As a guitar teacher, a significant part of my role involves guiding students to discover songs they’ll love to play. While some students arrive with a clear vision, brimming with songs on their “must-learn” lists, others seek direction on which Guitar Songs To Learn to progress effectively. It’s crucial to understand that learning music, unlike subjects like math or physics, isn’t about following a rigid curriculum of songs you’re supposed to learn. Unless you’re deep-diving into music theory, there’s no single, linear path to guitar mastery. The most rewarding journey is the one fueled by your own excitement and passion. You’ll achieve far greater progress tackling a song you genuinely love, even if it seems challenging initially, compared to mastering an easier, but less inspiring piece assigned by someone else.
To spark inspiration in my students, I’ve compiled an extensive list of guitar songs to learn that are widely popular among guitar enthusiasts. This compilation, enriched by contributions from the Reddit community /r/Guitar, spans various styles and difficulty levels. Recognizing that many guitarists focus on instrumental skills, this list emphasizes songs that are recognizable purely from their guitar parts. (For those interested in strum-and-sing style tunes, I also maintain a comprehensive Beginner’s Song Browser.)
For each song, clicking the title will lead you to a YouTube link for listening. If a song captures your interest, the “Lesson” link will direct you to a video tutorial on how to play it. Need further assistance? Compile a list of songs you’re eager to learn from this page and bring it to your guitar instructor. If you’re currently without a teacher, I offer Skype lessons and would be delighted to guide you through any of these songs.
This list is continually evolving, so please feel free to report any broken links or suggest songs that I might have overlooked.
For your convenience, here’s a Spotify playlist featuring all the songs mentioned.
FREE Video Course: How to Practice Scales
Animated image promoting a free video course on guitar scale practice, essential for learning guitar songs.
In this complimentary 3-day video course, you’ll discover the guitar scale practice method that I teach to all my private students. This method is designed to build the essential muscle memory required to create authentic music like a seasoned professional.
IMPORTANT: Enrollment in this course requires a simple step! Please check your inbox immediately for an email from me with the subject line: “CLICK THIS LINK for access to your free video course: How to Practice Scales”.
