In my 30+ years of playing guitar, discovering new songs has always been a major source of motivation. This is especially true when you’re just starting your guitar journey. The reality is, many beginners give up within the first year. In fact, Fender’s CEO, Andy Mooney, noted a 90% drop-out rate for new guitar players within their first year as of 2019. That’s why it’s so vital to tap into what inspired you to pick up the guitar in the first place: the joy of playing real music!
This lesson provides a curated list of 52 Easy Songs To Learn On The Guitar specifically chosen for beginner players. These songs are not only fun to play but are designed to keep you inspired and progressing throughout your first year of learning.
Your Year-Long Song Learning Plan
With 52 songs at your fingertips, you can integrate these into your daily practice and aim to learn a new song each week for an entire year. If you encounter songs that feel too challenging initially, don’t worry! Bookmark them and revisit them as you build your skills with the easier ones.
The songs on this list are selected because they primarily use basic open chords. Open chords are generally easier for beginners to grasp and play. For each song, you’ll find chord diagrams to guide your finger placement. In cases where a song might include chords that are trickier for beginners, like barre chords, I’ve included alternative chord options and fingerings to make the songs more accessible.
Don’t let the “easy” label fool you into thinking these songs are dull. This list offers a diverse mix of upbeat and slower tempo rock and roll tunes. They range from simple three-chord progressions to those with seven or eight chords, offering a rewarding playing experience whether you’re a novice or a more experienced guitarist.
For an extra layer of learning, you can explore the CAGED chord shapes and experiment with substituting triads for full chords to expand your musical vocabulary.
Click on any song title below to jump directly to the chords and chord diagrams for that song.
1. “Nutshell” – Alice in Chains
Key: Em
Chords: Em7 – G – D – Cadd9
We’ll begin with “Nutshell,” an accessible acoustic song from Alice in Chains’ Jar of Flies EP. This song features a four-chord progression in the key of Em. A key technique in this progression is using your ring finger as a pivot point between chord changes. This simplifies transitions and makes the progression particularly beginner-friendly.
Listen:
2. “Learning to Fly” – Tom Petty
Key: C
Chords: F – C – Am – G
“Learning to Fly,” from Tom Petty’s Into the Great Wide Open album, is built around a repeating F – C – Am – G chord progression with only slight variations. This repetitive structure makes it exceptionally easy to learn on guitar.
Listen:
Chord Alternatives:
If the F barre chord presents a challenge, you can simplify it by omitting the root note on the 6th string and playing it as a second inversion chord, as shown in the first diagram. Alternatively, you can play it even simpler as a root position triad.
3. “Dead Flowers” – The Rolling Stones
Key: D
Chords: D – A – G
“Dead Flowers” by The Rolling Stones is about as straightforward as it gets with its simple 3-chord progression. What’s great about this song is how it uses just three chords to create distinct verse, pre-chorus, and chorus sections. This makes it a fantastic example of how much you can do with minimal chords, perfect for easy guitar songs.
Listen:
4. “Rockin’ In the Free World” – Neil Young
Key: Em
Chords: Em – D – C – G – A
Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” is a powerful, hard-rocking song in the key of Em. It’s an easy guitar song to learn and a must-add to any beginner’s repertoire. It’s energetic and uses common open chords.
Listen: “Rockin’ in the Free World” – Neil Young
5. “The Celestials” – The Smashing Pumpkins
Key: Em (F#m)
Chords: Em – G – D – Cadd9 – Am
“The Celestials” by The Smashing Pumpkins is excellent for practicing fundamental strumming patterns. While the original song uses a capo on the 2nd fret, the chords provided here are in open forms, making it an easy guitar song for practicing rhythm.
Listen: “The Celestials” – The Smashing Pumpkins
6. “Used to Love Her” – Guns N’ Roses
Key: D
Chords: D – A – G
Another easy acoustic guitar song, “Used to Love Her” by Guns N’ Roses, shares a strong resemblance to “Dead Flowers” by The Rolling Stones. It utilizes the same three open guitar chords, with only slight variations in the chord progression. Learning one essentially gives you a head start on the other.
Listen: “Used to Love Her” – Guns N’ Roses
7. “One” – U2
Key: Am
Chords: Am – D – F – G – C
“One,” arguably U2’s most iconic song, is also remarkably easy to learn on guitar, making it an ideal choice for beginners. Its emotional depth and simple structure are a winning combination for learning.
Listen: “One” – U2
Chord Alternatives:
Similar to Learning to Fly, One includes an F barre chord, which can be tricky for new players. You can simplify this by omitting the root on the 6th string, or by playing it as a root position triad, significantly easing playability and maintaining the song’s essence as one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
8. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Key: C
Chords: C – Am – G – F – C/B – Am/G
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” introduces slash chords, which are chords where a note other than the root is in the bass. This is indicated by the slash in the chord name. The part before the slash is the chord, and after is the bass note. Despite this slightly more advanced element, the underlying chords are still beginner-friendly, keeping it within the realm of easy songs to learn on guitar.
Listen:
Chord Alternatives:
Again, you can replace the F barre chord with a second inversion F chord, eliminating the barre on the 6th string, or simply use a root position triad for an easier version.
9. “Ho Hey” – The Lumineers
Key: C
Chords: F – C – Am – G
The Lumineers effectively utilize these 4 chords in much of their music, and “Ho Hey” is a prime example. It’s an ideal song for beginner guitarists. This song also allows for experimenting with different fingerings for the F and G chords, encouraging exploration as you learn this easy guitar song.
Listen: “Ho Hey” – The Lumineers
Chord Alternatives:
To simplify the F barre chord in “Ho Hey,” you can play it as a second inversion chord or as a root position triad, making it even more accessible for beginners seeking easy songs to learn on the guitar.
10. “And It Stoned Me” – Van Morrison
Key: G
Chords: G – C – D – Am – Em
“And It Stoned Me” from Van Morrison’s iconic Moondance album is a five-chord song in the key of G major. Composed entirely of open chords, it’s perfectly suited as an easy guitar song for beginners looking to expand their chord vocabulary.
Listen: “And It Stoned Me” – Van Morrison
11. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” – Green Day
Key: G
Chords: G – C – D – Cadd9 – Em
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” from Green Day’s Nimrod album, though initially arpeggiated can be easily strummed. Its gentle tempo and familiar chord progression make it an easy song to learn on the guitar, whether you choose to strum or fingerpick.
Listen: “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” – Green Day
12. “Sweet Jane” – The Velvet Underground
Key: D
Chords: D – A – G – Bm – C#m – G# – E – B
Don’t let the number of chords in The Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane” intimidate you. It’s not as complicated as it looks! It features a very engaging strumming pattern that is incredibly fun to play. However, be aware that it does contain several barre chords, which can be tiring for beginners. Despite the barre chords, it remains a rewarding song to learn and is manageable with practice, particularly if you use the alternative chords, making it still qualify as one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Sweet Jane” – The Velvet Underground
Chord Alternatives:
To make “Sweet Jane” significantly easier, you can replace the barre chords with triads. They maintain the song’s harmonic essence while being much less physically demanding, perfect for beginners exploring easy guitar songs.
13. “I Remember You” – Skid Row
Key: G
Chords: G – Cadd9 – D – C – Em
“I Remember You,” Skid Row’s popular power ballad, is built on a foundation of mostly strummed chords. It offers opportunities to add embellishments between chord changes, allowing you to spice things up as you become more comfortable. Its straightforward chord progression makes it a great choice among easy songs to learn on the guitar, especially for those interested in ballads.
Listen: “I Remember You” – Skid Row
14. “Mother” – Pink Floyd
Key: G
Chords: G – C – D – F
“Mother” from Pink Floyd’s iconic concept album The Wall features a simple chord progression in the key of G. However, the strumming pattern has a rhythmic intricacy that might require careful attention. Despite the strumming detail, the underlying chords are basic, positioning it as one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar for rhythm practice.
Listen: “Mother” – Pink Floyd
Chord Alternatives:
As with other songs featuring the F barre chord, you can substitute a second inversion F chord or a root position F triad to simplify playing “Mother,” keeping it accessible as one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
15. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” – Bob Dylan
Key: G
Chords: G – C – D – Am
“Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is a timeless classic and perfectly suited for beginner guitar players. Its universally recognized melody and simple chord structure make it an excellent choice for anyone starting out and looking for easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” – Bob Dylan
16. “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” – R.E.M.
Key: A
Chords: D – A – G – Bm – E
This four-chord song from R.E.M. has a great energy and is genuinely fun to play. It’s also quite easy, making it a great addition to a beginner’s repertoire looking for upbeat easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?” – R.E.M
Chord Alternatives:
For the Bm barre chord, you can simplify it by removing the barre from the 5th string root note and playing it as a second inversion chord. This modification makes the song slightly easier to play while retaining its original feel, which is helpful for beginners practicing easy songs to learn on the guitar.
17. “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Key: D
Chords: G – C – D – F
“Sweet Home Alabama” from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Second Helping album, features a simple three-chord progression for most of the song, making it highly suitable for beginners. The C chord in the intro riff is played as a Cadd9, but when simply strumming along, a standard C major chord works perfectly well, reinforcing its status as one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Chord Alternatives:
Once again, the F barre chord appears. Here are the usual easier alternatives you can use. These substitutions are particularly useful when learning easy songs to learn on the guitar, allowing beginners to focus on rhythm and transitions without struggling with barre chords.
18. “Wild Horses” – The Rolling Stones
Key: G
Chords: Am – G – C – D – Bm – F
“Wild Horses,” a favorite from The Rolling Stones’ 1971 album, Sticky Fingers, is a classic song every guitarist will eventually want to learn. Despite a few more chords than some beginner songs, its moderate tempo and clear structure make it manageable and a rewarding addition to a list of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Wild Horses” – The Rolling Stones
Chord Alternatives:
For Wild Horses, you can replace both the F and Bm barre chords with easier-to-play versions. These alternatives are invaluable for beginners wanting to play iconic songs while still developing their barre chord technique, ensuring songs like “Wild Horses” remain among the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
19. “No Rain” – Blind Melon
Key: E
Chords: E – A – G – D – E7
Blind Melon’s “No Rain” emerged during the alternative and grunge boom of the early ’90s. It’s primarily a four-chord song, adding an E7 for a bit of color. Its distinctive groove and strum-friendly nature make it a fun and easy guitar song to learn, perfect for those exploring 90s hits.
Listen: “No Rain” – Blind Melon
Chord Alternatives:
If the E7 chord feels a bit unusual, you can substitute it with the simplified version shown below. This adjustment maintains the song’s feel while making it more accessible for beginners, ensuring “No Rain” remains one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
20. “Summer of 69” – Bryan Adams
Key: D
Chords: D – A – G – Bm – F – B♭ – C
Get out your electric guitar and dial up the gain! “Summer of ‘69” by Bryan Adams is a rocking anthem that’s incredibly fun to play. Despite a few barre chords, its energetic rhythm and familiar progression make it a rewarding and reasonably easy guitar song to learn, especially for those wanting to rock out early in their learning journey.
Listen: “Summer of 69” – Bryan Adams
Chord Alternatives:
If the Bm barre chord is challenging, the simplified version below works just as well. Using simplified chords helps keep “Summer of ’69” within reach for beginners as they explore easy songs to learn on the guitar.
21. “Cover Me” – Candlebox
Key: Em
Chords: Em – G – D – Cadd9
“Cover Me” from Candlebox’s debut album is an excellent acoustic song for guitar beginners. The strumming pattern is quite basic, and the tempo is perfect for practicing chord changes. Its straightforward structure and gentle pace make it an ideal choice for beginners looking for easy songs to learn on the guitar to build foundational skills.
Listen: “Cover Me” – Candlebox
22. “Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison
Key: G
Chords: G – C – D – Em – D7
The second Van Morrison song on our list, “Brown Eyed Girl,” is another easy, upbeat acoustic guitar song that’s simply fun to strum. Its cheerful melody and simple, repetitive chord progression make it instantly gratifying for beginners picking up easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison
23. “Mr. Tambourine Man” – Bob Dylan
Key: G
Chords: G – A – D – Dsus2
Continuing with timeless classics, “Mr. Tambourine Man” is Bob Dylan’s second entry on this list of easy songs to learn on the guitar. This song is played with a capo on the 3rd fret. The chords are shown as open form shapes relative to the capo, making it acoustically rich and beginner-friendly.
Listen: “Mr. Tambourine” – Bob Dylan
24. “Mr. Jones” – Counting Crows
Key: Am
Chords: Am – F – Dm – G – C
“Mr. Jones,” the breakthrough hit from Counting Crows’ debut album August and Everything After, is a fantastic song for beginner guitar players to learn. Its catchy melody and accessible chord progression make it a rewarding choice from the catalog of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Mr. Jones” – Counting Crows
Chord Alternatives:
For the F barre chord, you can use either of the simplified versions shown below. These alternatives help maintain the song’s playability for beginners, ensuring “Mr. Jones” remains one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
25. “Tangerine” – Led Zeppelin
Key: Am
Chords: Am – G – C – D – Dsus2 – Dsus4 – Asus2 – Asus4
Led Zeppelin songs aren’t typically found on lists of easy guitar songs, but “Tangerine” is an exception. If you’re unfamiliar with it, this song is a great introduction to sus2/sus4 chords. Its gentle acoustic nature and manageable chord changes make it surprisingly accessible for beginners.
Listen: “Tangerine” – Led Zeppelin
26. “Bad Moon Rising” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Key: D
Chords: D – A – G
Just three chords are needed for “Bad Moon Rising.” Creedence Clearwater Revival again proves that complex chord progressions aren’t necessary for a great song. Its upbeat tempo and simple structure make it a perfect addition to any list of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Bad Moon Rising” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
27. “Into the Mystic” – Van Morrison
Key: E♭
Chords: C – G – Em – F
Another classic from Van Morrison’s Moondance album, “Into the Mystic” uses a capo on the 3rd fret. The chords shown are open forms relative to the capo. Its soulful melody and relatively simple chord progression make it a rewarding and easy guitar song to learn, especially for those drawn to classic rock.
Listen: “Into the Mystic” – Van Morrison
Chord Alternatives:
Feel free to use these easier-to-play versions of the F major chord instead of the F major barre chord. These alternatives ensure that “Into the Mystic” remains accessible as one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
28. “Wish You Were Here” – Pink Floyd
Key: G
Chords: Em7 – A7sus4 – G – D – C – Am
With chord names like A7sus4, “Wish You Were Here” might initially seem complicated. However, it’s not. Don’t let the chord names intimidate you; they are all quite easy to play. The song’s iconic status and manageable chord changes make it a must-learn, even for beginners exploring easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Wish You Were Here” – Pink Floyd
Chord Alternatives:
As an alternative to the full Em7 chord, you can play the following simplified version, which is slightly more comfortable for beginners. This modification helps keep “Wish You Were Here” within the scope of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
29. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Tom Petty
Key: Am
Chords: Am – G – D – Em7 – A
Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” offers some great dynamics in its chord strumming. Have fun experimenting with the rhythm and feel of this track. Despite its rhythmic nuances, the underlying chords are beginner-friendly, making it a great choice among easy songs to learn on the guitar for developing strumming skills.
Listen: “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” – Tom Petty
Chord Alternatives:
For the Em7 chord, you can use the following simpler voicing. This alternative maintains the song’s harmonic color while being easier to finger, which is beneficial for beginners exploring easy songs to learn on the guitar.
30. “Wonderwall” – Oasis
Key: Em
Chords: Em – G – D – A – C
“Wonderwall” from Oasis’s (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? album, is a 90s anthem that’s surprisingly easy to learn on guitar. This song offers opportunities to explore strumming techniques, but you’ll need to listen closely to capture its signature rhythm. Its popularity and relatively simple chord progression make it a go-to choice for beginners seeking easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Wonderwall” – Oasis
31. “The Times They are A-Changin’” – Bob Dylan
Key: G
Chords: Em – G – Am – D – C
You could easily compile an entire list of easy songs for beginners just from Bob Dylan’s catalog. This is another exceptional song from one of history’s greatest songwriters. Its lyrical depth and simple, yet powerful, chord structure make it an excellent choice for beginners learning easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “The Times They Are A Changin’” – Bob Dylan
32. “When I Come Around” – Green Day
Key: G
Chords: G – D – Em – C – Am
“When I Come Around,” one of Green Day’s biggest commercial hits from their Dookie album, is adapted here to open chord positions. While originally played with power chords, these open chord versions make it incredibly accessible and one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar, whether you prefer open chords or eventually want to transition to power chords.
Listen: “When I Come Around” – Green Days
33. “Buddy Holly” – Weezer
Key: F#m
Chords: G# – A – D – Dm – F#m – E – C#m
“Buddy Holly,” the song that launched Weezer into mainstream success from their 1994 debut album Weezer, is a catchy and fun tune to play. While it contains a few barre chords, with the provided alternatives, it remains manageable and a great addition to a list of easy songs to learn on the guitar for beginners wanting to play something upbeat and recognizable.
Listen: “Buddy Holly” – Weezer
Chord Alternatives:
“Buddy Holly” does include several barre chords, but you can modify them as shown below to make the song significantly easier to play. These modifications ensure that “Buddy Holly” can still be considered among the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
34. “What’s Up?” – 4 Non Blondes
Key: A
Chords: A – Bm – D
Another easy three-chord song, “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes, was a hit from their 1992 debut album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More!. Its powerful vocals and simple, driving acoustic guitar part make it an excellent choice for beginners.
Listen: “What’s Up?” – 4 Non Blondes
Chord Alternatives:
You can substitute a second inversion Bm chord for the full Bm barre chord, simplifying “What’s Up?” and keeping it firmly in the category of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
35. “I Won’t Back Down” – Tom Petty
Key: G
Chords: Em – D – G – C
Released in 1989, Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” has become an iconic American anthem. Like Bob Dylan, Petty was a master songwriter who achieved greatness with simple chord progressions. This song’s message of resilience, combined with its easy-to-learn guitar chords, makes it both inspiring and accessible for beginners.
Listen: “I Won’t Back Down” – Tom Petty
36. “Small Town” – John Mellencamp
Key: G
Chords: G – D – C – Am
“Small Town,” an upbeat classic from John Mellencamp, has long been a personal favorite. Its energetic rhythm and straightforward chord progression make it a joy to play and a great choice for beginners looking for easy songs to learn on the guitar that are also fun and engaging.
Listen: “Small Town” – John Mellencamp
37. “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” – Poison
Key: G
Chords: G – Cadd9 – D – C – Em
“Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” Poison’s quintessential 80s power ballad, features a straightforward strumming pattern and uses only open chords. It truly doesn’t get much easier than this, making it a perfect selection for beginners searching for easy songs to learn on the guitar, especially within the power ballad genre.
Listen: “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” – Poison
38. “About a Girl” – Nirvana
Key: Em
Chords: Em – G – C# – C#/G# – F# – A – C
Nirvana’s “About A Girl” from their debut album Bleach, while perhaps lesser-known than their hits from Nevermind, is still a fantastic song for beginners. Despite the number of chords listed, it’s not complicated at all. Its melodic structure and manageable tempo make it a worthwhile addition to a list of easy songs to learn on the guitar, particularly for those interested in early Nirvana.
Listen: “About A Girl” – Nirvana
Chord Alternatives:
If you find the barre chords in “About a Girl” challenging, you can use the following simplified voicings to make it easier. These alternatives ensure that the song remains accessible as one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
39. “Disarm” – The Smashing Pumpkins
Key: Em
Chords: Em7 – Cadd9 – G – Dsus4/F# – D – Em
“Disarm” from The Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream album features chords that are fairly straightforward. However, the chord progression might require a bit of practice initially. Despite the slightly more complex progression, the individual chords are beginner-friendly, making it a good challenge within the realm of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Disarm” – The Smashing Pumpkins
40. “Two Steps Behind” – Def Leppard
Key: A
Chords: A – D – G – E – F#m
“Two Steps Behind” is an acoustic ballad from Def Leppard. There’s nothing fancy here, just a simple, pleasing chord progression that’s easy to play. Its gentle tempo and clear structure make it an excellent choice for beginners looking for easy songs to learn on the guitar that are also ballads.
Listen: “Two Steps Behind – Def Leppard
Chord Alternatives:
You can replace the F#m barre chord with the following simpler voicing. This substitution helps keep “Two Steps Behind” accessible for beginners as they practice easy songs to learn on the guitar.
41. “Run-Around” – Blues Traveler
Key: G
Chords: G – C – Am – D
“Run-Around” from Blues Traveler’s album Four is an easy, uptempo song that’s great for working on chord changes. Its rhythmic drive and clear chord progression make it a fun and effective practice piece for beginners exploring easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Run-Around” – Blues Traveler
42. “Free Fallin’” – Tom Petty
Key: F (capo on 3rd fret)
Chords: D – A – Dsus4 – E
“Free Fallin’,” one of Tom Petty’s all-time greatest hits from his album Full Moon Fever, is another example of his songwriting genius with simple chord progressions. Like many of his songs, there’s nothing complicated here, just a beautifully crafted song that’s also easy to play. Its iconic status and accessibility make it a must-learn from the list of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Free Fallin’” – Tom Petty
43. “Comfortably Numb” – Pink Floyd
Key: Bm
Chords: Bm – A – G – Em – D – A – C
The second Pink Floyd song on this list, also from The Wall, is “Comfortably Numb.” Guitar solos aside, the slow tempo and extensive use of open chords make this a remarkably easy song for beginner guitar players to learn. Its iconic status and relatively simple chord structure make it an appealing challenge within the scope of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Comfortably Numb” – Pink Floyd
Chord Alternatives:
For the Bm barre chord, you can substitute the second inversion Bm chord. This alternative maintains the song’s feel while making it more accessible for beginners, ensuring “Comfortably Numb” remains one of the easy songs to learn on the guitar.
44. “Love Me Do” – The Beatles
Key: G
Chords: G – C – D
For beginner guitar players, it truly doesn’t get any easier than “Love Me Do” by The Beatles. Its historical significance and incredibly simple three-chord structure make it the quintessential easy song to learn on the guitar for absolute beginners.
Listen: “Love Me Do” – The Beatles
45. “Seven Turns” – The Allman Brothers Band
Key: G
Chords: C – G – Em – D – C/B
Many songs by The Allman Brothers Band are too complex for a list of easy guitar songs, but “Seven Turns” is a notable exception. This song is definitely within reach for a beginner guitarist, making it a great starting point for exploring The Allman Brothers Band’s music early in your learning journey.
Listen: “Seven Turns” – The Allman Brother Band
46. “Rain King” – Counting Crows
Key: D
Chords: D – A – Bm – G – E
“Rain King,” another fantastic song from the album August and Everything After, is an upbeat track that’s excellent for practicing chord changes. Its rhythmic drive and accessible chord progression make it a fun and effective choice among easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Rain King” – Counting Crows
Chord Alternatives:
You can substitute the second inversion Bm chord for the full Bm barre chord. This simplification helps keep “Rain King” accessible for beginners as they explore easy songs to learn on the guitar.
47. “Heart of Gold” – Neil Young
Key: Em
Chords: Em7 – D – Em – G – C
Neil Young, like Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, has a knack for creating timeless music with simple chord progressions. “Heart of Gold” is a perfect example. Its iconic status and gentle, repetitive chord structure make it a must-learn from the list of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Heart of Gold” – Neil Young
Chord Alternatives:
You can use the following simpler voicing of the Em7 chord as an alternative to the full chord. This substitution helps keep “Heart of Gold” accessible for beginners practicing easy songs to learn on the guitar.
48. “Polly” – Nirvana
Key: Em
Chords: Em – G – C – D – B♭
“Polly” is a straightforward acoustic song from Nirvana’s Nevermind album. Its stark and melodic qualities, combined with a relatively simple chord progression, make it a surprisingly accessible and powerful choice among easy songs to learn on the guitar, especially for those drawn to acoustic Nirvana.
Listen: “Polly” – Nirvana
Chord Alternatives:
In place of the B♭ barre chord, you can play a B♭ power chord. This modification significantly simplifies the chord and keeps “Polly” within the reach of beginners exploring easy songs to learn on the guitar.
49. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” – The Proclaimers
Key: E
Chords: E – A – B – C#m – F#m
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers provides a great opportunity to practice a staccato-style strumming pattern. Its upbeat tempo and familiar melody make it a fun and engaging practice piece, even though it includes a few barre chords, it remains manageable and a good choice among easy songs to learn on the guitar, especially for rhythm practice.
Listen: “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” – The Proclaimers
Chord Alternatives:
The following alternate voicings can be used in place of the B, C#m, and F#m barre chords. These alternatives make “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” more accessible for beginners as they practice easy songs to learn on the guitar.
50. “3am” – Matchbox Twenty
Key: G
Chords: G – Cadd9 – D – Em
“3am” from Matchbox Twenty’s Yourself or Someone Like You album is a catchy song that uses easy-to-play open chords. Its melodic hooks and simple structure make it a rewarding and accessible choice from the list of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “3AM” – Matchbox Twenty
51. “Simple Man” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Key: C
Chords: C – G – Am
“Simple Man,” another three-chord masterpiece from Lynyrd Skynyrd, is emotionally resonant and easy to learn on guitar. While the recorded version features arpeggiated chords, you can easily strum them and it still sounds fantastic. Its heartfelt lyrics and simple structure make it a powerful and accessible song for beginners.
Listen: “Simple Man” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
52. “Wild Thing” – The Troggs
Key: A
Chords: A – D – E – G
What list of easy guitar songs would be complete without “Wild Thing” by The Troggs? For the most part, it’s a simple 1-4-5 chord progression. This classic song’s raw energy and extremely simple structure make it an iconic and essential choice from the list of easy songs to learn on the guitar.
Listen: “Wild Thing” – The Troggs
Wrap Up
When you’re first starting out on guitar, learning songs right away is crucial. After all, that’s why most of us picked up the instrument in the first place! This list provides a wide variety of songs to keep your learning process enjoyable and sustain your motivation to play. Diving into these easy songs to learn on the guitar will not only build your skills but also keep you engaged and inspired throughout your guitar journey.
Once you feel ready to tackle guitar solos, check out my Easy Guitar Solos lesson for solos specifically designed for beginner players. It’s the perfect next step after mastering these easy songs to learn on the guitar.
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Stop Struggling to Find Your Way Around the Fretboard!
Build a solid foundation and confidently navigate the guitar fretboard with Guitar Essentials: Foundational Fretboard Navigation. This eBook is designed to take your understanding of the guitar neck to the next level, complementing your song learning with essential fretboard knowledge.
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Get The Book of Scales when you sign up for lesson updates. Stay up-to-date with new lessons and resources to further enhance your guitar playing journey beyond just easy songs to learn on the guitar.
