Learning fingerstyle guitar, often called fingerpicking, can seem like a huge mountain to climb, especially when you watch incredible players like Andy McKee or Tommy Emmanuel. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and think it’s beyond your reach. But remember, every master starts with the basics. Playing fingerstyle guitar is a journey, and it begins with that very first step.
So, where do you even begin? Choosing the right songs is key, especially when you’re just starting out.
Selecting Beginner-Friendly Fingerstyle Songs
If you’re looking for easy fingerstyle songs and tabs, you’ll quickly notice that the 1960s and 70s were a golden era for this style. Think of artists like Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, and of course, The Beatles. This period, along with more recent music, provides a fantastic foundation for learning.
Based on this rich history and some modern tunes, I’ve put together a list of 10 excellent fingerstyle songs that are:
- Perfect for guitarists who are just beginning to explore fingerstyle.
- Accessible and widely recognized.
- Diverse in genre, showing the versatility of fingerstyle.
- Frequently recommended starting points within these genres.
I’ve drawn inspiration from helpful lists on platforms like reddit, Guitardomination.net, and insightful posts here and here. If you want even more ideas, these are great resources to explore. You might also find my previous article on top acoustic guitar songs for beginners useful for broader inspiration.
And if you’re really new to fingerpicking, I highly recommend checking out Don Ross’s “Fingerstyle” Guitar Course*. He’s fantastic at breaking down the fundamentals of fingerpicking, including Travis picking and hand positioning, so you can get started quickly. Don Ross is known for his patient teaching style and clear explanations.
If you’re completely new to guitar, you might also want to look at this selection of songs for absolute beginner guitarists.
Top Fingerstyle Songs for Beginners
This list is designed to give you a starting point into the world of fingerstyle guitar. Each song is relatively easy to learn and will introduce you to essential fingerpicking patterns and techniques.
1. Blackbird (The Beatles)
Key of G, melodic, beautiful.
“Blackbird” is often cited as the quintessential beginner fingerpicking song, and for good reason. Its gentle melody and relatively simple chord progression in the key of G make it very approachable. It’s a fantastic introduction to using your thumb and fingers independently. The alternating bass pattern is consistent and helps build a solid foundation for fingerstyle technique. Learning “Blackbird” is like taking your first confident steps in fingerpicking.
Video Lesson: Trevor Gordon Hall offers excellent “intro to fingerstyle” lessons that are perfect for getting started with this song and fingerstyle in general.
2. Dust In The Wind (Kansas)
Repeating patterns, iconic melody.
“Dust In The Wind” is brilliant because it’s not only a well-known and beautiful song, but it also teaches you a fundamental fingerpicking pattern that’s incredibly versatile. Once you master the picking pattern and chord progression of “Dust In The Wind,” you’ll realize you can apply the exact same techniques to play “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac. This song is all about consistent arpeggios and smooth transitions between chords, building finger independence and coordination.
Video Lesson: Don Ross’s lessons on Travis picking are a great place to start learning the underlying techniques used in “Dust In The Wind,” even though it’s not strictly Travis picking, the principles overlap.
3. Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)
“I know, I know, I know, I know, I know…”
“Ain’t No Sunshine” is a soul classic that translates beautifully to fingerstyle guitar. Its chord progression is straightforward, and the fingerpicking pattern, while rhythmic, is not overly complex. This song is excellent for practicing syncopation and adding a soulful feel to your playing. The iconic “I know” sections also provide a nice break and dynamic contrast in the song, making it fun to play and learn.
Video Lesson: Tommy Emmanuel’s lesson on “House of the Rising Sun” might seem unrelated, but it’s helpful for understanding rhythmic fingerpicking patterns that can be applied to “Ain’t No Sunshine.” The focus on bass notes and melody lines in Tommy’s lesson is transferable.
4. Nothing Else Matters (Metallica)
Beautiful and surprisingly simple.
While Metallica is known for heavy metal, the intro to “Nothing Else Matters” is a delicate and beautiful piece perfect for beginner fingerstyle guitarists. The rhythm guitar parts are definitely in the “beginner” category in terms of fingerpicking complexity. It’s a great song to impress your friends with, showing that fingerstyle isn’t just folk and acoustic ballads. The chord progression is simple yet emotionally resonant, and the fingerpicking pattern is repetitive and easy to memorize.
No specific video lesson is essential for this one – the simplicity is part of its charm! Tabs and chord diagrams are readily available online, making it easy to learn on your own.
5. Shape of My Heart (Sting)
Slightly less common, but rewarding.
“Shape of My Heart” by Sting is a slightly deeper cut than some of the other songs here, but it’s a truly beautiful song that’s very accessible for someone venturing into fingerstyle. It introduces some slightly more interesting chord shapes (those “6” chords!), which can expand your chord vocabulary. The fingerpicking pattern is consistent and melodic, making it a great song to practice smooth transitions and chord changes while maintaining a fingerstyle groove.
Video Lesson: The chord shapes in “Shape of My Heart” can be the trickiest part, so if you need guidance, Trevor Gordon Hall’s lessons, again, his lessons for beginners can provide a solid foundation in basic fingerstyle techniques to tackle this song.
6. Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright (Bob Dylan)
Classic Dylan, easy to get into.
“Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright” is a Bob Dylan classic that’s perfect for beginners because it’s relatively straightforward to play. The beauty of this song is in its simplicity and the storytelling. You can get the basic fingerpicking pattern down quickly, and as the original article humorously points out, you might even sound as good as Bob Dylan himself in about 20 minutes! This song is more about feel and rhythm than technical complexity, encouraging you to focus on musicality.
Skip the lessons for this one and just start jamming. The feel is more important than perfection here!
7. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (Green Day)
Rock makes it to fingerstyle.
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day is a fantastic choice to show that fingerstyle isn’t limited to mellow folk songs. It’s a rock ballad that works surprisingly well on acoustic guitar with fingerpicking. The chord progression is well-known, and the fingerpicking pattern is simple and effective. This song is great for those who come from a rock background and want to explore fingerstyle while playing something familiar.
Video Lesson: While you can play “Good Riddance” with a pick, learning it fingerstyle is a great exercise. If you’re new to acoustic guitar in general, David Isaacs’ beginner guitar lessons are a good starting point – beginner guitar lessons. They will cover basic chords and strumming patterns that are foundational for fingerstyle as well.
8. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You (Led Zeppelin)
Haunting and surprisingly accessible.
Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” is known for its dramatic and powerful electric version, but the acoustic fingerpicked intro and verses are hauntingly beautiful and surprisingly beginner-friendly. This song showcases dynamics in fingerstyle playing, moving from soft and delicate picking to more intense strumming. It’s a great song to learn if you want to add drama and emotion to your fingerstyle repertoire.
Video Lesson: Similar to “Good Riddance,” you can play “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” with a pick, but fingerpicking brings out its delicate side. Again, if you’re very new to acoustic guitar, David Isaacs’ beginner guitar lessons – beginner guitar lessons – can be helpful for getting comfortable with the basic chords and transitions in the song.
9. Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley)
Slow and beautiful, take your time.
Jeff Buckley’s rendition of “Hallelujah” is a modern classic, known for its emotional depth and beautiful melody. The fingerpicking pattern is slow and deliberate, giving you time to focus on accuracy and tone. It’s a fantastic song for practicing dynamics and expressing emotion through fingerstyle. Its slow tempo makes it very forgiving for beginners, allowing you to learn at your own pace.
Just take your time with this one, focus on making each note clear and letting the melody sing.
10. The Boxer (Simon & Garfunkel)
Classic Simon & Garfunkel songwriting.
“The Boxer” by Simon & Garfunkel is a masterpiece of songwriting, and its fingerstyle guitar part is integral to its sound. Paul Simon’s early work is a gold standard for combining songwriting, guitar style, and vocal performance. “The Boxer” is a great introduction to Travis picking, a foundational fingerstyle technique that involves alternating bass notes with the thumb while the fingers play melody notes. It’s a slightly more challenging pattern than some of the others on this list, but incredibly rewarding to learn.
Video Lesson: Don Ross’s lessons on Travis picking are once again super helpful here, as “The Boxer” is a fantastic example of how Travis picking can be used in a song context.
Bonus Fingerstyle Songs to Explore
There are so many more fantastic beginner fingerstyle songs out there. Here are a few more suggestions that are often recommended and worth checking out as you progress.
11. Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin)
Yes, the “no Stairway” rule from Wayne’s World is famous, but the truth is, the intro is a genuinely great fingerstyle guitar piece. The chords are a bit more complex than some beginner songs, but the effort is worth it for such an iconic riff.
12. Everybody Hurts (REM)
“Everybody Hurts” is a poignant and beautiful song that’s surprisingly good for very beginner fingerpickers. Its simple, arpeggiated pattern is easy to grasp and emotionally impactful.
13. Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
A classic for slow dances and weddings, “Wonderful Tonight” has a simple, beautiful, and effective fingerpicking pattern that’s perfect for beginners. The lyrics and melody are also instantly recognizable and enjoyable to play.
14. Fast Car (Tracy Chapman)
Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” offers a different approach to fingerpicking. It’s not traditional rolling patterns, but a unique, driving acoustic fingerpicked riff that defines the song. It’s a great example of how fingerpicking can create rhythmic and percussive textures.
15. House of the Rising Sun (The Animals)
It’s surprising how often “House of the Rising Sun” is overlooked in fingerstyle lists. It’s a timeless tune, covered by many, and at its heart is that iconic, repeating guitar picking pattern. A must-learn for any aspiring fingerstyle guitarist.
16. Don’t Cry (Guns N’ Roses)
If you’re playing for a crowd that remembers the 80s and 90s, “Don’t Cry” is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The acoustic intro and verses are great for straight-ahead fingerpicking and evoke instant nostalgia.
17. Love Yourself (Justin Bieber)
Moving to more modern pop, Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” has a catchy and addictive fingerpicked riff that’s surprisingly fun to play on guitar. It’s a great example of contemporary fingerstyle in popular music.
18. Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
James Taylor is a master of fingerstyle guitar, and “Fire and Rain” is a beautiful example of his craft. The fingerpicking patterns are intricate yet accessible, and the chorus melody is incredibly memorable and rewarding to play.
19. Hotel California (The Eagles)
The original “Hotel California” features picking, but the pattern is ideally suited for fingerstyle. It rolls smoothly from the Low E to the High E string and back, perfectly complementing the chord progression. An ideal song for developing a rolling fingerstyle technique.
20. One (Metallica)
Rounding out the list for metal fans, Metallica’s “One” features a slow, simple, yet iconic fingerpicked intro. While the rest of the song goes heavy, focusing on the intro is a great way to apply fingerstyle to a metal context. Just maybe ignore the lyrics if you’re feeling down!
Want to Improve Your Fingerstyle?
Tommy Emmanuel is widely considered one of the greatest acoustic guitarists in the world. He’s a Certified Guitar Player (CGP) and a master of fingerstyle, especially with a thumb pick.
If you’re serious about taking your fingerstyle playing to the next level, check out Tommy Emmanuel’s fingerstyle guitar courses. He’s an inspiring teacher and player who can truly elevate your skills.
Tommy Emmanuel – Fingerstyle Milestones
View course
Explore More Courses from Tommy Emmanuel
* (By clicking the link and purchasing a course, you’re also supporting this site. Thanks for your support! Further lesson recommendations specific to each song are included throughout the article.)
Further Resources
Top 25 Fingerstyle Guitar Players
Top 10 Easy Bluegrass Songs For Beginners
Fingerstyle Guitar Tabs: Top Sites and Apps
