Learning guitar is an exciting journey, and one of the most rewarding milestones is playing your favorite songs. If you’re just starting out, the prospect of learning complex pieces might seem daunting. The good news is that there are tons of fantastic songs that are incredibly easy to learn on the guitar, perfect for beginners to build confidence and have fun. This guide will walk you through 27 of the best and easiest songs to play, helping you strum your way to musical enjoyment in no time.
1. “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
Want to instantly feel like a rock star? “Paranoid” is your go-to track. This legendary metal anthem starts with just two strums of an E power chord on the 7th fret. From there, you’ll quickly grasp the cool hammer-on riff in the same position, followed by straightforward E, A, and D power chords played with consistent downstrokes. Listen closely to the original track to nail the rhythm, and you’ll be headbanging to this iconic 70s hit in minutes.
2. “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi
For a soulful and emotional piece, Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved” is an excellent choice. You’ll need to place a capo on the 1st fret for this one. The song primarily uses C, G, Am, and F chords, a very common and beginner-friendly progression. You can strum these chords slowly to match the song’s mood or try fingerpicking for a more nuanced and melodic sound as you improve. While there are a few chord variations later in the song, like Am7 and Dm7 in the bridge, these are simple adjustments from the basic open chords, making it accessible for learners.
3. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
This iconic riff is instantly recognizable and takes you straight to the heart of Southern rock. “Sweet Home Alabama” revolves around D, C, and G open chord shapes. If you’ve been practicing these fundamental chords, you’ll pick up the main riff quickly. It’s not overly complicated, and the more you practice, the faster and more authentically “twangy” your playing will become. A helpful tip is to keep your pinky finger anchored on the 3rd fret of the B string; this position will naturally guide your other fingers into the C and G chord shapes during the riff. The key to mastering it is playing along with the original song, carefully matching Skynyrd’s beat and picking style. And since the riff loops seamlessly, you can practice it endlessly!
4. “Free Fallin'” by Tom Petty
Place a capo on the 3rd fret to match the original key. “Free Fallin'” is a timeless classic that has been covered by numerous artists, including John Mayer. This song features a simple and repetitive chord progression that’s easy to master and sing along to. With the capo in place, you’ll be playing open D, A, and E chords, with a Dsus4 chord adding a touch of variation. Don’t be intimidated by the name; Dsus4 is just a D chord where you place your pinky on the 3rd fret of the high E string instead of the 2nd. Perfect for both acoustic and electric guitar – try adding a bit of overdrive on an electric for a classic rock vibe – “Free Fallin'” will have you channeling your inner rockstar dad in no time.
5. “My Generation” by The Who
Get ready to rock out with “My Generation”! This song is not only incredibly easy to play but also a blast to perform. It’s built on just two chords: G and F. For that powerful rock sound, play them as power chords. The song’s structure leaves space for vocal roars and instrumental fills, particularly during the famous bass solo sections. Pete Townshend’s guitar fills offer great cues for you to experiment with your own improvisations! “My Generation” is an excellent song to begin developing your soloing skills as the rhythm and chord structure are straightforward, letting you focus on lead guitar exploration.
6. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals
“House of the Rising Sun” carries a bluesy and somber tone, largely created by its chord progression and picking style. The song revolves around Am, C, D, E, and F chords. Instead of strumming, try picking each note of the chord individually, ascending and descending in pitch to achieve that signature melancholic sound. Later in the song, you’ll encounter a C/E chord, which is simply a C chord with an E note as the bass. This is easy to play – just a slight deviation from the usual open chord structure. You’ll also find E7 and F7 chords, which introduce 7th notes from the scale, adding tension in certain parts of the song. These are all simple variations of open chords and appear only a few times to enhance the musicality.
7. “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus
If you’re in the mood for some country fun, “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus is a surprisingly simple and catchy tune. This country jam is built on just two chords: A and E. This simplicity provides a perfect foundation to experiment with country-style guitar licks using the notes within the A and E open chord shapes. Explore scales in the key of A to improvise solos over the song. For a truly authentic country sound, try incorporating “chicken pickin'” techniques as you advance.
8. “American Idiot” by Green Day
“American Idiot” was a massive hit for Green Day in the 2000s, and it remains a high-energy and fun song to play on guitar. The main riff consists of three simple power chords in C#, G#, and F# positions. You’ll be quickly switching between these three chords throughout the riff. At the end of the riff phrase, there’s a short, sharp burst of open strings that cues the vocal entry. The guitar solo is also relatively easy to learn, featuring octave shapes played in quick succession, followed by a straightforward lick higher up the fretboard.
9. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley
“Don’t worry about a thing,” because mastering “Three Little Birds” is a breeze. This reggae classic is made up of just three chords – A, D, and E – played with a reggae rhythm. The reggae strumming pattern can be a bit tricky for beginners to get the hang of, so it’s perfectly fine to start with a regular strumming rhythm while you become comfortable with the chord changes. As you progress, you can focus on learning the more complex and authentic reggae strumming beat.
10. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is practically a rite of passage for anyone learning guitar. This groundbreaking grunge anthem features four power chords played at 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 play with plenty of grunge attitude. To get the rhythm right, hit each chord a couple of times and fill the spaces between them with muted strums across the strings. For the verses, simply hold down the 1st fret of the high E and B strings and pluck them – and you’ve got the iconic verse melody!
11. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
It’s almost impossible to be in a bad mood while playing “Brown Eyed Girl,” thanks to its cheerful G major key. This song is incredibly singable and features easy-strumming open G, C, D, and Em chords. It’s a fantastic crowd-pleaser and great for practicing your singing along with guitar. Once you’ve got the chords and rhythm down, challenge yourself with the fun and slightly riff-like intro!
12. “Wonderwall” by Oasis
You’ll need a capo on the 2nd fret for “Wonderwall”. While it might elicit a groan from some crowds due to its ubiquity, “Wonderwall” remains a seminal song that every guitarist should have in their repertoire. It’s composed of basic G, C, D, and Em chords, but with a signature twist. On all these chords, hold down the 3rd fret of the B and high E strings – this creates the iconic “Wonderwall” treble-focused tone. Later in the song, you’ll encounter a G transition chord. To play this, simply move from the 3rd fret of the low E string to the 2nd fret, and play the rest of the strings open, keeping the 3rd frets pressed on the B and high E strings. This G transition chord is played briefly to smoothly lead into the Em chord. This type of transition is common in many songs, so learning it early is beneficial.
13. “Zombie” by The Cranberries
Soulful, poignant, and a defining song of the 90s, “Zombie” by The Cranberries is surprisingly simple to learn, using just four chords: Em, Cmaj7, G, and D. Cmaj7 might sound complex, but it’s essentially 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 and emotionally resonant chord progression.
14. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan/Guns N’ Roses
Originally by Bob Dylan and famously covered by Guns N’ Roses, “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is both fun to play and easy to sing along to. In the verses, the chord progression is G, D, Am/G, D, C, alternating between Am and C as the final chord. For the chorus, the progression simplifies to G, D, and C. Once you return to the verse, you resume the alternating pattern. This song’s straightforward structure and emotionally powerful melody make it a favorite for beginner guitarists.
15. “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band
“The Joker” is a real earworm of a song. You might not immediately recognize the title, but you’ll definitely know the tune once you start playing. It’s made up of G, Cadd9, and D – all very beginner-friendly chords, played in a steady, rhythmic pattern. As you become more confident with these chords and transitioning between them, you can begin to pick the individual notes to mimic the bass line and add your own little guitar licks to personalize your rendition.
16. “Buck Rogers” by Feeder
A hit from the early 2000s, “Buck Rogers” by Feeder remains a catchy and energetic song to play today. It has a very simple arrangement featuring 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 adds a further power chord at the 5th fret of the low E string, all strummed in a consistent beat that’s easy to follow.
17. “All The Small Things” by Blink 182
As pop-punk as it gets, “All The Small Things” is a smash hit crowd-pleaser that’s 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 of the low E string, and a power chord in the F position. The strumming pattern is quickly learned as it’s mostly steady down-picking. Listen for the palm mutes (where you dampen the strings with your palm while strumming) in the intro and subtle pauses to get the song just right.
18. “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
“Chasing Cars” is soulful, catchy, and remarkably easy to play on guitar! It features a cool, melodic riff that’s picked throughout much of the song, offering a refreshing change from strumming-heavy songs. You’ll be picking power chord shapes rather than strumming them. There’s a slight stretch involved in picking the 5th fret of the A string and the 9th fret of the G string simultaneously, which is great for building hand strength and dexterity. Towards the end of the song, a series of chords – A, E/G#, D, Dsus2, Dmaj7 – are introduced, played in a steady, down-picked manner to accompany the vocals.
19. “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
With its open chords, memorable intro, and timeless lyrics, “Stand By Me” is one of those songs that you simply can’t resist singing along with. The C, Am, F, G chord progression is beginner-friendly, allowing you to focus on your vocals while you play. The song’s intro riff is all about timing, so listen closely to the original recording to capture its feel. For the strumming pattern, aim to stay in time with the beat to match the song’s tempo and overall vibe.
20. “Love Me Do” by The Beatles
“Love Me Do” is both 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 of G, simply moving your finger from the 3rd fret to the 1st fret on the high E string. Even better, the strumming pattern is consistent and not overly complex, making it perfect for beginners to practice rhythm and chord transitions.
21. “A Horse With No Name” by America
While “A Horse With No Name” doesn’t have difficult chords, the strumming pattern is a bit different from the standard. The chord progression – Em, D6/9, Em9, and Dmaj9 – is surprisingly easy to play. D6/9 is just one fret away from a standard D, Em9 involves holding the 2nd fret of the high E string instead of the A string, and Dmaj9 is a slight variation of the regular D chord. These subtle chord variations add to the song’s unique and mellow sound without increasing the difficulty for beginner guitarists.
22. “Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones
“Blitzkrieg Bop” is a quintessential punk rock anthem and an incredibly simple song to play. It’s built on just three power chords. These power chords are positioned at 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. The key is to play it fast and with plenty of energy! “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!”
23. “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes
Three chords, a simple strumming pattern, and soulful vocals define “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes. G, Am, and C are the only chords you need to master this 90s hit. The strumming pattern in each bar progresses from slow to fast, making it easy to get into the rhythm of the song. The combination of simple chords and a distinctive vocal melody makes it a satisfying song for beginners to learn and perform.
24. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” is mellow, catchy, and a great song for acoustic guitar enthusiasts. G, Cadd9, D, Em, and C chords create a simple and pleasing progression that’s quick to pick up. The trick to mastering the intro is to avoid full strums initially and instead play the bass strings while sequentially picking the high E and B strings. Shortly after the intro, the song transitions to standard strumming, making it accessible for players of all levels.
25. “Circles” by Post Malone
“Circles” by Post Malone is a genuinely fun tune to strum and sing along with. The strumming pattern is very straightforward, and the chords, while some might look complex on paper, are manageable. The chords include: Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Fm, C, F, C/B, and Cmaj7/B. In practice, these are often just slight variations on common open chords. If you find barre chords like F challenging at this stage, you can simplify it by playing an F power chord or an open F chord as a substitute.
26. “Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Otherside” features a cool, distinctive riff and simple underlying chords. While the original version of “Otherside” doesn’t typically include strummed chords in the verses, strumming works perfectly well and makes it easier for beginners. The song uses Am, F, C, G, Em, and A chords, a collection of beginner-friendly shapes that are simple to get started with. As you improve, you can challenge yourself to learn the iconic guitar riff and play the melody over a backing track to replicate the original sound more closely.
27. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
Place a capo on the 2nd fret for “Thinking Out Loud”. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran is a beautiful, slow song with a selection of easy chords. C, C/E, F, G, Dm, and Am are all you need to play the entire tune. The key to this song is paying close attention to the timing of the chord changes, particularly in the line “maybe we found love right where we are,” where there’s a chord change for almost every word. This might be a bit tricky at first, but with a little practice, you’ll soon master the timing and be playing this romantic ballad smoothly.
With these 27 songs, you have a fantastic starting point for your guitar journey. Each song offers a chance to practice essential chords and rhythms, build your confidence, and most importantly, have fun making music. So pick up your guitar, choose a song that excites you, and start playing today!
