Learning guitar as a beginner can feel overwhelming. Juggling chords, strumming patterns, and understanding music theory all at once can seem like a huge hurdle, especially if you’re new to music altogether. Many beginners, particularly children, find themselves lost in a sea of frets and strings, unsure where to even begin.
Pretty girl playing guitar
For those who have some prior musical experience, perhaps with piano lessons, the transition to guitar might seem a bit more intuitive. However, for a true beginner, the guitar can feel like a mysterious instrument. Coordinating both hands independently, maintaining rhythm, grasping chord shapes, and deciphering music notation can all contribute to a feeling of confusion.
But don’t worry, learning guitar doesn’t have to be baffling! With the right resources and a step-by-step approach, anyone can learn to play and enjoy guitar music. This guide is designed to provide you with easy Guitar Music For Beginners Music Sheet, tabs, and helpful resources to demystify the learning process and set you on the path to becoming a guitar player.
This page is your gateway to a treasure trove of easy guitar music for beginners music sheet and exercises. We’ll provide you with the tools you need to understand chords, strum your first songs, and start reading music – all for free!
Let’s explore the resources available to help you begin your guitar journey:
Essential Guitar Worksheets for Beginners
Worksheets are invaluable tools for any beginner guitarist. They provide a visual and hands-on way to learn fundamental concepts. From understanding the fretboard to mastering chords, these worksheets are designed to make learning engaging and effective.
Guitar Chord Fretboard Diagrams
Understanding the guitar fretboard is crucial. Having fretboard diagrams in different sizes – small, large, and super large – can be incredibly beneficial. These diagrams help beginners visualize the notes on the fretboard and understand the relationship between strings and frets.
Beginner chords chart
Guitar Flashcards
Flashcards are a classic and effective way to memorize notes and chords. Guitar flashcards help beginners become familiar with notes on the treble clef, associating them with their positions on the guitar. This is a fun and interactive way to build music reading skills.
Guitar flashcards
Blank Guitar Tablature Sheets
Tablature, or tabs, is a simplified way to read music for guitar, showing you exactly where to place your fingers on the fretboard. Blank tablature sheets are essential for practicing writing out tabs for songs you are learning or even composing your own simple melodies.
You can find all these helpful guitar worksheets and more HERE.
Very Easy Guitar Tabs for Your First Songs
Once you have a grasp of the basics, it’s time to start playing songs! Easy guitar tabs are the perfect way to begin. They allow you to play recognizable melodies quickly, building confidence and motivation. Here are some very easy guitar tabs to get you started:
12-Bar Blues Bass Line
The 12-bar blues is a fundamental structure in many genres of music. Starting with a simple 12-bar blues bass line is a fantastic introduction to blues music and rhythm for beginner guitarists.
Twelve bar blues bass line for beginning guitar students
Lullaby: All Through the Night
“All Through the Night” is a beautiful and gentle lullaby that is surprisingly easy to play on guitar. The tabs primarily use 0, 2, and 4 on the fretboard, making it accessible for beginners while still sounding lovely.
All Through the Night lullaby
Folk Song: Boil’em Cabbage Down
“Boil’em Cabbage Down” is an energetic and fun folk song that is excellent for learning basic chords (A-D-E) and simple strumming patterns like “Down, Down-Up.” It’s a great song for developing rhythm and coordination.
Alt text: “Boil ’em Cabbage Down” guitar tab, featuring a simple melody and A-D-E chords for beginner folk guitar songs.
Canadian Folk Song: Canoe Song
The “Canoe Song” is a simple and repetitive song that uses only one chord. Its driving melody and single chord simplicity make it very easy for beginners to learn and enjoy, especially children.
Canoe Song chords for guitar
Open String Exercises
Before even tackling chords, getting comfortable with the guitar strings themselves is key. Exercises using open strings (playing strings without pressing down on any frets) are the easiest guitar tabs to play. These exercises help beginners familiarize themselves with the strings and frets, and can even sound like a song after a few weeks of practice!
Guitar exercises all on open strings
Hymn: God is Good (or God is So Good)
“God is Good” is a sweet and simple melody that is easy to play using both tabs and chords. It’s a great song for beginners to practice melody playing and basic chord transitions. Don’t worry about complex chords yet – beginners can even use a simplified “baby F” chord.
Guitar tabs God is So Good
American Folk Song: Home on the Range
“Home on the Range” is a classic American folk song. Beginners can start with a simplified arrangement using “baby chords.” For those looking for a bit more challenge later, there are also fancier arrangements available with more chords.
Home on the Range music
Christmas Song: Jingle Bells
“Jingle Bells” is a universally recognized and joyful song. Thankfully, it’s also simple to play on guitar! Beginner arrangements use just two chords, and slightly more advanced versions use four, offering a stepping stone for progress.
Jingle Bells guitar tabs
Nursery Rhyme: Mary Had a Little Lamb
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” is a classic nursery rhyme that translates beautifully to guitar. Using just two chords and easy tabs, this familiar tune is perfect for very young beginners.
Mary Had a Little Lamb with guitar tabs
Halloween Song: Monsters Everywhere
“Monsters Everywhere” is a fun, slightly spooky Halloween song with easy-to-learn lyrics and a simple melody. The melody moves slowly along the fretboard, making it very manageable for beginners.
Halloween guitar music
American Folk Song: Old Joe Clark
“Old Joe Clark” is a goofy and singable tune that is fun to play and sing along to. Its simple structure and catchy melody make it a great choice for beginner guitarists.
Old Joe Clark guitar tabs
Beginner Exercise Song: Pizza Please (Hot Cross Buns)
“Pizza Please,” based on the melody of “Hot Cross Buns,” is one of the world’s easiest songs for beginners. Its simplicity and familiarity make it an ideal starting point, especially for younger learners who might recognize the tune from band class.
Guitar tablature sheet for beginners
Movie Theme: Sharks (Jaws Theme)
Playing the theme from “Jaws” – even a simplified version – is instantly engaging for students. The “Sharks” easy guitar tabs are very similar to the iconic movie theme and will motivate students to practice and master the tune.
Sharks, sounding like the Jaws theme song, with guitar tabs
American Folk Song: Shortnin’ Bread
“Shortnin’ Bread” is a cute and repetitive song that is easy to learn with both tabs and chords. Its simple structure and catchy melody make it a great choice for beginner guitarists to build confidence.
Easy guitar tabs music
Nursery Rhyme: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is perhaps the most universally known children’s song. Playing familiar tunes is especially important for beginner guitarists, making “Twinkle Twinkle” an excellent and encouraging starting point.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star for guitar tabs
Hymns, Carols, & Anthems for Beginner Guitar
Expanding your repertoire to include hymns, carols, and anthems offers a rich and rewarding musical experience. Many of these songs are surprisingly accessible to beginner guitarists and provide a great way to develop your skills while playing meaningful music.
Lullaby/Hymn: All Through the Night
“All Through the Night” appears again, this time in the hymns section, highlighting its versatility. This beautiful song is loved by many, especially young girls, and mastering it on guitar is a rewarding experience.
All Through the Night lullaby
Hymn: Amazing Grace
“Amazing Grace” is a timeless and beloved hymn. The melody is very easy to pick on guitar, especially in the key of G (also available in C), making it a wonderful choice for beginner guitarists who want to play something deeply moving.
Amazing Grace guitar tabs
Patriotic Song: America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)
“America” (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee) is a well-known patriotic song with a beautiful melody. It provides an opportunity to learn a song with historical and cultural significance while practicing basic guitar skills.
Patriotic guitar tabs
Christmas Carol: Angels We Have Heard On High
“Angels We Have Heard On High” is a classic Christmas carol known for its joyful melody and the long “Gloria” section. Playing this carol on guitar is a festive and rewarding way to improve your skills during the holiday season.
Christmas guitar tabs
Hymn: Ave Maria
“Ave Maria” is a beautiful and serene piece, often associated with Bach/Gounod. While the full version can be complex, simplified lead sheets with chords make it accessible for beginner guitarists to explore this classic melody.
Ave Maria lead sheet for guitar
Christmas Carol: Away in a Manger
“Away in a Manger” is a simple and tender Christmas carol. Its easy guitar tab line makes it a perfect choice for beginners to learn during the Christmas season.
Easy guitar Christmas music
Hymn: Be Thou My Vision
“Be Thou My Vision” is a very old and beautiful hymn praising God. Lead sheets and piano arrangements are available, and beginner guitarists can focus on the melody line or simplified chord versions.
Hymn lead sheet Be My Vision
Christmas Carol: Carol of the Bells
“Carol of the Bells” is a beautiful but slightly more challenging Christmas song. While not the easiest, the challenge of playing “Carol of the Bells” can be a fun and rewarding goal for determined beginners.
Carol of the Bells for guitar – classical style, with guitar tabs
Hymn: Christ Arose
“Christ Arose” is a powerful hymn about Resurrection Sunday. With easy chords in the key of C and available tabs, it’s a great song for beginners to learn, especially for church or Easter performances.
Christ Arose chords for guitar
Hymn: Come Ye Sinners (Beach Spring Melody)
“Come Ye Sinners” (Beach Spring melody) is an old gospel hymn with an irresistible melody. While guitar tabs may not be available, the chords are accessible, and the melody is easy to pick out, especially for those familiar with fiddle tunes.
Come Ye Sinners Beach Spring melody music
Hymn: Come Ye Sinners (I Will Arise and Go to Jesus)
Another version of “Come Ye Sinners” with the subtitle “I Will Arise and Go to Jesus,” this hymn has a haunting melody in a minor key. While this particular sheet is for piano, other keys may be more guitar-friendly, and the lyrics are the same as the previous hymn.
Hymn sheet music for guitar
Christmas Carol: Deck the Halls
“Deck the Halls” is a festive and well-known Christmas carol. Free arrangements are available, including versions with both high and low melodies, making it adaptable for different vocal ranges and beginner guitar arrangements.
Christmas carol sheet music
Hymn: Doxology
“Doxology” is a short and famous hymn with the lyrics “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” Lead sheets and piano arrangements are available, and beginner guitarists can easily play simplified chord versions or the main melody.
Doxology sheet music
French Christmas Carol: Entre le boeuf et l’âne gris (Between the Ox and Donkey)
“Entre le boeuf et l’âne gris” is a lovely Christmas carol from France. With available guitar chords, this unfamiliar but beautiful song offers a chance to explore international Christmas music.
French Christmas music sheet
Hymn: Farther On
“Farther On” is a sweet and comforting hymn about going to a better place. Chords and lyrics are available, and the song can be adapted for beginner guitarists looking for meaningful and gentle music.
Lead sheet
Thanksgiving Round: For Health & Strength & Daily Bread
“For Health & Strength & Daily Bread” is a simple round with a Thanksgiving theme. With guitar tabs and chords, it’s a simple and meaningful song to learn, especially around Thanksgiving.
A Thanksgiving round with guitar tabs
Thanksgiving Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth
“For the Beauty of the Earth” is another Thanksgiving hymn, thanking God for the beauty of the world. Beginner guitarists can play simplified chord versions or focus on the melody of this classic hymn.
Hymn sheet music For the Beauty of the Earth
Christmas Carol: The Friendly Beasts
“The Friendly Beasts” is a Christmas carol that includes a few secondary chords (Am & Dm), but can still be played with just the three main chords (C, F, G7), making it manageable for progressing beginners.
The Friendly Beasts sheet music
Comforting Song: Gabrielle: Address Heaven
“Gabrielle: Address Heaven” is a song written to offer comfort to those grieving. While the subject matter is somber, the melody can be gentle and accessible for beginner guitarists looking for emotionally resonant music.
A song for a girl who died young
Medieval Hymn: Gaudete (Rejoice!)
“Gaudete (Rejoice!)” is a very old and interesting Latin hymn of praise. With several arrangements available, beginner guitarists can explore a bit of classical style with this piece.
Medieval music Gaudete
Hymn: God is So Good (or God is Good)
“God is So Good” reappears, emphasizing its simplicity and versatility. It’s a short and sweet song that is easy to learn, transpose, and play on guitar, making it a valuable addition to a beginner’s repertoire.
Guitar tabs God is So Good
Christmas Carol: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” is a joyful and classic Christmas carol. Guitar tabs and beginner piano arrangements are available, making it accessible for various beginner musicians, including guitarists.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing, guitar tabs and chords, in the key of C
Hymn: I Love You, Lord
“I Love You, Lord” is a very easy guitar melody with simple chords. It offers lots of room for finger-picking practice, making it a good choice for beginners wanting to explore different playing styles.
I Love You Lord sheet music
Hymn: I’ll Fly Away
“I’ll Fly Away” is a vigorous and popular old-timey hymn about going to heaven. Easy guitar tabs make up the melody, making it fun and accessible for beginner guitarists to learn a well-loved hymn.
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Christmas Song: Jingle Bells (Advanced Version)
“Jingle Bells” appears again, this time with a slightly more advanced arrangement using C, F, D7, G, and G7 chords. This version offers a step up for beginners who have mastered the simpler two-chord arrangement and want a bit more challenge.
Jingle Bells guitar music
Christmas Song: Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
“Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” is a fun and nostalgic song, especially for young children and those who remember it from childhood. Guitar music is available further down the page, offering a festive and enjoyable piece for beginners.
Guitar tabs Jolly Old St Nicholas
Christmas Carol: Joy to the World
“Joy to the World” is a powerful and joyous Christmas carol. Several arrangements are available, including guitar tabs, making it accessible for beginner guitarists to play this celebratory holiday piece.
joy to the world tablature
Hymn: Just As I Am Without One Plea
“Just As I Am Without One Plea” is an older hymn that remains beautiful and soul-stirring. Using just three chords, it’s a relatively simple yet deeply moving hymn for beginner guitarists to learn.
Just As I Am, a hymn for church, with guitar tabs.
Spiritual: Kum Ba Yah
“Kum Ba Yah” is a sweet and simple spiritual song that asks God to come near. Its repetitive and gentle nature makes it easy for beginner guitarists to learn and play.
Kum Ba Yah guitar tabs
Christmas Carol: Lo I Bring You Tidings
“Lo I Bring You Tidings” is a more modern Christmas carol with lyrics directly from the Bible. It offers a slightly different style of Christmas music for beginner guitarists to explore.
Guitar tabs Christmas carol
Classical Piece: Ode to Joy
“Ode to Joy” is a famous and uplifting melody by Beethoven. Beginner guitar arrangements are available with standard notation and “helper” tablature, making it a great introduction to classical music and note reading for guitarists.
Ode to Joy music
Christmas Carol: On Christmas Night
“On Christmas Night” is presented as a violin duet, but the parts can be adapted for guitar. The open strings in the second violin part make it particularly easy for beginner guitarists to play along with a teacher or more advanced player.
Christmas violin duet
Christmas Carol: Silent Night
“Silent Night” is a peaceful and beloved Christmas carol. Arrangements are available for various string ensembles as well as guitar solo, offering multiple options for beginner guitarists to play this classic carol.
Silent Night guitar tabs
French Christmas Carol: Sing We Noel
“Sing We Noel” is a Christmas carol from France. While tablature may not be available, numerous keys are provided to try out the chords, offering chord practice for beginner guitarists interested in international carols.
Sing We Noel chords
Hymn: Softly and Tenderly
“Softly and Tenderly” is an old-fashioned hymn with a contemplative and heart-touching melody. It’s a good choice for beginner guitarists looking for music that is both easy to play and emotionally meaningful.
Hymn sheet music for guitar
Hymn: Sweet Hour of Prayer
“Sweet Hour of Prayer” is another old-fashioned hymn with a pretty melody and meaningful, scriptural lyrics. With four verses, it provides a longer piece for beginner guitarists to work on.
Guitar tabs Sweet Hour of Prayer
Christmas Carol: Up On the Housetop
“Up On the Housetop” is a surprisingly old Christmas carol with a joyous and modern feel. It uses just the basic “I, IV, & V” chords, making it very accessible for beginner guitarists learning Christmas music.
Alt text: “Up On the Housetop” lead sheet, a joyous Christmas carol using basic chords, perfect for beginner guitarists.
Christmas Carol: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” is a high-energy and joyous Christmas carol. With easy chords and available tabs and lyrics, it’s a fun and festive song for beginner guitarists to learn and play.
Alt text: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” chords and tabs, a joyous and energetic Christmas carol with easy chords for beginner guitarists.
Christmas Carol: What Child is This (Greensleeves)
“What Child is This” uses the beautiful old melody of “Greensleeves.” This version with Christmas lyrics offers a more lute-like arrangement and a touch of historical depth for beginner guitarists during the holiday season.
Alt text: “What Child is This” Christmas sheet music, using the “Greensleeves” melody, a historically rich carol for beginner guitar practice.
Shape Note Hymn: What Wondrous Love
“What Wondrous Love” offers two different melodies, including a lesser-known “bluegrass” or Shape Note version. This alternate melody is strong and compelling, providing a unique musical experience for beginner guitarists interested in exploring different hymn styles.
Alt text: “What Wondrous Love” bluegrass melody guitar tab, a unique Shape Note hymn melody for beginner guitarists seeking variety.
Shape Note Hymn: What Wondrous Love (4-Part Harmony)
“What Wondrous Love” (4-part harmony) expands on the “bluegrass” melody, offering a choral arrangement. While the full harmony is more advanced, beginner guitarists can still focus on the melody line or simplified chord versions of this compelling tune.
Alt text: “What Wondrous Love” 4-part harmony sheet music, a choral arrangement of the bluegrass melody, with melody and chords adaptable for beginner guitarists.
Hymn: When He Cometh (Jewels)
“When He Cometh,” also known as “Jewels,” is a hymn that speaks of the preciousness of children. Using just three main chords, it’s a simple and sweet song for beginner guitarists, with opportunities for vocal harmony if playing with others.
Alt text: “When He Cometh” hymn lead sheet, also known as “Jewels”, a sweet hymn about children using basic chords, suitable for beginner guitarists.
Classical Guitar Pieces for Beginners
Exploring classical guitar pieces early on can build a strong foundation in technique and music reading. While classical guitar may seem intimidating, there are beautiful and accessible pieces perfect for beginners.
Spanish Study Introduction
“Spanish Study Introduction” is a beautiful and approachable first classical piece for young guitarists. It’s designed to be musically engaging while introducing basic classical guitar techniques.
Classical guitar sheets for beginners
Allegro from The Butterfly by Giuliani
“Allegro” from “The Butterfly” by Giuliani is a classical piece that looks more complicated than it actually is. It primarily uses chord shapes Am, Dm, E, and E7, making it manageable for beginners while sounding impressive.
Allegro from The Butterfly by Giuilani for guitar, with and without guitar tabs
Christmas Carol: Carol of the Bells (Classical Version)
“Carol of the Bells” appears again, this time in a classical guitar arrangement. While still challenging, practicing this beautiful Christmas song in a classical style can be a rewarding goal for progressing beginners.
Carol of the Bells for guitar – classical style, with guitar tabs
Duet: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach is a well-loved piece. Arranged as a duet, it offers a chance to play with a teacher or another student, making learning more interactive and enjoyable.
A duet version for guitar or treble instruments of Jesu Joy of Man
Classical Piece: Ode to Joy (Standard Notation Focus)
“Ode to Joy” reappears, this time with a focus on standard notation. This arrangement intentionally omits tablature to encourage beginner guitarists to practice reading traditional music notation.
Ode to Joy music
Spanish Study
“Spanish Study” is presented in multiple versions – a 3-page version, a 1-page version, and a worksheet. These variations offer flexibility and cater to different learning paces, making it a versatile classical piece for beginners.
Spanish Study classical guitar music with tabs
Round: Viva la Musica
“Viva la Musica” is a simple melody that is also a round. Playing it as a round with another student or teacher presents a unique challenge in focus and listening, making practice engaging and developing ensemble skills.
Alt text: “Viva la Musica” guitar tabs, a simple round melody that challenges beginner guitarists to play in ensemble and improve listening skills.
Flatpicking Guitar and Fiddle Pieces for Beginners
Flatpicking is a style of guitar playing, often used in bluegrass and folk music, where a pick is used to play single-note melodies and fast-paced tunes. These pieces, often shared with fiddle music, are energetic and fun for beginners to explore.
American Folk Tune: Arkansas Traveler
“Arkansas Traveler” is a famous American tune, presented in versions in both C and G. These arrangements are designed for flatpicking guitar and include both standard notation and tabs, making them accessible for beginners learning this style.
Flatpicking guitar songs
Bluegrass Tune: Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains
“Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains” is a very different piece – minor and with a great melody. This bluegrass tune offers a chance to explore a different mood and style within flatpicking.
Alt text: “Bonaparte Crossing the Rocky Mountains” bluegrass guitar tab, a minor key piece offering a different mood in beginner flatpicking practice.
Irish Fiddle Tune: The Butterfly
“The Butterfly” is a popular Irish fiddle tune, famously played by Celtic Woman. This exciting and energetic piece is fun to learn on guitar and offers a taste of Celtic music.
The Butterfly for fiddle and guitar
American Folk Song: Camptown Races
“Camptown Races” is a cute and classic song by Stephen Foster. Arrangements for guitar solo offer a chance to play a well-known American folk tune in a flatpicking style.
Alt text: “Camptown Races” guitar solo tab, a cute Stephen Foster song arranged for beginner flatpicking guitar practice.
Irish Fiddle Tune: Devil’s Dream
“Devil’s Dream” is a piece that guitarists and fiddlers alike enjoy playing faster and faster. It’s excellent for developing flatpicking speed and skill. The melody is almost entirely “Down-Up, Down-Up,” making it great for practicing alternate picking.
Alt text: “Devil’s Dream” guitar tab, a fast-paced Irish fiddle tune excellent for developing beginner flatpicking speed and alternate picking technique.
Irish/American Fiddle Tune: June Apple
“June Apple” is a fun tune shared between fiddle and guitar traditions. It provides another energetic and rhythmic piece for beginner flatpickers to learn.
Alt text: “June Apple” violin and guitar tab, a fun and energetic fiddle tune suitable for beginner flatpicking guitar practice.
Scottish Folk Tune: Mari’s Wedding
“Mari’s Wedding” is a cute and energetic Scottish tune with lyrics to sing. Its lively rhythm and melody make it a fun flatpicking piece for beginners to learn.
Alt text: “Mari’s Wedding” guitar tab, a cute and energetic Scottish folk tune for beginner flatpicking practice, with lyrics available.
Irish Fiddle Tune: Musical Priest
“Musical Priest” is a fun minor piece with opportunities to learn ornaments (embellishments). Two arrangements are available – a simple melody and one with ornaments written in, offering options for different skill levels.
Alt text: “Musical Priest” violin music, a fun minor key Irish fiddle tune with ornament options, adaptable for beginner flatpicking guitar practice.
Irish Fiddle Tune: Redhaired Boy
“Redhaired Boy” is a favorite tune for many musicians. Available in keys of A and G, it’s a great piece for both fiddle and guitar, offering another energetic option for beginner flatpickers.
Alt text: “Redhaired Boy” guitar tab, a popular Irish fiddle tune in keys of A and G, well-suited for beginner flatpicking practice.
Irish Fiddle Tune: Road to Lisdoonvarna
“Road to Lisdoonvarna” is a catchy fiddle tune with two versions available – plain and fancy. This offers a chance to learn a basic version first and then progress to a more ornamented arrangement as skills improve.
Road to Lisdoonvarna free fiddle sheet music
Celtic Ballad: Sleepsong
“Sleepsong” is a beautiful and lyrical Celtic ballad. Transposed to Em, it’s made easier for beginner guitar players. Listening to a video performance of this song can be inspiring and motivating.
Sleepsong music for piano, voice, & guitar
Irish Folk Tune: Spanish Lady
“Spanish Lady” is a really fun and bouncy tune with high energy. Its lively rhythm and pretty melody make it another enjoyable flatpicking piece for beginners.
The Spanish Lady sheet music
Irish Fiddle Tune: Ten-Penny Bit
“Ten-Penny Bit” is a great fiddle melody that also works well as a fun flatpicking piece for guitar. Its minor melody offers a different flavor compared to major key tunes.
Guitar flatpicking music, for violin too.
Folk and Traditional Songs for Beginner Guitar
Folk and traditional songs are the heart of many guitar styles. They offer a rich variety of melodies, stories, and cultural heritage. Many folk songs are also relatively simple to learn on guitar, making them perfect for beginners.
Irish Folk Tune: Ale is Dear
“Ale is Dear” is presented as a violin trio, but the melody and chords can be adapted for guitar. One of the violin parts is almost a single-note drone, offering a simplified part for beginner guitarists to play along with.
Alt text: “Camptown Races” guitar solo tab, representative image for folk guitar songs, linking to a variety of beginner-friendly folk and traditional pieces.
Lullaby: All the Pretty Little Horses
“All the Pretty Little Horses” is a lullaby with lovely repeating melody lines. Available in two keys for guitar, it offers many possibilities for finger-picking practice, making it a beautiful and versatile piece for beginners.
Ale is Dear song for violin
Welsh Folk Song: All Through the Night
“All Through the Night” appears for the third time, highlighting its popularity and adaptability. Guitar tabs in the key of D are available for this pretty lullaby with poetic lyrics, making it a rewarding song to learn for beginners.
Lullaby All the Pretty Little Horses
Welsh Folk Song: Ash Grove
“Ash Grove” is an old and very pretty song from Wales. Its gentle melody and simple structure make it another excellent choice for beginner guitarists exploring folk music.
All Through the Night lullaby
American Folk Song: Aura Lea (Love Me Tender)
“Aura Lea,” famously known as “Love Me Tender,” is a beautiful song from the Civil War era, popularized by Elvis Presley. Chords, tabs, and lyrics are available for both versions, offering a piece with historical and cultural significance.
The Ash Grove song
Birthday Song: Blow the Candles Out
“Blow the Candles Out” is a birthday song with an unforgettable melody. Lead sheets are available, and beginner guitarists can focus on learning the melody and basic chords to play for birthday celebrations.
Aura Lea/Love Me Tender song
American Folk Song: Camptown Races (Duet Version)
“Camptown Races” reappears, this time with a duet version. Playing duets is a fun and interactive way to learn, and this arrangement offers a chance for beginners to play together with a teacher or another student.
Blow the Candles Out song
American Folk Song: The Cat Came Back
“The Cat Came Back” is a fun and silly song with repetitive chord patterns. It’s excellent for practicing a walking bass line and has a limited vocal range, making it good for beginner singers as well as guitarists.
Alt text: “Camptown Races” guitar tab, appearing again to highlight the duet version, offering interactive beginner guitar practice in ensemble.
Cowboy Song: Colorado Trail
“Colorado Trail” is a genuine cowboy song written by a real cowboy. Surprisingly sweet and pretty, it offers a glimpse into cowboy culture and simple, melodic folk music for beginners.
The Cat Came Back song
Gaelic Song: Come By the Hills
“Come By the Hills” is a pretty Gaelic song with English lyrics. Simple chords make it lovely for strumming or finger-picking, and the lyrics are easy to sing, offering a gentle and melodic folk song for beginners.
The Colorado Trail song
Latin Round: Dona Nobis Pacem
“Dona Nobis Pacem” (“Give us peace”) is a Latin poem set to music as a beautiful round. While not easy as a round, it can be sung as a solo and simplified for beginner guitar melody or chord practice.
Alt text: “Come By the Hills” guitar tab, a pretty Gaelic song with simple chords, lovely for beginner strumming or finger-picking practice.
American Folk Song: Down in the Valley
“Down in the Valley” is a super-easy two-chord song, perfect for first finger-picking practice. Using “baby” C and “baby” G7 chords, beginners can focus on right-hand technique while playing a recognizable tune.
Alt text: “Dona Nobis Pacem” guitar tab, a beautiful Latin round, adaptable for beginner solo melody or simplified chord practice.
American Folk Song: Erie Canal Song
“Erie Canal Song” is an old favorite with good energy that kids enjoy. Its lively rhythm and simple structure make it a fun and engaging folk song for beginner guitarists.
Alt text: “Down in the Valley” guitar tab, a super-easy two-chord song, perfect for beginner finger-picking and right-hand technique practice.
Children’s Song: Found a Peanut
“Found a Peanut” is a silly song with just two chords and repetitive lyrics. Using “baby” C and G7 chords, it’s perfect for a first guitar lesson, offering immediate success and engagement.
The Erie Canal song for guitar players – chords and tabs!
American Folk Song: Goober Peas
“Goober Peas” may be unfamiliar at first, but kids often grow to love it. Despite easy chords, the quick chord changes present a good challenge for beginners, helping them develop essential chord transition skills.
Alt text: “Found a Peanut” guitar tab, a silly two-chord children’s song, ideal for a first guitar lesson and using baby chords C and G7.
English Folk Song: Greensleeves (Various Versions)
“Greensleeves” is a beautiful old melody, also used for “What Child is This.” Three guitar versions are available – A minor, E minor, and E minor with a lute-like lowered seventh – all with tablature, offering variety and exploration of minor keys for beginners.
Alt text: “Goober Peas” guitar tab, an initially challenging but ultimately fun American folk song for beginner chord transition practice.
English Folk Song: Grenadier and the Lady
“The Grenadier and the Lady” is a beautiful minor song that tells a story. It offers good opportunities for finger-picking practice with mostly easy guitar chords, making it a rewarding piece for beginners exploring storytelling songs.
Alt text: “Greensleeves” guitar tab, offering three versions in A minor and E minor keys, a beautiful old English folk song for beginner exploration of minor keys.
Birthday Song: Happy Birthday
“Happy Birthday” – a must-know for any musician! Guitar tabs are available in both G and D, and lead sheets in multiple keys are also provided, ensuring you can play this essential song in any situation.
Alt text: “The Grenadier and the Lady” guitar tab, a beautiful minor key English folk song with finger-picking opportunities for beginner storytelling song practice.
Round: Heigh Ho, Nobody Home
“Heigh Ho, Nobody Home” is an easy and satisfying round. This minor song is both fun and beautiful, offering a chance to experience harmony and round singing in a simple guitar arrangement.
Alt text: “Happy Birthday” guitar tab, an essential song available in keys of G and D, a must-know for all beginner guitarists.
American Folk Song: Home on the Range (Advanced Version)
“Home on the Range” reappears with a fancier arrangement using many chords. This more complex version offers a step up for beginners who have mastered the simple 3-chord arrangement and want to expand their chord vocabulary.
Alt text: “Heigh Ho, Nobody Home” guitar tab, an easy and satisfying minor key round, offering beginner ensemble and harmony practice.
Riddle Song: I Gave My Love a Cherry
“I Gave My Love a Cherry” (The Riddle Song) is a lovely song with a lyrical melody and a lyrical riddle in the lyrics. Chords are available, and listening to a recording is recommended to learn the melody.
Alt text: “Home on the Range” guitar tab, advanced arrangement with many chords, offering a step up for beginners ready to expand chord vocabulary.
Campfire Song: I Love the Mountains
“I Love the Mountains” is used to teach beginners to switch between G, Em, C, and D7 chords. It’s invaluable for developing a tactile feel for chord changes with minimal hand movement, focusing on efficiency and smooth transitions.
Music for the song I Gave My Love a Cherry
American Folk Song: I’ve Been Working On the Railroad
“I’ve Been Working On the Railroad” is a fun and energetic song with lyrics that evoke a sense of history. Its lively rhythm and recognizable melody make it another engaging folk song for beginner guitarists.
Alt text: “I Love the Mountains” guitar tab, used to teach beginner chord switching between G, Em, C, and D7, focusing on smooth transitions.
Spiritual: Kum Ba Yah (Again)
“Kum Ba Yah” reappears once more, solidifying its place as a staple for beginners. This sweet old folk song, possibly from Africa, is gentle, repetitive, and easy to learn on guitar.
Alt text: “I’ve Been Working On the Railroad” guitar tab, a fun and energetic American folk song, engaging for beginner rhythm and melody practice.
Scottish Folk Song: Loch Lomond
“Loch Lomond” is a favorite and famous song from Scotland. Lyrics, chords, and guitar tabs are available for this beautiful and evocative piece, offering beginner guitarists a taste of Scottish musical heritage.
Kum Ba Yah guitar tabs
Irish Folk Song: Minstrel Boy
“Minstrel Boy” is a patriotic and beautiful Irish song. Lyrical and evocative, it’s a good song for teenage boys or young men to sing and play, offering a chance to explore Irish musical storytelling.
Loch Lomond sheet music for guitar, with chords and lyrics and tabs
American Folk Song: O Susannah
“O Susannah” is a favorite old song of the American West. Guitar solo and duet versions are available, offering options for both solo and ensemble beginner practice with a classic Western tune.
Alt text: “Minstrel Boy” guitar tab, a patriotic and beautiful Irish song, lyrical and evocative, good for beginner exploration of Irish musical storytelling.
American Folk Song: On Top of Old Smokey
“On Top of Old Smokey” is a fun kid’s song with a melody also used for “On Top of Spaghetti.” Good for practicing the three main chords and transposing to other keys, it offers valuable foundational skills for beginners.
Alt text: “O Susannah” guitar tab, a favorite old song of the American West, offering solo and duet versions for beginner practice with a classic Western tune.
English Folk Ballad: Scarborough Fair
“Scarborough Fair” is a timeless and lovely piece. Excellent for learning or polishing finger-picking technique, several versions are available, including one showing how to play a walking bass line, offering varied learning opportunities for beginners.
Alt text: “On Top of Old Smokey” guitar tab, a fun kid’s song for practicing basic chords and transposing, building foundational skills for beginner guitarists.
American Folk Song: Shenandoah
“Shenandoah” is a beautiful song with a distinctly American feel. A lovely piece for finger-picking, it offers beginner guitarists a chance to explore expressive playing and a classic American melody.
Scarborough Fair with guitar tabs
American Folk Song: Shortnin’ Bread (Again)
“Shortnin’ Bread” returns, emphasizing its cuteness and ease. Just two chords and a repetitive melody make this American song very easy for beginners, for both guitar and fiddle, reinforcing basic skills and providing quick success.
Alt text: “Shenandoah” guitar tab, a beautiful and distinctly American folk song, lovely for beginner finger-picking practice and expressive playing.
Scottish Folk Song: Skye Boat Song
“Skye Boat Song” is a pretty song from Scotland, about Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape. A newer arrangement shows a fancy finger-picking chord backup, offering a progression for beginners to explore more elaborate accompaniment styles.
Easy guitar tabs music
American Lullaby: Slumber, My Darling
“Slumber, My Darling” is a sweet and pretty lullaby by Stephen Foster. Its gentle melody and simple structure make it a calming and accessible piece for beginner guitarists.
Alt text: “Skye Boat Song” guitar tab, a pretty Scottish folk song, offering a progression to fancy finger-picking chord backup for advancing beginners.
Sea Shanty: Spanish Ladies
“Spanish Ladies” is a rousing sea shanty, popular with young boys. Its singable melody and great minor chords provide good chord-changing practice, and several versions are available, offering variety and challenge.
Sheet music and guitar tabs and chords for
Irish Folk Song: The Spanish Lady (Again – different song)
“The Spanish Lady” (different from “Spanish Ladies” sea shanty) is a cute song about admiring a Spanish lady. Energetic and pretty, it offers another fun and melodic folk song for beginner guitarists to learn.
Spanish Ladies, a sea shanty with guitar chords & tabs & lyrics
Irish Folk Song: Star of the County Down
“Star of the County Down” is a studio favorite, especially for young guitar players. Its enduring popularity and engaging rhythm make it a song beginners don’t tire of quickly, and the arrangement is designed to help with accurate timing.
The Spanish Lady sheet music
Cowboy Song: Streets of Laredo
“Streets of Laredo” is a sad but pretty cowboy song about a dying young cowboy. Tabs, chords, and lyrics are available for this melancholic yet beautiful piece, offering a different emotional landscape in folk music for beginners.
Alt text: “Star of the County Down” guitar tab, a studio favorite Irish folk song, engaging rhythm and timing-focused arrangement for beginner practice.
American Folk Song: Sweet Betsy From Pike
“Sweet Betsy From Pike” is a fun American ballad with four verses and lyrics provided. Available in keys of G and C, it offers flexibility and a chance to learn a longer, narrative folk song.
A sad cowboy song for guitar, with tabs, chords, and lyrics: Streets of Laredo
Nursery Rhyme: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (Again)
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is listed again, emphasizing its importance for beginners. Sheet music for both guitar and violin, with tabs and chords, highlights its versatility and universal appeal as a starting piece.
Sweet Betsy From Pike guitar chords & tabs sheet music
Nursery Rhyme: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (Strings Notes Version)
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” (strings notes version) focuses on teaching the piece to a young girl who didn’t learn by ear. This version highlights alternative teaching methods for beginners who may struggle with traditional rote learning.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star for guitar tabs
American Folk Song: Wabash Cannonball
“Wabash Cannonball” is an energetic song about a famous train. Its driving rhythm and narrative lyrics make it another fun and engaging American folk song for beginner guitarists to learn.
Alt text: “Twinkle violin strings notes” sheet music, focusing on teaching methods for beginners who don’t learn by ear, highlighting alternative approaches.
Australian Folk Song: Waltzing Matilda
“Waltzing Matilda” is a beautiful and well-loved song from Australia. Its iconic melody and cultural significance make it a rewarding piece for beginner guitarists to explore international folk music.
Alt text: “Wabash Cannonball” guitar tab, an energetic American folk song about a famous train, engaging for beginner rhythm and melody practice.
Scottish Folk Song: Water is Wide
“Water is Wide” is a very pretty song, often sung in high school choirs. Its beautiful melody and chords, while conveying a message of lost love, are the memorable and important parts of this piece for beginner guitarists.
Waltzing Matilda guitar tabs and chords sheet music
Sea Shanty: Wellerman
“Wellerman” is a very fun sea shanty with opportunities for big, swingy chord playing. Its easy melody is also good for picking, offering a chance to explore both strumming and melody playing in a lively sea shanty style.
The Water is Wide guitar music with tabs and chords
Sea Shanty: What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor
“What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor” is easy, energetic, and a lot of fun. Also check out the 3-page flat-picking duet version, offering ensemble playing opportunities and a lively sea shanty experience for beginners.
Guitar tabs for Wellerman
Irish Patriotic Song: White, Orange and Green
“White, Orange and Green” is a memorable song from Ireland about a patriotic young girl. Pretty and singable, with satisfying chords that lend themselves to finger-picking, it’s a good choice for beginner guitarists interested in Irish patriotic music.
Alt text: “What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor” guitar tab, an easy and energetic sea shanty, also offering a 3-page flatpicking duet version for beginner ensemble practice.
Lead Sheets for Beginner Guitar
Lead sheets provide the melody line and chords of a song, offering flexibility for guitarists to create their own arrangements. These simplified sheets are excellent for beginners to start improvising and understanding song structure.
Lead Sheet: All the Pretty Little Horses (Em Key)
“All the Pretty Little Horses” lead sheet in Em key offers a melody that repeats with slight variations. It’s a confidence builder and very pretty, though the dotted quarter note rhythm might present an initial challenge.
Melody and guitar tablature for
Lead Sheet: Amazing Grace (C Key)
“Amazing Grace” lead sheet in C key offers easy guitar tabs for a familiar melody. For beginners unfamiliar with “Amazing Grace,” it might present a string-skipping challenge, but it’s a worthwhile effort for learning this iconic tune.
Alt text: “When He Cometh” lead sheet, representative image for lead sheets, linking to a collection of simplified melody and chord sheets for beginner guitarists.
Lead Sheet: Boil’em Cabbage Down (Full Melody)
“Boil’em Cabbage Down” lead sheet with the full melody is perfect for introducing the “Down, Down-Up” flatpicking stroke. Despite lacking lyrics, the song is fun to play and rhythmically engaging for beginners.
Guitar tabs All the Pretty Little Horses
Find even more lead sheets HERE at Music-for-Music-Teachers!
Guitar tabs for Amazing Grace
Beginner Guitar Books: Further Learning Resources
While free music sheets and tabs are a fantastic starting point, beginner guitar books offer structured lessons and comprehensive guidance to take your playing to the next level. These books often include exercises, theory explanations, and a progressive song repertoire.
Progressive Books for Young Beginners: Excellent for teaching note reading to young students. Moves slowly, introducing one new note at a time, avoids eighth notes, and excludes tablature to focus on standard notation.
Mel Bay’s Easiest Country Guitar for Children: A clever book with simple, uncluttered pages, covering topics like guitar holding, tuning, music basics, tablature reading, and picking technique. Includes simple tunes with treble clef, tabs, and chord symbols.
Alfred “Kids Guitar Course” Books 1: One of the simplest books for young kids, starting with the “baby” C chord and progressing to the baby G7 chord. Focuses on easy chords, strumming, and counting before introducing individual note picking.
Usborne’s Very Easy Guitar Tunes: Excludes tablature, forcing students to read treble staff. Focuses on progressively difficult tunes, including duets and rounds for fun ensemble playing.
Mel Bay American Fiddle Method, Vol. 1: Great for students playing with fiddlers. Includes tunes like “Boilem’ Cabbage Down,” “Shortnin’ Bread,” and “Cripple Creek” to practice A, D, and E chords.
The Everything Rock & Blues Guitar Book: A well-thought-out “teach yourself” book covering chords, scales, licks, and tricks for rock and blues styles.
Usborne’s Learn to Play Guitar: Another well-structured “teach yourself” book with comprehensive instruction and content for beginner guitarists.
Solo Guitar Playing, Book 1, 4th Edition: A comprehensive classical guitar course with 254 pages, originally published in 1968. No tablature, focuses on note reading, hand position, and classical technique.
Alfred
Start Your Guitar Journey Today!
Learning guitar is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Don’t let the initial challenges intimidate you. With the right resources, like these free guitar music for beginners music sheet and tabs, and a patient approach, you can unlock the joy of making music on the guitar.
Explore the songs, worksheets, and book recommendations provided here at guitarplayers.net. Start with the easiest pieces, gradually increase the difficulty, and most importantly, have fun! Your musical journey awaits – pick up your guitar and begin today!
