Looking for the easiest guitar songs to start with? You’ve landed in the right place! Learning guitar can feel overwhelming at first, especially when you’re eager to play your favorite songs. Many beginners get discouraged when they try to tackle complex tunes right away. But the secret to enjoying your guitar journey from day one is to begin with songs that are genuinely designed for beginners.
This guide is your shortcut to strumming success. We’ve compiled a list of 10 fantastic songs that are not only incredibly easy to learn but also sound great. These songs use simple chords and strumming patterns, making them perfect for anyone just starting out with the guitar. Let’s dive in and get you playing music you love! 🎸
In this guide, you will discover:
- 10 easy to learn guitar songs perfect for beginners (with step-by-step guidance)
- The 5 fundamental guitar chords every beginner needs to master (simple and essential)
- How these 5 chords unlock over 70 more easy guitar songs
- 2 iconic and simple guitar riffs that sound amazing
- 4 basic strumming patterns to get you started
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Why Finding Truly Easy Guitar Songs is Crucial for Beginners
It’s a common scene: a new guitarist, full of enthusiasm, picks up their instrument, only to be met with frustration. Often, this happens because beginners attempt songs that are simply too challenging. It’s like trying to run a marathon before you can comfortably jog – it’s a recipe for discouragement.
We, at guitarplayers.net, frequently see beginners feeling disheartened, believing they lack talent when progress seems slow. Are you experiencing this? The truth is, in almost every case, the frustration stems from choosing songs that are inappropriate for the beginner stage.
Think of learning to swim. You wouldn’t throw a child into the deep end without support, would you? Instead, you’d start in the shallow end, perhaps with floaties, making it easy and encouraging to stay afloat and build confidence.
That’s the approach we champion. Our philosophy is simple: “Make Learning Easy & Fun.”
The challenge for guitar beginners isn’t a lack of ability, but rather the difficulty in identifying truly easy songs. It’s not always obvious at first glance which songs are beginner-friendly. This is why so many beginners inadvertently choose songs that are beyond their current skill level. And that’s exactly why we’ve created this ultimate list – a free resource for guitar learners everywhere.
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Stop struggling and start making music today! Our guide provides beginner-friendly versions of every essential chord. It’s our most popular resource for a reason – it will rapidly improve your chord skills! 😎
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Top 10 Easy Guitar Songs Perfect for Beginners
Let’s get to the music! For each song, we’ll provide some background, teach you simplified chord versions, and offer helpful video resources.
Even if some of these songs aren’t your personal favorites, the learning process and tips within these walkthroughs are invaluable. Remember, the techniques you learn here can be applied to countless songs in the future.
1. ‘Shake It Off’ by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift Shake It Off Easy Guitar Chords for Beginners
Kicking off our list is ‘Shake It Off’ by Taylor Swift. This song is an excellent starting point because it relies on just three simple guitar chords.
This catchy tune was a massive hit (with over a billion views on YouTube!). Its popularity is matched by its simplicity on guitar, making it a fantastic confidence booster for beginners.
Why is ‘Shake It Off’ an easy guitar song?
- It features only 3 chords throughout the entire song.
- These chords can be played using just two fingers each in their easiest forms.
- The chord progression is repetitive, making it easy to memorize.
- The strumming pattern is straightforward and forgiving.
Essential Chords for ‘Shake It Off’ (and Many More!)
The beauty of ‘Shake It Off’ lies in its chords. Mastering these three chords will not only let you play this song but also unlock a vast library of other beginner-friendly tunes.
Important! The 3 chords for this song – Am, C, and G – are foundational. You’ll encounter them repeatedly in countless songs. We’ll take our time to ensure you learn the simplest and most effective way to play each one.
The chords are Am (A minor), C (C major), and G (G major). In guitar shorthand, we often omit “major” when referring to major chords. So, “G” typically means G major, and “C” means C major. We usually specify when a chord is minor, like “Am” for A minor.
The first chord you’ll need is A minor. The standard Am chord is often depicted like this:
[If you’re new to chord diagrams, check out our guide: How To Read Guitar Chordboxes In 60 Seconds]
The Super-Easy Am (Am7) Chord
Since our aim is to find the easiest possible versions of songs, we’ll use a simplified version of Am called Am7 (pronounced “A minor seven”).
Here’s how to play Am7:
Easy Am7 Guitar Chord for Beginners
Notice that Am7 only requires two fingers! Much simpler, right?
Use your 1st finger and 2nd finger. Finger 2 goes on the 2nd fret of the D string (4th thickest), and finger 1 goes on the 1st fret of the B string (2nd thinnest).
When strumming Am7, start from the A string (5th thickest string). It should sound something like this:
[Sound of Am7 Chord]
To explore other easy ways to play Am, check out this beginner lesson in our easy chords section.
TOP TIP: Whenever you see an Am chord in a beginner song, feel free to substitute it with Am7. It’s an easier alternative that sounds great.
The Super-Easy C (Cmaj7) Chord
Next up is the C chord (C major). The standard C major chord is a fundamental guitar chord, but it can be quite challenging for beginners. It typically requires three fingers spread across three frets:
[Image of Standard C Chord – Not included as per instructions to only use provided images]
This version of C is a staple for guitarists but can be tricky for new players. So, we’ll opt for a beginner-friendly version: Cmaj7 (pronounced “C major seven”).
Here’s the Cmaj7 chord diagram:
[Image of Cmaj7 Chord – Not included as per instructions to only use provided images]
Again, only two fingers needed! 🙂
Typically, Cmaj7 is played with fingers 1 and 2. However, if you’re transitioning from Am7, using fingers 2 and 3 can be smoother because finger 2 is already in position! Try this technique – it’s a helpful shortcut for beginners.
This finger placement minimizes hand movement between chords, which is a significant advantage when you’re starting out.
Adapt and Customize: Chord Transitions are Key
A crucial part of finding easy guitar songs is ADAPTING songs to MAKE them easier. This is a vital takeaway from this lesson. Don’t be afraid to modify chord fingerings to suit your current skill level.
When you strum Cmaj7, make sure to start from the 5th string (A string). A correctly played Cmaj7 should sound like this:
[Sound of Cmaj7 Chord]
“Shouldn’t I Learn the ‘Proper’ Chords? I Want to Learn the Right Way!”
This is a common and understandable question from beginners. 🙂
Rest assured, using simplified chord versions doesn’t mean you’re learning “incorrectly.” Experienced guitarists constantly use different fingerings and chord variations depending on the song’s style and flow.
Chord fingerings and voicings are flexible. Developing dexterity and control in ALL your fingers is the real goal. So, embrace variety and experimentation.
Using easy chord versions (or “stepping stone” chords, as we like to call them) is actually a progress accelerator. It allows you to play songs sooner, build confidence, and develop essential skills without getting bogged down by overly difficult chords right away.
Beginner enjoying learning guitar easily
The Super-Easy G (G6) Chord
The last chord for ‘Shake It Off’ is G. Like Am and C, there are multiple ways to play a G chord.
The standard G major chord often looks like this:
[Image of Standard G Chord – Not included as per instructions to only use provided images]
However, for maximum ease, we’ll use a G6 chord. It’s simpler and perfect for beginners.
Here’s the G6 chord diagram:
Easy G6 Chord for Beginners
Notice the G6 shape is similar to Cmaj7, just moved down the neck.
You can play G6 using fingers 1 and 2 as shown, or, if you’re transitioning from Cmaj7 (using fingers 2 and 3), simply slide those two fingers down to form G6.
- Fingers 1 and 2 work well for G6.
- Fingers 2 and 3 are also effective, especially when transitioning from Cmaj7.
The choice is yours and may depend on what feels most comfortable and efficient for chord changes.
To improve your chord transition speed, think ahead like a pool player. Adjust your chord fingerings to make the upcoming chord easier to reach. This proactive approach can significantly smooth out your playing.
Regardless of the fingers you use, the G6 chord should sound like this:
[Sound of G6 Chord]
Time to Play! Strumming ‘Shake It Off’
Now that you know the chords, let’s put it all together and learn the strumming pattern for ‘Shake It Off’.
Here’s how the chords sound together in time. (I’m just strumming each chord once for simplicity.)
[Sound of Am7 – Cmaj7 – G6 Chord Progression]
Continue to page 2 for the rest of this guide and more easy guitar songs!
Page 2
