Learning guitar can be an incredibly rewarding journey, and one of the best ways to stay motivated is to quickly learn to play some of your favorite songs. If you’re just starting out, the sheer number of chords and techniques might seem daunting. But fear not! There are tons of fantastic songs that are surprisingly easy to learn on guitar, using just a few basic chords and simple strumming patterns. This list of 27 of the easiest songs to play on guitar is perfect for absolute beginners to get started and build confidence.
1. “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
Want to instantly feel like a rock star? “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath is your go-to song. This iconic metal track kicks off with just two strums of an E power chord on the 7th fret. That powerful opening is followed by a cool, simple hammer-on riff in the same position, and then progresses through E, A, and D power chords, all played with steady downstrokes.
The key to nailing “Paranoid” is to listen closely to the song to grasp the rhythm. Once you get it, you’ll be headbanging along to this legendary 70s anthem in no time. Power chords are a beginner’s best friend, as they only require two or three fingers and sound incredibly powerful. “Paranoid” is a perfect introduction to rock guitar and power chord based songs.
2. “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi
Capo on the 1st fret required.
Lewis Capaldi’s soulful hit, “Someone You Loved,” is an excellent choice for strumming and singing practice. This emotionally resonant song is built around a simple chord progression of C, G, Am, and F chords. These are fundamental open chords that are among the first chords any guitarist learns.
You can strum these chords slowly and repeatedly to match the song’s melancholic mood. For a slightly more advanced approach, try fingerpicking the individual strings to bring out a more melodic texture. Later in the song, there are variations like Am7 and Dm7 in the bridge. Don’t let the “7” scare you; these are just minor variations of the basic chords, needing only slight finger adjustments from the standard open chord shapes. “Someone You Loved” is a fantastic song to practice smooth chord changes and expressive strumming.
3. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Instantly transport yourself to the American South with the iconic riff of “Sweet Home Alabama.” This classic utilizes D, C, and G open chord shapes. If you’ve been practicing these fundamental chords, you’ll pick up this riff quickly. It’s not overly complex, and repetition is your friend here – the more you play it, the faster and more authentically “twangy” your playing will become.
A helpful tip for playing the riff is to keep your pinky finger anchored on the 3rd fret of the B string. This will help your other fingers naturally fall into place for the C and G chord shapes within the riff. The real trick is to play along with the original song, carefully matching the beat and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s signature picking style. Because the riff loops back to the beginning, it’s incredibly satisfying to play on repeat. You’ll be playing this riff almost instinctively before you know it!
4. “Free Fallin'” by Tom Petty
Capo on the 3rd fret required.
“Free Fallin'” by Tom Petty, famously covered by artists like John Mayer, is built on a simple chord progression that’s perfect for beginners to master and sing along to. With a capo placed on the 3rd fret, you’ll be using open D, A, and E chords, with a Dsus4 chord adding a touch of variation. Don’t be intimidated by “Dsus4”; it’s simply a D chord with your pinky finger placed on the 3rd fret of the high E string instead of the 2nd.
“Free Fallin'” works wonderfully on both acoustic and electric guitars. Try adding a touch of overdrive on an electric guitar for a classic rock tone. This song is ideal for practicing chord changes smoothly and developing your strumming rhythm. It’s a timeless hit that’s guaranteed to impress.
5. “My Generation” by The Who
“My Generation” by The Who is incredibly easy to play and incredibly fun to rock out to. This energetic 60s anthem is built on just two chords: G and F. Play them as power chords to capture that signature meaty rock sound and unleash your vocals during the instrumental breaks.
While “My Generation” is famous for its iconic bass solo, Pete Townshend’s guitar fills provide excellent cues for you to add your own improvisations. This song is a fantastic platform to start developing your soloing skills as the rhythm and chord structure are straightforward, allowing you to focus on experimenting with lead guitar licks and fills.
6. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals
“House Of The Rising Sun” by The Animals revolves around a chord progression of Am, C, D, E, and F chords. Instead of strumming, the song uses arpeggios, where you pick each note of the chord individually, ascending and descending in pitch. This creates the song’s signature bluesy and somber tone. Arpeggios might seem advanced, but breaking down each chord note by note makes it very accessible for beginners.
Later in the song, you’ll encounter a C/E chord. This is a C chord with an E note as the bass note. It’s surprisingly simple to play – just a slight variation from the standard open C chord. You’ll also see E7 and F7 chords, which incorporate 7th notes from the scale, adding a touch of bluesy flavor. These are simple variations on open chords that appear a few times in the song to build tension and release. “House of the Rising Sun” is a great song to learn fingerpicking basics and explore minor chord progressions.
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 the perfect rootin’ tootin’ song. This country jam is built on just two chords: A and E. The simplicity of the chord progression provides ample space for you to experiment with country-style guitar licks using the notes within the A and E open positions.
Explore scales in the key of A to start improvising simple solos over the chord progression. If you’re feeling adventurous, try incorporating “chicken pickin'” techniques for an authentic country guitar sound. “Achy Breaky Heart” is a fun, upbeat song for practicing basic chord changes and exploring country guitar styles.
8. “American Idiot” by Green Day
“American Idiot” by Green Day stormed the pop charts in 2003 and remains a blast to play today. The main riff consists of three simple power chords in C#, G#, and F# positions, requiring quick transitions between them. Power chords are again, the key to making this song easy to learn and play.
At the end of the riff, a short, sharp, and energetic hit of the open strings signals the vocal entrance. The guitar solo is also relatively straightforward, featuring octave shapes played in quick succession, followed by an easy lick higher up the fretboard. “American Idiot” is a fantastic song for building power chord proficiency and learning basic rock guitar soloing techniques.
9. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley
“Don’t worry about a thing,” because you’ll master “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley in no time! This feel-good reggae classic uses just three chords – A, D, and E – played with a reggae strumming pattern.
The reggae strumming pattern can be a bit tricky for beginners to grasp initially. Start with a regular down-down-up-up-down strumming pattern to get used to the chord changes. As you become more comfortable, you can explore the more complex reggae “skank” strumming technique. “Three Little Birds” is a perfect introduction to reggae rhythms and easy chord progressions.
10. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana is a rite of passage for guitar players. This groundbreaking grunge anthem features just four power chords. These are 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 and full of attitude.
The key to capturing the rhythm correctly is to strum each chord a couple of times and fill the spaces between chords 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 to play the iconic verse melody. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is an essential song for learning power chords, grunge guitar, and alternative rock.
11. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison is undeniably singable. It’s hard not to feel good while playing this song, thanks to its cheerful G major key. Featuring easy-strumming open G, C, D, and Em chords, it’s a crowd-pleasing song to practice your singing along with your guitar playing.
Once you have the chords and strumming pattern down, challenge yourself with the fun, riff-based intro. “Brown Eyed Girl” is a classic feel-good song for practicing open chords, strumming patterns, and singing while playing.
12. “Wonderwall” by Oasis
Capo on the 2nd fret required.
“Wonderwall” by Oasis… yes, we know, it might elicit groans from some, but it’s a seminal song that every guitarist should have in their repertoire. It’s constructed from basic G, C, D, and Em chords, but with a slight sonic twist. Hold down the 3rd fret of the B and high E strings on all of these chords. This creates that iconic “Wonderwall” bright, trebly tone.
Later in the song, you’ll encounter a G transition chord. This simply means you move your finger from the 3rd fret of the low E string down to the 2nd fret and play the rest of the strings open – except for the B and high E strings, which remain fretted at the 3rd fret. The G transition chord is played briefly and smoothly leads into the Em chord. This chord movement is common in many songs, making it a valuable technique to learn early on. “Wonderwall” is a great song for practicing chord variations and transitions.
13. “Zombie” by The Cranberries
“Zombie” by The Cranberries is soulful, somber, and a defining song of the 90s. It’s surprisingly simple to learn, using just four chords: Em, Cmaj7, G, and D. The Cmaj7 chord might sound complex, but it’s essentially the same shape as an open C chord, just 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 charged chord progression. “Zombie” is a powerful song for practicing minor chords and dynamic strumming.
14. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan/Guns N’ Roses
Originally by the legendary Bob Dylan and famously covered by Guns N’ Roses, “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is both enjoyable to play and easy to sing along to. The verse chord progression is G, D, Am/G, D, C, alternating between Am and C as the final chord in the sequence.
For the chorus, the progression simplifies to G, D, and C. Then, it returns to the alternating pattern for the next verse. The Am/G chord might look unusual, but it’s just an Am chord with a G note in the bass, easily achieved by keeping your index finger on the G string while playing Am. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is a timeless classic for practicing chord progressions and basic strumming.
15. “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band
“The Joker” by Steve Miller Band is a real earworm. You might not immediately recognize the song title, but you’ll definitely recognize the tune, and it’s incredibly easy to play. It’s built on just G, Cadd9, and D chords – all very beginner-friendly chords – played in a steady, rhythmic pattern.
As you gain confidence in playing these chords and smoothly transitioning between them, you can start experimenting with picking individual notes to mimic the bass line and adding your own simple guitar licks. “The Joker” is a catchy and fun song for practicing basic chord changes and rhythmic accuracy.
16. “Buck Rogers” by Feeder
“Buck Rogers” by Feeder is a 2000s rock anthem that still sounds fantastic today. It has a remarkably simple arrangement featuring an open Em chord and power chords at the 7th and 9th frets of the low E string. That forms the basic rhythm structure. The chorus adds another power chord at the 5th fret of the low E string. All chords are strummed with a steady beat that’s easy to follow. “Buck Rogers” is a high-energy song for practicing power chords and rhythmic strumming.
17. “All The Small Things” by Blink 182
“All The Small Things” by Blink 182 is pop punk at its finest, a smash hit crowd-pleaser that’s guaranteed to get everyone singing along. It revolves around a C power chord on the 3rd fret of the A string, a G power chord on the 3rd fret of the low E string, and a power chord in the F position. It’s nice and easy to play and sing simultaneously.
The strumming pattern is quick to learn, consisting entirely of steady downstrokes (down-picking). Listen closely for the palm mutes (where you lightly rest the edge of your palm on the strings to dampen the sound) in the intro and other subtle pauses to get the song sounding authentic. “All The Small Things” is a quintessential pop-punk song for practicing power chords, palm muting, and fast downstrokes.
18. “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol is soulful, catchy, and incredibly easy to play! It features a cool, melodic riff that’s fingerpicked throughout most of the song, offering a refreshing change from chord-heavy songs. Instead of strumming, you pick the notes within power chord shapes.
There’s a slight stretch involved in picking the 5th fret of the A string and then the 9th fret of the G string, which is excellent for building hand strength and finger dexterity. Towards the end of the song, a series of chords – A, E/G#, D, Dsus2, Dmaj7 – are played with steady downstrokes to match the vocal melody. “Chasing Cars” is a beautiful song for practicing fingerpicking, power chords, and chord variations.
19. “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King features open chords, a memorable intro, and timeless lyrics. It’s one of those songs that you simply can’t resist singing along to. Fortunately, the C, Am, F, G chord progression is so accessible that it allows you to focus on your vocals while playing.
The intro riff is all about timing, so listen carefully to the original song to capture its feel. For the strumming pattern, aim to stay in time with the beat to match the tempo and overall vibe of the song. “Stand By Me” is a classic for practicing open chords, basic strumming, and timing.
20. “Love Me Do” by The Beatles
“Love Me Do” by The Beatles is 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 of the high E string to the 1st fret.
Even better, the strumming pattern is steady and not overly complex, making it ideal for beginners to learn rhythm and timing. “Love Me Do” is a foundational song for learning basic chords and classic rock and roll.
21. “A Horse With No Name” by America
“A Horse With No Name” by America doesn’t have any difficult chords, but the strumming pattern is a bit different from the usual straight strumming. The chord progression is Em, D6/9, Em9, and Dmaj9, and it’s surprisingly easy to play.
D6/9 is just a slight variation of D, Em9 involves holding the 2nd fret of the high E string instead of the A string, and Dmaj9 is another minor adjustment to the regular D chord shape. The key to this song is the rhythmic, almost percussive strumming. “A Horse With No Name” is a great song for exploring slightly more complex strumming patterns and chord variations.
22. “Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones
“Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones is a quintessential punk rock anthem, and it’s incredibly simple to play. This high-energy track is made up of only three power chords. These power chords are located 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 simple progression to learn and memorize. The key is to play it fast and play it loud! “Blitzkrieg Bop” is a perfect song for practicing power chords and fast, energetic strumming in a punk rock style.
23. “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes
“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes features just three chords, a simple strumming pattern, and soulful vocals. G, Am, and C are all you need to master this 90s hit.
The strumming pattern gradually increases in speed within each bar, going from slow to fast. This rhythmic dynamic makes it easy to get into the groove of the song. “What’s Up?” is a great song for practicing dynamic strumming and smooth chord changes between common open chords.
24. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day is mellow and catchy, a perfect song for acoustic guitar lovers. The chord progression of G, Cadd9, D, Em, and C chords is simple and quick to learn.
The trick to mastering the intro is to avoid full strums initially. Instead, focus on playing the bass notes on the lower strings while picking the high E and B strings in sequence. Soon after the intro, the strumming pattern transitions to standard full strums. “Good Riddance” is a beautiful acoustic song for practicing fingerpicking, arpeggios, and smooth chord transitions.
25. “Circles” by Post Malone
“Circles” by Post Malone is a really fun tune to strum and sing along with. The strumming pattern is very straightforward, and the chords, while they might look a bit complex at first glance, are actually quite manageable. The chords are Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Fm, C, F, C/B, and Cmaj7/B.
While some of these chords might seem intimidating, they are primarily slight variations of open chords. If you find barre chords like F challenging, you can simplify it by playing it as either an F power chord or an open F chord (if you can reach). “Circles” is a modern pop song for practicing chord variations and building confidence with slightly more complex chord names.
26. “Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers features a fun, distinctive riff and simple chords. Typically, “Otherside” doesn’t use strummed chords in the verses, but strumming works perfectly well for beginners. The chords are Am, F, C, G, Em, and A, making it very simple to get started with.
As you progress, you can challenge yourself to learn the iconic intro riff and play the verse melody over a backing track. “Otherside” is a cool song for practicing chord changes and transitioning to riff-based playing.
27. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
Capo on the 2nd fret required.
“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran is a beautiful and slow song with an easy selection of chords. C, C/E, F, G, Dm, and Am are all the chords you need to play the entire song. The key to mastering this song is listening attentively to capture the timing and rhythm.
The line “maybe we found love right where we are,” in particular, has a chord change for almost every word. This might be a little challenging initially, but with practice, you’ll soon master it! “Thinking Out Loud” is a romantic ballad perfect for practicing chord changes, timing, and fingerstyle guitar (optional).
