Learning guitar can feel like climbing a mountain at first, but the journey becomes incredibly rewarding once you start playing songs you love. The good news is, there are tons of fantastic tracks that are surprisingly easy guitar songs to learn, even if you’re just starting out. To get you strumming and singing in no time, we’ve compiled a list of 27 easy guitar songs perfect for beginners. These songs use simple chord progressions, manageable strumming patterns, and are guaranteed to build your confidence and get you hooked on playing. Let’s dive in and explore some awesome tunes to kickstart your guitar journey!
1. “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
Want to feel like a rock legend instantly? “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath is your ticket. This iconic metal anthem starts with just two strums of an E power chord on the 7th fret. You’ll immediately feel the power! The song then moves into a cool, simple riff using E, A, and D power chords, all played with steady downstrokes. Focus on the rhythm, listen to the track, and you’ll quickly be headbanging along to one of the most recognizable songs from the ’70s. It’s a fantastic introduction to power chords and classic rock riffs, making it a truly easy guitar song for beginners eager to rock.
2. “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi
Capo on the 1st fret required.
This soulful hit by Lewis Capaldi is a beautiful and emotionally resonant song that’s also incredibly easy to play on guitar. “Someone You Loved” primarily uses four chords: C, G, Am, and F. You can strum these chords slowly and repeatedly to match the song’s mood, perfect for practicing your rhythm and chord changes. For a more advanced approach, try fingerpicking the individual strings to bring out a more melodic texture. Later in the song, you’ll encounter variations like Am7 and Dm7 in the bridge, but these are simple adjustments from the basic open chords, adding a touch of sophistication without increasing the difficulty, making it a great easy guitar song to learn expressive playing.
3. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Instantly recognizable and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd features a fun and iconic riff that’s surprisingly easy to learn on guitar. The riff revolves around D, C, and G open chord shapes. If you’ve practiced these fundamental chords, you’ll pick this riff up quickly. It’s not overly complex, and the more you play it, the faster and more authentic your Southern rock sound will become. A helpful tip is to keep your pinky finger on the 3rd fret of the B string as a starting point; this helps your other fingers naturally fall into the C and G chord shapes. The key to mastering this riff is playing along with the original song, carefully matching the beat and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s distinctive picking style. Because the riff loops back to the beginning, it’s incredibly satisfying to play repeatedly and a fantastic easy guitar song to get your fingers moving smoothly.
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 a timeless classic with a simple chord progression that makes it an exceptionally easy guitar song for beginners. With a capo on the 3rd fret, you’ll be playing open D, A, and E chords, and there’s a Dsus4 chord thrown in for a little variation. Don’t let “Dsus4” intimidate you – it’s simply a D chord with your pinky on the 3rd fret of the high E string instead of the 2nd. Perfect for both acoustic and electric guitar (try adding a touch of overdrive for a classic rock tone), “Free Fallin'” is a fantastic song to learn early on and a great choice for dads who want to rock out, proving that easy guitar songs can be incredibly rewarding.
5. “My Generation” by The Who
“My Generation” by The Who is not only incredibly easy to play on guitar, but also incredibly fun to rock out to. This iconic ’60s hit consists of just two chords: G and F. For that powerful rock sound, play them as power chords and unleash your best roaring vocals during the song’s signature pauses. While “My Generation” is famous for its bass solo, Pete Townshend’s energetic guitar fills offer perfect cues for you to add your own improvisations. It’s a brilliant easy guitar song for developing your soloing skills as the rhythm and chord structure are straightforward, allowing you to focus on experimenting with lead guitar techniques.
6. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals
“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals is a bluesy classic that’s built around a sequence of Am, C, D, E, and F chords. Instead of strumming, the song calls for picking each note of the chord, ascending and descending in pitch to create its signature sombre and melancholic tone. Later in the song, you’ll encounter a C/E chord, which is simply a C chord with an E note as the bass note – a very easy variation to play, just a slight adjustment from the standard open C. You’ll also find E7 and F7 chords, which add 7th notes from the scale, providing a touch of tension and bluesy flavor. These are simple variations of open chords that appear a few times in the song to add depth, demonstrating how even easy guitar songs can incorporate interesting musical elements.
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 a rootin’ tootin’ tune that’s incredibly easy to play on guitar. This country-style jam uses only two chords: A and E. Its simplicity provides a great foundation for exploring country-style guitar licks using the notes within the open A and E chords. Dive into scales in the key of A to start improvising solos over the top. For a truly authentic country sound, you can even experiment with chicken pickin’ techniques as you progress. This song proves that easy guitar songs can be a gateway to exploring genre-specific techniques and styles.
8. “American Idiot” by Green Day
“American Idiot” by Green Day stormed the pop charts in 2003 and remains a high-energy and fun song to play today. The main riff is built from three simple power chords in C#, G#, and F# positions, requiring quick switches between them. At the end of the riff, a short, sharp burst of open strings signals the vocal entrance. The guitar solo is also relatively easy to pick up on guitar, featuring octave shapes played in quick succession, followed by a straightforward lick higher up the neck. “American Idiot” is a fantastic easy guitar song for beginners who want to play something energetic and recognizable while learning power chords and basic soloing.
9. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley
“Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing gonna be alright!” “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley is an uplifting reggae classic that you’ll master in no time. It’s constructed from just three chords – A, D, and E – played with a reggae beat. While the reggae strumming pattern might be a bit tricky for absolute beginners, start with a regular rhythm as you get comfortable with the chords. Once you’re feeling confident, you can explore the more complex and authentic reggae strum. This song is a perfect example of how easy guitar songs can introduce you to different musical styles and rhythms.
10. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana is a rite of passage for any guitarist, and thankfully, it’s also incredibly easy to learn on guitar. This groundbreaking grunge anthem features just four power chords. These are played on 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 simple but powerful, allowing you to play with plenty of grunge attitude. The key to nailing the rhythm is to hit the chords a couple of times and then fill the spaces with muted strums. For the verses, holding down the 1st fret of the high E and B strings and plucking them gives you the complete verse part. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a quintessential easy guitar song that’s both iconic and accessible for beginners.
11 – 27. Keep Exploring Easy Guitar Songs
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Conclusion
Learning to play guitar is an amazing journey, and starting with easy guitar songs is the perfect way to build your skills and confidence. This list of 27 songs provides a fantastic starting point, covering a range of genres and styles to keep you motivated and excited about playing. From rock anthems to soulful ballads and catchy pop-punk tunes, these easy guitar songs demonstrate that you don’t need complex chords or techniques to play music you love. So pick up your guitar, start with one of these songs, and enjoy the process of learning and making music. Happy playing!
