Guitar tabs are a fantastic gateway to learning guitar, especially when you’re just starting out. If you’re eager to play your favorite acoustic songs, understanding guitar tabs, or tablature, is a skill that will quickly unlock a world of musical possibilities. Many beginners feel intimidated by traditional music notation, but the good news is, guitar tabs are designed to be straightforward and easy to grasp.
In this guide, we’ll break down how to read guitar tabs and get you started playing quickly with 15 easy acoustic guitar tabs perfect for beginners. You’ll be strumming your favorite tunes in no time!
Jump directly to the beginner guitar tabs!
What Exactly Are Guitar Tabs?
Guitar tabs are a simplified system for writing music specifically for guitarists. Instead of using standard musical notation with notes on a staff, guitar tabs use a six-line grid that represents the six strings of your guitar. Each line corresponds to a string, from the thickest (bottom E string) to the thinnest (top e string). Numbers on these lines indicate which fret to press down on that particular string.
Think of guitar tabs as a visual shortcut. They tell you exactly where to put your fingers on the fretboard to play specific notes and chords. While some tabs focus solely on fret numbers, more detailed tabs might also include rhythmic information to guide you on timing and strumming patterns.
For acoustic guitar learners, tabs are especially useful because they bridge the gap between listening to music and actually playing it. You can often find acoustic guitar tabs online for virtually any song, making it a readily accessible resource.
Decoding Guitar Tabs: A Beginner’s Guide
Reading guitar tabs is intuitive. Imagine reading from left to right, just like a sentence. The horizontal lines represent the strings of your guitar:
- e – Thinnest string (1st string)
- B – 2nd string
- G – 3rd string
- D – 4th string
- A – 5th string
- E – Thickest string (6th string)
Numbers placed on these lines tell you which fret to press down on that specific string. ‘0’ means you play the open string (no fret pressed). ‘1’ indicates the first fret, ‘2’ the second fret, and so on. Reading a sequence of numbers from left to right shows you the order of notes to play. The speed at which you move across the tab corresponds to the tempo of the music.
Beyond these basics, you might encounter symbols in more advanced tabs that represent techniques like slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends, and vibrato. These symbols are usually explained in a legend accompanying the tab, and many are fairly standard across different tab versions. However, for beginner acoustic guitar tabs, you’ll mostly encounter simple numbers representing frets, making it very easy to follow along.
15 Easy Acoustic Guitar Tabs for Beginners
Now that you understand the fundamentals of reading guitar tabs, let’s dive into 15 easy acoustic guitar tabs that are perfect for beginners. These songs are popular, sound great on acoustic guitar, and use relatively simple chords and strumming patterns, making them ideal for practice.
1. Before You Go – Lewis Capaldi
Lewis Capaldi’s “Before You Go,” released in 2019, is a deeply emotional song with a beautiful melody that translates wonderfully to acoustic guitar. This song is excellent for beginners because it introduces fingerpicking patterns within a manageable chord progression. It’s a great way to start developing fingerstyle technique on your acoustic guitar.
You can find the tab here.
2. Like a Stone – Audioslave
Audioslave’s “Like a Stone,” a hit from 2003, features a recognizable and catchy intro riff that’s surprisingly accessible for beginner guitarists on acoustic. Beyond the riff, the song moves into chord-based verses and choruses, providing a balanced practice piece for both single-note playing and chord transitions on your acoustic guitar.
You can read the tab here.
3. Scar Tissue – Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Scar Tissue” by Red Hot Chili Peppers, released in 1999, is known for its melodic and engaging intro riff. This song is fantastic for acoustic guitar beginners because the riff is repetitive and relatively easy to learn, helping you build finger dexterity and coordination. The acoustic version highlights the song’s melodic beauty.
Read the tab here.
4. Blackbird – The Beatles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swiC4YUyrOI
“Blackbird,” from The Beatles’ 1968 White Album, is iconic for its delicate and intricate fingerpicking. While it might seem slightly more challenging than strumming, “Blackbird” is built upon a repeating fingerpicking pattern that, once mastered, is incredibly rewarding. It’s a classic acoustic song that will impress anyone who hears you play it.
Read the tab here.
5. Wonderwall – Oasis
Oasis’s “Wonderwall,” a 1995 hit, is practically synonymous with acoustic guitar sing-alongs. Its distinctive strumming pattern and simple chord progression make it one of the first songs many acoustic guitarists learn. “Wonderwall” is a quintessential beginner acoustic song that’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Read the full tab here.
6. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” released in 1973, is a timeless classic known for its simple, yet deeply moving melody and chord progression. This song is incredibly easy to learn on acoustic guitar, often using just a few basic chords repeated throughout. It’s a powerful song that’s perfect for practicing smooth chord changes.
Read the full tab here.
7. Horse With No Name – America
America’s “Horse with No Name,” from 1971, is famous for its hypnotic and repetitive acoustic guitar riff. This song is excellent for beginners because the main riff is easy to memorize and play, focusing on consistent rhythm and basic chord shapes. Its laid-back vibe makes it a relaxing and enjoyable song to learn.
Read the full tab here.
8. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here,” released in 1975, is a poignant and emotionally resonant ballad featuring beautiful acoustic guitar work. While the full song has more complex parts, the intro and verses are based on relatively simple chords and arpeggiated patterns, making it manageable for acoustic guitar beginners to learn and appreciate.
Read the full tab here.
9. Let It Be – The Beatles
“Let It Be” by The Beatles, released in 1970, is an uplifting and comforting classic that sounds wonderful on acoustic guitar. The chord progression is straightforward, and the strumming is simple, making it an accessible and inspiring song for beginners to add to their repertoire.
Read the full tab here.
10. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” a hit from 1967, is a joyful and energetic song that’s instantly recognizable. The acoustic guitar part is upbeat and uses common chords in a lively strumming pattern. It’s a fantastic song to practice strumming techniques and playing with tempo on your acoustic guitar.
Read the full tab here.
11. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day, from 1997, is a bittersweet and reflective song that’s primarily played on acoustic guitar. It uses simple chords and arpeggiated fingerpicking patterns, making it a good choice for beginners looking to develop a gentler, fingerstyle approach on their acoustic.
Read the full tab here.
12. Blowing in the Wind – Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s “Blowing in the Wind,” released in 1963, is an iconic protest song with a simple and powerful message. The acoustic guitar accompaniment is very basic, typically involving just a few easy chords and strumming patterns, making it an historically significant and beginner-friendly song to learn.
Read the full tab here.
13. You’re Beautiful – James Blunt
James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful,” released in 2005, is a romantic ballad that’s well-suited for acoustic guitar. The song primarily uses strummed chords and has a relatively slow tempo, which is beneficial for beginners focusing on clean chord transitions and consistent rhythm on their acoustic guitar.
Read the full tab here.
14. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours,” a hit from 2008, is an upbeat and positive song perfect for acoustic guitar. It features a catchy ukulele-inspired rhythm that translates easily to acoustic guitar strumming. The chords are simple and repetitive, making it a fun and accessible song for beginners to learn and play.
Read the full tab here.
15. Hey, Soul Sister – Train
Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister,” released in 2009, is a lively and catchy pop-rock song that sounds great on acoustic guitar. It’s known for its distinctive mandolin riff, which can be adapted for acoustic guitar. The song is energetic and uses simple chords, making it a fun and engaging song for beginners to practice strumming and rhythm.
Read the full tab here.
Want to discover more fantastic songs for acoustic guitar? Explore these 5 easy songs to play on guitar or these 10 easy guitar riffs.
Expand Your Acoustic Guitar Journey with Tabs
These 15 easy acoustic guitar tabs are just the beginning. Mastering these songs will give you a solid foundation for your guitar playing journey. To take your skills further, consider exploring resources like Tony’s Acoustic Challenge. It offers structured lessons, a supportive community, and a wealth of exercises designed to help acoustic guitar players of all levels improve.
Ready to accelerate your learning? Watch this FREE guitar class and discover three secrets to learning guitar faster by practicing just 10 minutes a day.
