Level Up Your Playing: Intermediate Guitar Songs to Master

So, you’ve moved past the beginner guitar chords and are ready to expand your skills? Congratulations! Reaching the intermediate stage means you’re serious about your guitar journey and are ready to tackle more challenging and rewarding music. Many guitarists find inspiration by learning songs from their favorite artists, and that’s a fantastic approach to improvement.

To help you take your playing to the next level, we’ve compiled a guide to five essential intermediate guitar skills. For each skill, we’ve included a tracklist of songs, ranked from easiest to most challenging, perfect for honing your abilities and expanding your repertoire of Intermediate Guitar Songs.

1. Open Chord Movement and Strumming

When you think about playing guitar, remember it’s a two-handed instrument, with each hand performing distinct tasks. Mastering open chord movement and strumming is crucial at the intermediate level. You should aim to transition smoothly between open chords, keeping time with the music. Simultaneously, develop your strumming hand to execute basic patterns with both up and down strokes, including eighth note rhythms.

Here are some excellent songs to practice open chord movement and strumming, progressing in difficulty:

Easy Open Chord Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals: The chord changes are manageable, making it a good starting point. The intermediate challenge lies in the slightly arpeggiated strumming pattern and the 6/8 time signature, which adds a layer of rhythmic complexity beyond basic 4/4 strumming.
2. “Let It Be” by The Beatles: This classic Beatles song focuses on quick and fluid chord changes. Mastering this song means your fingers are becoming more agile and efficient at moving between common open chords seamlessly.
3. “Heart of Gold” by Neil Young: While featuring fairly basic chord changes, “Heart of Gold” introduces a short, catchy riff between chords and incorporates “cut-in” strumming patterns. This helps you break away from repetitive, predictable strumming and explore more dynamic rhythms.

Medium-Difficulty Open Chord Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Back in Black” by AC/DC: This iconic rock anthem is perfect for intermediate players because it blends strumming with introductory lead guitar techniques. Pay close attention to the intro lick; many beginners misplay it. Slowing it down will help you identify the initial lead phrase and the bend on the final note (A to Bb to open G).

   AC/DC – Back In Black

2. “Space Oddity” by David Bowie: Most of the chords in “Space Oddity” will be familiar, but Bowie throws in some curveballs like Am/G and D/F#. The Am/G chord requires pinky finger strength for proper fretting, offering a chance to build that muscle. You’ll also encounter 7th chords, essential vocabulary for any intermediate guitarist, adding harmonic depth to your playing.

3. “Hotel California” by The Eagles: Seamless chord transitions and consistent strumming are the keys to “Hotel California.” If you’re still working on eighth-note strumming, this song is excellent practice. The chord progression is relatively smooth, allowing you to focus on rhythmic precision and chord changes.

Hard Open Chord Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Plush” by Stone Temple Pilots: This 90s classic introduces unique chord shapes. You’ll learn to use your thumb to fret the low E string for the D/F# chord. The Ebmaj7 chord is the most challenging, requiring pinky strength and precise finger placement across multiple strings. The chorus features a rhythmically tricky strumming pattern that might take some repetition to internalize.
2. “Pinball Wizard” by The Who: Beyond new and movable chord shapes (bar chord variations), “Pinball Wizard” starts with a strumming pattern that uses the chord’s bass note as a drone, while the rest of the chord is only played once per segment. It then transitions to fast strumming with eighth and sixteenth notes. A metronome is essential for mastering the rhythmic complexity of this song.

2. Power Chord/Bar Chord Movement and Strumming

While open chords are universal, power chords and bar chords are more prominent in electric guitar music. If you primarily play acoustic, developing these skills might take a bit longer due to the higher action (string height) on acoustic guitars, requiring more finger pressure.

Like open chords, intermediate guitarists need to move fluently between power and bar chord sections and change chords quickly across the guitar neck. This includes muting unwanted strings, strumming and palm-muting in various patterns, and adapting chord shapes for alternate tunings like Drop D.

Here are songs to practice power and bar chords, from easier to harder:

Easy Power Chord/Bar Chord Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Cut Me Some Slack” by Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear: With a straightforward chord progression based in the pentatonic scale and a moderate tempo, this song is perfect for beginners getting comfortable with power and bar chords.
2. “American Idiot” by Green Day: While conceptually simple, “American Idiot” features fast power chord changes that can challenge players not used to quick transitions at higher tempos. Start slowly and gradually increase speed as you become more comfortable with the changes.

Medium-Difficulty Power Chord/Bar Chord Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Barracuda” by Heart: This rock anthem introduces “chugging,” a technique involving palm-muting combined with a fast up-and-down strumming pattern. Chugging can be tricky initially, but with practice, you’ll unlock a powerful rhythmic tool in your playing.
2. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica: The intro is manageable for most intermediate players, but the challenge lies in the rapid, chord-changing chugging pattern that dominates the song. Playing “Enter Sandman” from start to finish is a fantastic workout for your fingers and forearms, building stamina and precision.
3. “Point of No Return” by Kansas: “Point of No Return” features quick bar chord changes and short 1-2 note fills between chords. These fills require accuracy and timing, pushing your dexterity and coordination. Bonus points for learning the lead organ lines on guitar!
4. “Remedy” by The Black Crowes: “Remedy” is traditionally played in open G tuning, but it’s also easily playable in standard tuning using power chords. Experiment with both! Open G offers a new sonic landscape and different chord voicings, expanding your musical horizons.

Hard Power Chord/Bar Chord Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Everlong” by Foo Fighters: If you’re new to Drop D tuning, “Everlong” is an excellent introduction to this popular alternate tuning. You’ll learn to play power chords with just one finger in Drop D, and explore interesting power-chord-based voicings like Dmaj7 and B and Gsus2. The most challenging aspect is the strumming pattern; it’s intricate and takes patience to master, but incredibly rewarding and fun to play once you get it down.

   Foo Fighters – Everlong

3. Picking Patterns/Fingerpicking

Another crucial intermediate skill is developing picking patterns and fingerpicking. Precision and resonance are key here. Precision relates to tempo accuracy, while resonance is about the evenness and quality of each note’s sound. A metronome is your best friend for developing picking precision.

For fingerpicking, resonance means playing each string at a consistent volume. If you’re used to using a pick, fingerpicking will be a new skill to learn from scratch.

A common and efficient fingerpicking technique involves assigning strings to your right-hand fingers: thumb for E, A, and D strings, and index, middle, and ring fingers for G, B, and high E strings, respectively. Developing good resonance in fingerpicking is about practice and familiarizing yourself with this style. It might be challenging initially, but with patience, you’ll become just as proficient as with a pick.

Some guitarists even find they prefer fingerpicking and use it almost exclusively. Fingerpicking offers a softer touch and a warmer, smoother tone compared to the pick’s more pronounced attack.

While only two purely fingerpicked songs are listed in the “Easy” section, remember that virtually any picked song can also be fingerpicked. Experiment with both pick and fingerstyle on the songs below to compare the sounds and develop versatility.

Easy Fingerpicking Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles (Tempo: 138 BPM): This song features quick chord changes in close proximity, starting with A, A7, A6, and then F. It’s a great exercise in smooth finger movement and chord transitions within a fingerpicking context.
2. “Hey You” by Pink Floyd (Tempo: 112 BPM): With a relatively simple fingerpicking pattern, “Hey You” is an excellent starting point for both pattern practice and introducing yourself to fingerstyle playing.

Medium-Difficulty Fingerpicking Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Street Spirit” by Radiohead (Tempo: 69 BPM): “Street Spirit” sounds complex, but slowing it down reveals a manageable pattern. It utilizes a cross-picking technique across three chords with slight finger adjustments in between. Muscle memory is key here. Practice slowly and consistently, increasing speed only once you’ve mastered the pattern at a slower tempo.

Hard Fingerpicking Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin (Tempo: 82 BPM): No fingerpicking song list is complete without this legendary track. For many, “Stairway to Heaven” was their first fingerpicking song, and for good reason. With a moderate tempo and a relatively straightforward pattern, it’s a perfect introduction to traditional fingerstyle nuances. Comfort with various chord shapes is essential.

2. “Jolene” by Dolly Parton (Tempo: 111 BPM): While the chord changes in “Jolene” are simple, the picking pattern is the real challenge. It sounds intricate, but with fingerpicking experience, it becomes manageable. Focus on the pattern, start slowly, and gradually increase tempo to master this classic.

   School of Rock AllStar Students perform "Jolene" by Dolly Parton

4. Riffs (Including Bending, Hammer-Ons, Pull-Offs, Pentatonic, Intro-to-Lead Playing)

Guitar riffs are melodic phrases that can be as memorable as a song’s chorus. They can be integral to a song’s structure or used in solos and fills, adding melodic depth and interest. Intermediate guitarists should develop skills like hammer-ons and pull-offs, become familiar with the pentatonic scale, and begin exploring improvisation and lead guitar playing.

Here are riff-based songs to practice these techniques, progressing in difficulty:

Easy Riff Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Come Together” by The Beatles: While the rhythm parts are basic, “Come Together” offers opportunities for intermediate players to master solos and bends. The iconic solo is relatively accessible and introduces essential lead guitar phrasing.

Medium-Difficulty Riff Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin: One of rock’s most iconic riffs is surprisingly accessible and incredibly catchy. Pay attention to the dynamics: the space between the riff and palm-muted sections is longer in verses and shorter in choruses, adding a subtle but crucial rhythmic nuance.
2. “You Give Love a Bad Name” by Bon Jovi: The intro is packed with bends to practice. The verses feature a pentatonic riff that functions like a bassline and is incredibly fun to play, introducing you to riff-based pentatonic patterns.
3. “Black Sabbath” by Black Sabbath: If you need to work on hammer-ons and bends, “Black Sabbath” is perfect. The main riff prominently features both techniques in a slow, deliberate, and iconic way.

Hard Riff Songs for Intermediate Guitarists

1. “Dani California” by Red Hot Chili Peppers: Between the main riff and two solo sections, “Dani California” provides excellent practice for hammer-ons, pull-offs, unison bends, and pentatonic lead playing. It combines rhythmic riffing with more melodic lead guitar elements.

5. Feel and Style

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is “feel and style.” This is often the most challenging skill to teach but is vital for advancing beyond the intermediate stage. It requires you to delve deeper into an artist’s music, analyzing how they play, not just what they play.

Developing feel and style is crucial for mastering guitar and for developing your own unique playing voice. The goal isn’t just mimicking others perfectly, but understanding different styles and approaches. This expands your musical vocabulary and opens new possibilities in your playing.

Here are songs to practice feel and style, from easier to harder:

Easy Songs for Intermediate Guitarists to Practice Feel and Style

1. “1979” by Smashing Pumpkins: This song uses a drone note in the main riff and open strings with chords and riffs to create its dreamy atmosphere. To capture the “feel,” focus on fluidity. The drone and open strings “glue” the melody and rhythm together, creating the song’s ethereal sound.
2. “Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin: Like “1979,” fluidity is key. Jimmy Page achieves this in “Ramble On” by sliding in and out of chord shapes, giving the riffs a gliding quality. Mastering these slides is crucial for capturing the song’s feel.

Medium-Difficulty Songs for Intermediate Guitarists to Practice Feel and Style

1. “Pride and Joy” by Stevie Ray Vaughan: Texas Blues is often described as “clean dirty” – a powerful, yet articulate sound. Stevie Ray Vaughan epitomized this. Capturing the swing feel and the sheer power behind each note is essential. Swing feel is rhythmic and swaying. Connect to that rhythmic feel and strive for both clarity and power in your playing.

   Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble – Pride And Joy

Hard Songs for Intermediate Guitarists to Practice Feel and Style

1. “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix: Many try to play Hendrix, but few truly capture his dynamic nuances. If you’ve reached this point, you’re ready to take on the challenge. “Little Wing” requires you to utilize all the skills mentioned above and focus on Hendrix’s dynamic playing. Notice how he varies dynamics within riffs – some quiet, some loud – perfectly complementing the song’s mood.
2. “Brick House” by Commodores: Last but not least is “Brick House,” an excellent introduction to “skank” guitar playing. Skank is all about feel. It typically uses higher strings for “chords” and lots of muted, rhythmic strumming. It’s challenging because it’s so feel-driven. Slow down the song and really zone in on the rhythmic nuances to capture the skank feel.

Ready to Take Your Guitar Skills to the Next Level?

The intermediate stage is where guitar playing starts to feel like what you imagined when you first picked up the instrument. You’re likely learning songs that inspired you to play in the first place. However, it’s also a stage where many guitarists get stuck. While beginner drop-off rates are higher, many players plateau at the intermediate level.

Staying intermediate is perfectly fine, but School of Rock can help you push beyond and reach new heights in your guitar playing. Visit our Guitar Lessons page to learn how we can help you take your musical skills to the next level.

About the Author

Nik Sidella is a guitar instructor and Rock 101 director at School of Rock Orlando.