string, a G power chord on the 3rd fret of the low E string, and a power chord in the F position. The chord progression is straightforward and easy to memorize.
The strumming pattern is also simple, primarily using steady downstrokes. Listen for the palm mutes (where you dampen the strings with your palm while strumming) in the intro and other subtle pauses to get the song’s feel just right. “All The Small Things” is a fun and energetic song that’s perfect for practicing power chords, palm muting, and upbeat strumming.
18. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol is soulful, catchy, and surprisingly easy to play. It features a cool, melodic riff that’s picked throughout much of the song, offering a refreshing change from chord-heavy songs. Instead of strumming, you’ll pick the notes within power chord shapes.
There’s a slight stretch involved in picking the 5th fret of the A string and then the 9th fret of the G string, which is excellent for building hand strength. Towards the end of the song, there’s a series of chords – A, E/G#, D, Dsus2, Dmaj7 – played in a steady, down-picked fashion to match the vocals. “Chasing Cars” is a beautiful and emotionally resonant song that introduces fingerpicking within power chord shapes and some slightly more complex chord variations.
19. Stand By Me – Ben E. King
“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King features open chords, a memorable intro, and timeless lyrics. It’s one of those songs that you can’t help but sing along to, which is perfect because the C, Am, F, G chord progression makes it easy to focus on your vocals!
The intro riff is driven by its timing, so listen closely to the song to capture the rhythm. For the strumming pattern, aim to be in time with the beat to match the song’s tempo and feel. “Stand By Me” is a classic song that’s perfect for practicing open chords, rhythm, and singing while playing.
20. Love Me Do – The Beatles
“Love Me Do” by The Beatles is super simple and super classic. Consisting of G, C, G7, and D chords, it’s very quick to learn and strum along with. The G7 chord is a minor variation, simply moving a finger from the 3rd fret to the 1st fret on the high E string.
Even better, the strumming pattern is steady and not too complex. “Love Me Do” is an iconic early Beatles hit that’s perfect for beginners to learn and a great introduction to classic rock and roll.
21. A Horse With No Name – America
“A Horse With No Name” by America doesn’t have any difficult chords, but the strumming pattern is a little different from the usual straight strumming. The chord progression is made up of Em, D6/9, Em9, and Dmaj9. While these chord names might look intimidating, they are all quite easy to play.
D6/9 involves just one finger fretting, Em9 has you holding the 2nd fret of the high E string instead of the A string, and Dmaj9 is a slight variation of a standard D chord. “A Horse With No Name” is a unique and atmospheric song that’s great for exploring slightly different chord voicings and strumming patterns.
22. Blitzkrieg Bop – The Ramones
“Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones is a punk rock classic and a super simple song, built on just three power chords. These power chords are positioned on the 5th fret of the low E string, the 5th fret of the A string, and the 7th fret of the A string – a very straightforward progression to learn.
Play it fast and play it loud! “Blitzkrieg Bop” embodies the raw energy of punk rock and is a fantastic song for practicing fast power chord changes and aggressive strumming.
23. What’s Up? – 4 Non Blondes
“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes uses just three chords, a simple strumming pattern, and soulful vocals. G, Am, and C are all you need to master this 90s hit.
The strumming pattern varies from slow to fast within each bar, making it quick to get into the rhythm of the whole song. “What’s Up?” is a powerful and recognizable song that’s great for practicing dynamic strumming and basic chord changes.
24. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day is mellow, catchy, and perfect for acoustic guitar lovers. The chord progression uses G, Cadd9, D, Em, and C chords, creating a simple and pleasing sequence that’s quick to learn.
The trick to mastering the intro is to avoid full strums initially and instead focus on picking the lower strings while sequentially plucking the high E and B strings. Soon after the intro, the song transitions to standard strumming. “Good Riddance” is a beautiful and sentimental song that’s perfect for practicing fingerpicking patterns and smooth chord transitions on acoustic guitar.
25. Circles – Post Malone
“Circles” by Post Malone is a really fun tune to strum and sing along with. The strumming pattern is very straightforward, and the chords, while some might look a bit complex on paper, are actually quite manageable. The chords are: Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Fm, C, F, C/B, and Cmaj7/B.
While some of these chord names might seem intimidating, they are mostly slight variations of familiar open chords. If you find barre chords like F challenging, you can simplify it by playing it as either a power chord or an open F chord. “Circles” is a modern pop hit that’s great for practicing slightly more varied chord types and rhythmic strumming.
26. Otherside – Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers features a distinctive riff and simple chords. While the original version of “Otherside” doesn’t typically have strummed chords in the verses, strumming works just as well for beginners. The song uses Am, F, C, G, Em, and A chords, making it very accessible to get started.
As you progress, you can challenge yourself to learn the song’s iconic riff and melody over a backing track. “Otherside” is a funky and melodic song that’s great for practicing chord changes and exploring the song’s signature riff as you improve.
27. Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Requires a capo on the 2nd fret.
“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran is a nice, slow song with an easy selection of chords. C, C/E, F, G, Dm, and Am are all you need to play the entire song, but the key to mastering it is listening closely to capture the timing.
Pay particular attention to the line “maybe we found love right where we are,” which has a chord change for each word. This might be challenging at first, but with practice, you’ll soon master it! “Thinking Out Loud” is a beautiful and romantic song that’s perfect for practicing timing, chord transitions, and fingerstyle techniques.
This list offers a diverse range of genres and styles, all while focusing on being easy songs to learn guitar. Start with the songs that appeal to you most, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you progress and how much fun you have along the way. Happy playing!
