Starting your guitar journey can be incredibly exciting, and what better way to fuel that excitement than by learning to play some of your favorite songs right away? At guitarplayers.net, we understand that as a beginner, you’re looking for songs that are not only enjoyable but also accessible and easy to master. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 27 Simple Easy Guitar Songs perfect for beginners just like you. These songs focus on fundamental chords and rhythms, allowing you to build a solid foundation and quickly start making music. Get ready to impress yourself and your friends as you learn these fantastic tunes!
1. “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
Want to unleash your inner rock star immediately? “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath is your perfect starting point. This iconic metal anthem is surprisingly beginner-friendly, kicking off with just two strums of an E power chord on the 7th fret. The song then progresses with a simple yet powerful hammer-on riff and steadily down-picked E, A, and D power chords. “Paranoid” is fantastic for developing your power chord technique, rhythm, and introducing you to the raw energy of rock guitar. Listening carefully to the track will help you nail the rhythm and have you headbanging in no time to this legendary 70s hit.
2. “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi
For a more soulful and contemporary feel, “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi is an excellent choice. You’ll need to place a capo on the 1st fret for this one. This heartfelt ballad uses a simple chord progression of C, G, Am, and F chords, making it ideal for practicing smooth chord transitions and strumming patterns. You can start with a slow, consistent strum to match the song’s emotional tone, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, try fingerpicking individual strings to add a melodic layer. As you progress, you’ll encounter slight variations like Am7 and Dm7 in the bridge, which are easily achievable with minor adjustments to the basic open chords. “Someone You Loved” is perfect for developing your strumming, fingerpicking basics, and playing emotionally expressive pieces.
3. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Transport yourself to the American South with the instantly recognizable riff of “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. This southern rock classic is built around D, C, and G open chord shapes, making it accessible if you’ve already practiced these fundamental chords. While the riff might seem fast at first, it’s not overly complex. The key is repetition – the more you practice, the faster and more authentic your playing will become. Try keeping your pinky finger anchored on the 3rd fret of the B string as a guide; this will help your other fingers naturally fall into the C and G chord shapes. Playing along with the original song is crucial for capturing the correct rhythm and Skynyrd’s signature picking style. Because the riff loops seamlessly, you can easily play it repeatedly, making it a fantastic exercise for building speed and accuracy. You’ll be playing this iconic riff effortlessly in no time!
4. “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty
“Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty, famously covered by artists like John Mayer, is a timeless classic with a beautifully simple chord progression. You’ll need a capo on the 3rd fret to play along in the original key. The song primarily uses open D, A, and E chords, with a touch of Dsus4 to add some flavor. Don’t be intimidated by Dsus4; it’s simply a D chord with your pinky on the 3rd fret of the B string instead of the 2nd. Whether you’re playing acoustic or electric guitar (try adding a bit of overdrive for a classic rock sound!), “Free Fallin'” is perfect for practicing chord changes, strumming, and singing simultaneously. It’s a quintessential sing-along song that’s both easy to learn and incredibly rewarding to play.
5. “My Generation” by The Who
Want to rock out with minimal chord complexity? “My Generation” by The Who is your answer. This iconic 60s hit is built on just two chords: G and F. Playing these as power chords will give you that signature meaty rock sound. “My Generation” is excellent for practicing power chord transitions and developing your stage presence – feel free to unleash your roaring vocals during the instrumental breaks! While famously known for its bass solo, Pete Townshend’s guitar fills provide perfect cues for you to start exploring improvisation. This song is fantastic for beginner guitarists looking to dip their toes into soloing and rock improvisation due to its straightforward rhythm and chord structure.
6. “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals
“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals offers a chance to explore a different playing style. This classic blues-rock ballad revolves around Am, C, D, E, and F chords. Instead of strumming, the song is typically played by picking each note of the chord individually in an ascending and descending pattern, creating its signature bluesy and somber tone. Later in the song, you’ll encounter a C/E chord, which is simply a C chord with an E bass note. It’s a very slight adjustment from the regular open C chord shape. You’ll also find E7 and F7 chords, which introduce 7th notes from the scale, adding a touch of bluesy tension. These are simple variations of the open chords that appear strategically to enhance the song’s emotional depth. “House of the Rising Sun” is perfect for developing fingerpicking skills, learning chord arpeggios, and exploring a bluesier sound.
7. “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus
Ready for some country fun? “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus is a quintessential country two-step anthem. This undeniably catchy tune is built on just two chords: A and E. The simplicity of “Achy Breaky Heart” gives you plenty of space to experiment with country-style guitar licks using the notes within the open A and E chords. Explore scales in the key of A to start improvising solos over the chord progression. For a truly authentic country sound, try incorporating chicken pickin’ techniques. This song is excellent for practicing basic chord changes, exploring country rhythms, and venturing into country-style lead guitar.
8. “American Idiot” by Green Day
“American Idiot” by Green Day, a chart-topping hit from 2003, remains as energetic and fun to play as ever. The main riff consists of three simple power chords: C#, G#, and F# power chords. The riff involves quickly switching between these three power chord positions. At the end of the riff, a short, sharp hit of the open strings adds a dynamic punch and signals the start of the vocals. The guitar solo in “American Idiot” is also relatively beginner-friendly, featuring octave shapes played in quick succession, followed by an easy lick higher up the neck. This song is great for developing power chord agility, learning octave shapes, and capturing the raw energy of pop-punk guitar.
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 a reggae classic that you’ll master in no time. This feel-good anthem uses just three chords – A, D, and E – played with a reggae rhythm. The reggae strumming pattern can be a bit tricky for beginners, so start with a regular strumming pattern to get comfortable with the chord changes. As you progress, you can work on incorporating the more complex reggae beat. “Three Little Birds” is perfect for learning basic chord progressions, introducing you to reggae rhythms, and playing a song that is guaranteed to lift your spirits.
10. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana is a rite of passage for any guitarist. This groundbreaking grunge anthem is built on four power chords. The power chord shapes 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 straightforward but impactful, allowing you to play with plenty of attitude. To nail the rhythm, hit each chord a couple of times and then 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 – and you’ve got the verse part down! “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is essential for learning power chords, mastering grunge rhythms, and playing a song that defined a generation.
11. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
It’s almost impossible not to sing along to “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison. This eternally popular song is infused with a feel-good vibe, thanks to its bright G major key. Featuring easy-strumming open G, C, D, and Em chords, it’s a fantastic song for practicing your vocals while playing guitar. Once you’re comfortable with the chords and strumming pattern, challenge yourself with the fun, riff-like intro! “Brown Eyed Girl” is a crowd-pleasing classic that’s perfect for improving your strumming, chord changes, and vocal coordination.
12. “Wonderwall” by Oasis
Yes, we know, “Wonderwall” by Oasis is a song that’s been played countless times, but it’s a seminal track that every guitarist should have in their repertoire. You’ll need a capo on the 2nd fret. The song is built on basic G, C, D, and Em chords, but with a distinctive twist. On all chords, hold down the 3rd fret of the B and high E strings. This creates that signature “Wonderwall” treble-heavy tone. Later in the song, you’ll encounter a G transition chord. This chord helps smoothly transition into the Em chord. To play it, move your finger from the 3rd fret to the 2nd fret on the low E string, keeping the 3rd fret pressed on the B and high E strings and playing the rest of the strings open. This transition chord is a valuable technique you’ll see in many songs. “Wonderwall” is great for mastering basic chords with variations, learning transition chords, and playing a song that, despite its ubiquity, remains a crowd-pleaser.
13. “Zombie” by The Cranberries
“Zombie” by The Cranberries is a soulful and powerful anthem emblematic of the 90s. Surprisingly, it’s incredibly simple to learn, using just four chords: Em, Cmaj7, G, and D. Cmaj7 might sound complex, but it’s essentially an open C chord without pressing down the 1st fret on the B string. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as singing “What’s in your heaaaad” while playing through this comfortable chord progression. “Zombie” is perfect for practicing minor chords, learning major 7th chords, and playing a song with both emotional depth and easy playability.
14. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan/Guns N’ Roses
Originally penned by the legendary Bob Dylan and famously covered by Guns N’ Roses, “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is both easy to play and sing along to. The verse progression is G, D, Am/G, D, C, alternating between Am and C as the final chord in the sequence. For the chorus, the chord progression simplifies to G, D, and C, before reverting to the verse progression. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is excellent for practicing chord progressions, learning slash chords (Am/G), and playing a song with a rich history and broad appeal.
15. “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band
“The Joker” by Steve Miller Band is a true earworm. You might not immediately recognize the title, but you’ll definitely recognize the tune, and it’s incredibly easy to play. The song uses just G, Cadd9, and D chords, played in a consistent, steady pattern. As you become more confident with the chords and transitions, you can start picking individual notes to mimic the bass line and add in your own little guitar licks. “The Joker” is fantastic for mastering simple chord changes, learning Cadd9 chords, and exploring basic bass line integration on the guitar.
16. “Buck Rogers” by Feeder
“Buck Rogers” by Feeder is a Britpop gem from the 2000s that remains a bop today. The song has a very straightforward arrangement with an open Em chord and power chords at the 7th and 9th frets of the low E string. This forms the basic rhythm of the verses. The chorus adds a power chord at the 5th fret of the low E string. All chords are strummed in a steady beat that’s easy to follow. “Buck Rogers” is excellent for practicing power chords across the fretboard and learning a catchy, upbeat song with a simple structure.
17. “All The Small Things” by Blink-182
As pop-punk as it gets, “All The Small Things” by Blink-182 is a smash hit that’s guaranteed to get any crowd singing along. The song 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 very easy to sing along with due to its repetitive and catchy nature. The strumming pattern is easy to learn, primarily using steady down-picks. Listen for the palm mutes (where you dampen the strings with your palm while strumming) in the intro and during pauses to get the song sounding authentic. “All The Small Things” is perfect for mastering power chords, learning palm muting, and playing a quintessential pop-punk anthem.
18. “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol is a soulful, catchy, and remarkably easy song to play! It features a cool melodic riff that’s picked throughout much of the song, offering a refreshing change from chord-heavy songs. Instead of strumming, you’ll be picking power chord shapes. There’s a slight stretch involved in picking the 5th fret of the A string and the 9th fret of the G string, which is great for building hand strength and dexterity. Towards the end of the song, a series of chords – A, E/G#, D, Dsus2, Dmaj7 – are played in a steady, down-picked fashion to match the vocals. “Chasing Cars” is excellent for developing fingerpicking technique with power chords, learning melodic riffs, and exploring slightly more complex chord variations like sus2 and maj7 chords.
19. “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
“Stand By Me” by Ben E. King is a timeless classic with open chords, a fun intro, and universally loved lyrics. It’s one of those songs that’s impossible not to sing along to, which is perfect because the C, Am, F, G chord progression makes it easy to focus on your vocals! The intro riff is all about timing, so listen closely to the original song to nail the rhythm. For strumming patterns, aim to match the beat and tempo of the song. “Stand By Me” is perfect for practicing common open chord progressions, learning intro riffs, and improving your timing and rhythm.
20. “Love Me Do” by The Beatles
“Love Me Do” by The Beatles is super simple and super classic. Comprising G, C, G7, and D chords, it’s very quick to learn and strum along with. The G7 chord is a simple variation, just moving a finger from the 3rd fret to the 1st fret of the high E string. The strumming pattern is steady and not overly complex, making it very beginner-friendly. “Love Me Do” is an excellent starting point for learning basic chords, understanding 7th chords, and playing an iconic song from music history.
21. “A Horse With No Name” by America
“A Horse With No Name” by America features no difficult chords, but the strumming pattern is slightly different from typical patterns, adding a unique flavor. The chord progression is Em, D6/9, Em9, and Dmaj9, all of which are quite easy to play. D6/9 involves just one fret, Em9 has you holding the 2nd fret of the high E string instead of the A string, and Dmaj9 is a slight variation of a regular D chord. “A Horse With No Name” is great for learning slightly more unusual chord voicings and practicing a distinctive strumming style that sets it apart from standard rhythms.
22. “Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones
“Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones is a quintessential punk rock anthem, and it’s incredibly simple, made up of just three power chords. These power chords are positioned 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 straightforward progression to learn. The key to “Blitzkrieg Bop” is to play it fast and loud! This song is perfect for developing fast power chord changes, learning punk rock rhythms, and unleashing raw, energetic guitar playing.
23. “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes
“What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes relies on three chords, a simple strumming pattern, and powerful, soulful vocals. You only need G, Am, and C chords to master this 90s hit. The strumming pattern builds in intensity, going from slow to fast within each bar, making it easy to get into the rhythm of the song. “What’s Up?” is excellent for practicing smooth transitions between common open chords and developing dynamic strumming patterns.
24. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day offers a mellow and catchy acoustic experience. The song uses G, Cadd9, D, Em, and C chords, forming a simple progression that’s quick to learn. The trick to mastering the intro is to avoid full strums initially, instead playing the lower strings while sequentially picking the high E and B strings. Soon after the intro, the song transitions to standard strumming patterns. “Good Riddance” is perfect for practicing fingerpicking intro patterns, learning arpeggiated strumming, and playing a softer, acoustic-driven song.
25. “Circles” by Post Malone
“Circles” by Post Malone is a genuinely fun tune to strum and sing along to. The strumming pattern is very straightforward, and the chords, while appearing complex at first glance, are manageable. The chords are: Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Fm, C, F, C/B, and Cmaj7/B. Many of these chords are just slight variations of common open chords. If you find barre chords like F challenging, you can simplify it to a power chord or an open F chord. “Circles” is great for learning modern pop chord progressions, introducing you to major 7th chords, and practicing simplified versions of barre chords.
26. “Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers features a fun riff and simple chord structure. While the verses typically don’t have strummed chords in the original recording, strumming works just as well for beginners. The song uses Am, F, C, G, Em, and A chords, making it very accessible to learn. As you progress, you can begin to learn the iconic riff and play the melody over a backing track. “Otherside” is perfect for practicing chord changes, learning alternative strumming approaches, and eventually tackling the song’s signature riff.
27. “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran
“Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran is a beautiful and slow song with an easy selection of chords. You’ll need a capo on the 2nd fret. C, C/E, F, G, Dm, and Am chords are all you need to play the entire song. The key to mastering “Thinking Out Loud” is listening closely to the timing, especially in the line “maybe we found love right where we are,” which has a chord change for each word. While this might seem tricky initially, with a little practice, you’ll master it quickly. “Thinking Out Loud” is excellent for improving your timing and rhythm, practicing chord changes at a slower tempo, and learning a modern romantic ballad.
These 27 simple easy guitar songs are a fantastic starting point for any beginner guitarist. They are designed to be accessible, fun, and educational, helping you build essential guitar skills while playing recognizable and enjoyable music. So grab your guitar, pick a song from this list, and start playing today! Happy strumming from guitarplayers.net!
