Starting your guitar journey is an exciting adventure, but it can feel overwhelming when you’re faced with countless songs and complex chords. The key to staying motivated and progressing quickly is to start with songs that are genuinely easy to learn. This article is your guide to the Easiest Beginner Guitar Songs, carefully selected to get your fingers moving and your confidence soaring in no time.
Top Beginner-Friendly Guitar Songs
Learning guitar should be fun, and these songs are proof! We’ve broken them down to highlight different styles and techniques you can explore right from the beginning.
Rock Anthems for Easy Power Chords
Power chords are a beginner guitarist’s best friend. They’re simple to play and sound incredibly powerful, especially in rock music.
1. “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
Dive headfirst into rock history with “Paranoid.” This legendary metal anthem starts with just two strums of an E power chord on the 7th fret. You’ll instantly feel the rock energy! The song uses E, A, and D power chords in a straightforward, down-picked rhythm. Listen closely to the song to catch the rhythm, and you’ll be rocking out to this iconic 70s track in no time.
5. “My Generation” by The Who
“My Generation” by The Who is both incredibly easy to play and incredibly fun to rock out to. This 60s hit consists of just two chords: G and F. Playing them as power chords will give you that signature meaty rock sound. The song is famous for its bass solo, but Pete Townshend’s guitar fills offer perfect cues for you to add your own improvisations as you develop your soloing skills.
8. “American Idiot” by Green Day
Green Day’s “American Idiot” was a chart-topping hit in 2003 and remains a blast to play today. The main riff is built on three simple power chords in C#, G#, and F# positions, requiring quick switches between them. The energetic open string hit at the end of the riff signals the vocal entry. The solo is also beginner-friendly, using octave shapes and a simple lick.
22. “Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones
Embrace punk rock simplicity with “Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones. This classic punk anthem is made up of just three power chords. These chords are positioned on the 5th fret of the low E string, the 5th fret of the A string, and the 7th fret of the A string. It’s a simple progression that’s easy to learn. Play it fast, play it loud, and you’ll capture the raw energy of punk rock!
Simple Strumming Songs with Open Chords
Open chords are the foundation of guitar playing. These songs focus on basic open chords and strumming patterns, allowing you to develop rhythm and coordination.
2. “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi
(Requires a capo on 1st fret.)
Lewis Capaldi’s soulful hit, “Someone You Loved,” is perfect for practicing strumming and singing. It primarily uses C, G, Am, and F chords. You can strum slowly to match the song’s mood or try fingerpicking for a more melodic approach. While there are chord variations like Am7 and Dm7 in the bridge, they are simple adjustments from the basic open chords, making this song accessible for beginners.
3. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
“Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd features a fun and iconic riff built around D, C, and G open chord shapes. If you’ve practiced these fundamental chords, you’ll pick up the riff quickly. It’s not overly complex, and with practice, you’ll increase your speed and achieve that signature ‘twangy’ sound. Playing along with the song will help you match the beat and picking style of Skynyrd, making it a fantastic song to learn by ear.
4. “Free Fallin'” by Tom Petty
(Requires a capo on 3rd fret.)
Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’,” famously covered by John Mayer, has a simple chord progression that’s easy to master and sing along to. With a capo on the 3rd fret, you’ll be playing open D, A, and E chords, along with a Dsus4 chord for a bit of variation. The Dsus4 is simply a D chord with your pinky on the 3rd fret instead of the 2nd. Whether on acoustic or electric guitar, this classic hit is perfect for developing your strumming and singing simultaneously.
11. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
It’s hard to resist feeling good while playing Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” thanks to its cheerful G major key. Featuring easy-strumming open G, C, D, and E chords, it’s an excellent song for practicing your vocals and entertaining a crowd. Once you’re comfortable with the chords and rhythm, challenge yourself with the fun, riff-based intro!
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 with. The verses follow a G, D, Am/G, D, C progression, alternating between Am and C as the last chord. The chorus simplifies to G, D, and C, making it easy to remember and play. This song is a classic example of how simple chords can create a powerful and moving song.
15. “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band
“The Joker” by Steve Miller Band is a real earworm that’s surprisingly easy to play. It’s built on G, Cadd9, and D chords – all very beginner-friendly – played in a steady, repetitive pattern. As you gain confidence, you can start picking individual notes to mimic the bass line and add your own little guitar licks, expanding your playing beyond basic strumming.
19. “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
“Stand by Me” by Ben E. King is a timeless classic with open chords, a recognizable intro, and heartfelt lyrics that everyone loves to sing along to. The C, Am, F, G chord progression is easy to learn, allowing you to focus on your singing and timing. Pay close attention to the song to pick up the rhythm of the intro riff and practice strumming in time with the beat to capture the song’s feel.
20. “Love Me Do” by The Beatles
“Love Me Do” by The Beatles is a super simple and super classic song to learn. Consisting of G, C, G7, and D chords, it’s quick to pick up and strum along with. The G7 chord is a slight variation of G, making it easy to transition between them. The strumming pattern is also steady and uncomplicated, making this an ideal early Beatles song to learn on guitar.
23. “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes
“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes is driven by just three chords: G, Am, and C. The strumming pattern varies from slow to fast within each bar, which is easy to get into once you feel the rhythm of the song. The soulful vocals and straightforward guitar part make this 90s hit a great choice for beginner guitarists.
24. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
Green Day’s “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” is a mellow and catchy acoustic favorite. The chords G, Cadd9, D, Em, and C create a simple progression that’s quick to learn. In the intro, focus on playing the bottom strings while picking the high E and B strings sequentially, before transitioning to standard strumming later in the song. This song is perfect for acoustic guitar practice and developing fingerpicking basics.
Easy Songs with a Bit More Challenge (Slightly more chords or techniques)
These songs introduce a few more chords or slightly different techniques, helping you expand your skills gradually.
10. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
A rite of passage for guitar players, Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” features four power chords in simple positions. The rhythm involves hitting the chords a couple of times and filling the gaps with muted string hits, which is a great introduction to rhythmic techniques. For the verses, holding down the 1st fret of the high E and B strings and plucking them completes the iconic melody, making it more accessible than you might think for a beginner.
7. “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus
If you’re in the mood for some country, “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus uses just two chords: A and E. This simplicity gives you plenty of room to experiment with country-style licks using the notes within A and E open positions. Exploring scales in the key of A can even lead to improvising solos over the top. For an extra challenge, try incorporating chicken pickin’ techniques to get a real country sound.
16. “Buck Rogers” by Feeder
Feeder’s “Buck Rogers,” a 2000s rock anthem, has a straightforward arrangement using an open Em chord and power chords. The basic rhythm revolves around Em and power chords at the 7th and 9th frets of the low E string. The chorus adds a power chord at the 5th fret. All are strummed in a steady beat that’s easy to follow, making it a fun and energetic song to learn early on.
17. “All The Small Things” by Blink 182
As pop punk as it gets, “All The Small Things” by Blink 182 is a crowd-pleasing hit that’s sure to get people singing along. It uses 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 simple down-picking. Listen for palm mutes in the intro and subtle pauses to nail the song’s rhythm.
18. “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” is soulful, catchy, and surprisingly easy to play. It features a melodic riff that’s picked rather than strummed for most of the song, offering a nice change of pace from chord-heavy songs. You’ll pick power chord shapes, including a stretch between the 5th fret of the A string and the 9th fret of the G string, which is great for building hand strength. The song ends with a series of chords – A, E/G#, D, Dsus2, Dmaj7 – played in a steady, down-picked rhythm to match the vocal melody.
21. “A Horse With No Name” by America
“A Horse With No Name” by America avoids difficult chords, but the strumming pattern is slightly different from typical beginner songs, offering a rhythmic challenge. The progression uses Em, D6/9, Em9, and Dmaj9. While the names might look complex, D6/9 is just one fret, Em9 involves holding the 2nd fret of the high E string, and Dmaj9 is a simple variation of the D chord. This song is excellent for expanding your strumming patterns and chord vocabulary slightly.
25. “Circles” by Post Malone
Post Malone’s “Circles” is a fun tune to strum and sing along with. The strumming pattern is straightforward, and the chords include Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Fm, C, F, C/B, and Cmaj7/B. While some of these chord names might seem intimidating, they are actually slight variations of open chords, making them manageable for beginners. If barre chords like F are challenging, you can start by playing it as a power chord or an open chord version.
26. “Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers features a catchy riff and simple chord structure. While the original version often omits strummed chords in the verses, they work perfectly well for beginners. The song uses Am, F, C, G, Em, and A chords, which are all beginner-friendly. As you improve, you can tackle playing the iconic riff and melody over a backing track, adding layers to your playing.
27. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
(Requires a capo on 2nd fret.)
Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” is a slow and melodic song with an accessible chord selection. You’ll need C, C/E, F, G, Dm, and Am to play the entire song. The key is to listen carefully to the timing, especially in the line “maybe we found love right where we are,” where chord changes occur on almost every word. It might be tricky at first, but with practice, you’ll master the timing and enjoy playing this popular ballad.
Start Playing Today!
Learning these easiest beginner guitar songs is the perfect way to kickstart your guitar journey. Don’t get discouraged if it takes time to master them. Consistent practice is the key to improvement. Grab your guitar, choose a song from this list, and start playing today! You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can learn and how much fun you’ll have along the way.
