Are you just starting your guitar journey and looking for a fun and effective way to learn? One of the best approaches for beginners is to dive into Single String Songs On Guitar. These songs are fantastic for developing essential guitar skills while keeping you motivated and entertained.
In this lesson, we’re going to explore 10 of our favorite single string guitar songs. Learning these tunes will not only improve your finger dexterity and technique, but most importantly, it will give you a huge amount of enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment right from the start.
Stringed instruments like the guitar are wonderfully versatile, capable of playing both rich chords and captivating melodies. While chords are a crucial part of guitar playing, this lesson focuses on the beauty and simplicity of melodies, specifically those you can play on a single string.
We’ve curated a selection of easy riffs and tunes that will kickstart your guitar playing adventure and set you on the path to musical success.
First things first: Are you in tune?
Before you begin playing any song, especially when you’re learning, ensuring your guitar is properly tuned is essential. Playing in tune will train your ear and make the learning process much more pleasant.
If you don’t have a tuner yet, you’ll definitely need one to play these songs accurately. A clip-on tuner is a great option for beginners. We recommend the Snark ST-8 clip-on tuner. It conveniently attaches to your guitar’s headstock and uses string vibrations to detect the pitch. Pretty cool, right?
Guitar Learning Hack: Tablature is Your Friend!
In this lesson, we’ll be using guitar tablature, or “tab,” to teach you all of these single string guitar songs. Tab is a simplified form of musical notation that’s perfect for guitarists. It uses lines to represent the guitar strings and numbers to indicate which fret to play.
If you’re new to reading tab, don’t worry! It’s easy to learn. Check out our comprehensive lesson on How To Read Guitar Tabs to get up to speed quickly.
Guitar tab for single string songs
Single String Guitar Song #1: ‘Seven Nation Army’ by The White Stripes
When you think of iconic single string guitar songs, ‘Seven Nation Army’ by The White Stripes is likely the first one that comes to mind for many guitarists. This song has become a global anthem, adopted by sports fans and music lovers everywhere.
Soon, you’ll be able to play that incredibly catchy bass intro, which essentially forms the backbone of the entire song. Amazingly, you only need one string and one finger to play this recognizable tune. Just follow the tab below, and you’ll have it down in no time.
When learning ‘Seven Nation Army’, take your time and focus on accuracy. There are pauses between the notes, so use this to your advantage. Make sure you fret each note cleanly, and you’ll be rocking out in minutes!
Download our lead guitar cheat-sheet to make things easier
It’s often tricky for beginners to figure out which scales work with which keys.
That’s why we created a handy cheat-sheet! It’s a key and scale finder that you can use over and over again to enhance your lead guitar playing.
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Single String Guitar Song #2: ‘Running Down a Dream’ by Tom Petty
This classic intro riff from Tom Petty’s 1989 hit, “Running Down a Dream,” has a faster tempo, but with a bit of focused practice, you can definitely master it. This memorable riff appears not only in the intro but also throughout the song, making it a fantastic one to learn. Here’s the tab to get you started.
It’s noticeably quicker than “Seven Nation Army,” so don’t get discouraged if you don’t nail the speed immediately.
Start slowly, focusing on accuracy. Once you become comfortable with the notes and rhythm at a slower pace, gradually increase your practice tempo until you match the song’s original speed.
Tom Petty Running Down a Dream single string guitar riff
Pro-tip: Many beginner guitarists start by picking one string guitar songs using only downstrokes with a pick. While this is a good starting point, to advance your picking technique, it’s crucial to learn alternate picking.
To dive deeper into alternate picking, check out this essential lesson: Alternate Picking: The Ultimate Guide
Single String Guitar Song #3: ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ by Cream
No collection of one string guitar songs would be complete without ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ by Cream. This iconic riff is perfect for beginners because it’s played entirely on one string and can be played with just a single finger!
- This legendary riff is played on the D string and interestingly, it utilizes the ‘blues scale’.
- Don’t worry about the blues scale just yet if you’re just starting out. For now, simply enjoy learning this rocking riff from one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
If you’re curious about the blues scale, you can explore it further here: Blues Scale – 4 Things You Need To Know
Here’s the tab to get you playing:
The rhythm of this riff can be a little tricky for beginners at first, so pay close attention to the timing. Here are some helpful tips for learning this riff:
- Practice the riff slowly, focusing on getting all the notes correct.
- Listen to the original recording carefully to internalize the rhythm.
- Try slowing down the recording and playing along with it. Once you’re comfortable at a slower tempo, gradually increase the speed.
Pro Tip: The guitar pick you choose can significantly impact your playing, especially when learning single string songs.
For beginner guitarists, we highly recommend Dunlop 1mm Nylon Max-Grip picks. They offer a great balance of control and flexibility.
Eric Clapton Sunshine of Your Love single string guitar riff
Single String Guitar Song #4: ‘Smoke On the Water’ by Deep Purple
One of the very first one string guitar songs that countless guitarists have learned over the past decades is the simple yet powerful rocker, ‘Smoke On The Water’ by Deep Purple. It’s a rite of passage for aspiring guitar players!
Generation after generation of guitarists has started their journey by learning this iconic intro riff, which is why it absolutely deserves its place on our list of essential single string guitar songs.
In the original recording, the riff is played across two strings. However, to simplify it for beginners focusing on single string songs, you can easily play it on just the G string.
For an extra challenge later on, you can try playing the riff on both the G and D strings simultaneously. It’s trickier, but with perseverance, you’ll be able to play one of the most recognizable single string guitar songs of all time in its fuller form.
Single String Guitar Song #5: ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC
The next of our one string guitar songs is a bit longer and more challenging, but learning the intro to ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC is incredibly rewarding and will seriously impress your friends.
The intro riff actually has two parts. We’ll focus on learning the first part, which is perfectly playable as a single string guitar song. Here’s the tab to guide you.
AC/DC Thunderstruck single string guitar intro
Angus Young, the master of rock riffs, famously plays the intro to “Thunderstruck” without using a pick at all, relying solely on his fingerpicking technique. However, when you’re learning, you can practice this riff using alternate picking, playing ‘down-up-down-up’ strokes on the string.
Keep your hand movements small and controlled to avoid accidentally hitting adjacent strings. This riff is a fantastic exercise for developing both dexterity and timing, and consistent practice will undoubtedly make you a better guitarist.
Pro-tip: Difficult riffs like this are excellent exercises! Start practicing very slowly to properly coordinate your fretting hand and your picking hand.
Single String Guitar Song #6: ‘Mamma Mia’ by ABBA
So far, the one string guitar songs we’ve explored have primarily been riffs – short, repeating musical phrases that are part of a song’s instrumental section. With ABBA’s “Mamma Mia,” we’re shifting focus to playing the main vocal melody of the chorus as a single string guitar song.
“Mamma Mia” was initially released in 1975 and has enjoyed enduring popularity.
- It became the title track of a successful jukebox musical in 1999, featuring ABBA’s timeless songs.
- The musical was then adapted into a hit film in 2008, and its sequel, ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’, was released in 2018, further cementing its place in popular culture.
This song’s lasting appeal makes it a fun and recognizable melody to learn on guitar. Check out the tab below:
ABBA Mamma Mia single string guitar melody
Top Tip!
Learning one string guitar songs is a great way to understand how pitch changes on the guitar. As you move your fretting hand closer to the guitar’s body (sound hole), the pitch goes higher. Conversely, moving closer to the headstock lowers the pitch.
Single String Guitar Song #7: ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran
The next melody in our collection of single string guitar songs is the beautiful chorus from Ed Sheeran’s popular ballad, “Perfect.” This song is a modern classic and instantly recognizable.
You’ll be playing the lovely chorus melody. The original recording is in the key of Ab, which isn’t ideal for guitar. To make it easier to play along with the recording, you can use a capo on the first fret and play the melody on the G string.
What’s a capo? A capo is a useful tool you’ll likely need as you progress beyond one string guitar songs. To learn more about capos, check out this lesson: How To Use A Capo In 3 Easy Steps
Here’s the tab, allowing you to play this song melody on the G string:
What makes a melody catchy and enjoyable to play is often its simplicity. The main melody of “Perfect” is beautifully simple, making it perfect for beginner guitarists. If you’re feeling adventurous, try experimenting with the melody you’ve just learned and see if you can figure out other parts of the song by ear.
Ed Sheeran Perfect single string guitar melody
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Single String Guitar Song #8: The Office (US) Theme
While the original UK version of “The Office” used “Handbags and Gladrags” as its theme song, the US adaptation features a catchy original theme song written by Jay Ferguson, a former member of Spirit and the composer of “Thunder Island.”
This theme song melody moves around on the G string quite a bit, making it one of the slightly more challenging one string guitar songs in this list, but it’s a very recognizable and fun tune to learn. Here’s the tab to help you.
Pro Tip!
When notes occur in quick succession, try to minimize hand movement by using multiple fingers. This melody is actually easier to play on a melodica (the instrument you hear in the recording), but with slow and repeated practice, you’ll be able to play it on guitar in no time.
The Office theme song single string guitar melody
Single String Guitar Song #9: ‘How Far I’ll Go’ by Auli’i Cravalho
This song is simply fantastic! Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creative genius behind “Avenue Q” and the Broadway hit “Hamilton,” “How Far I’ll Go” from the Disney movie ‘Moana’ is a wonderful addition to your collection of one string guitar songs.
This beautiful melody is played on the high E string. Here’s the tab:
The notes in this melody come a little quickly, so try using your first and third fingers to play the notes on the 2nd and 4th frets respectively. It might take some practice, but you’ll get it.
This song is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, especially if you have family members under 12! It’s a great way to start building a repertoire of single string guitar songs that will amaze and delight.
If you’re looking for a song that’s sure to impress, “How Far I’ll Go” definitely fits the bill!
Moana How Far I'll Go single string guitar melody
Single String Guitar Song #10: ‘Game of Thrones Theme’ by Ramin Djawadi
And now for a theme song from a very different kind of story – the epic TV show ‘Game of Thrones’. This iconic theme was composed by Ramin Djawadi, a prolific composer known for his scores in movies and TV shows like:
- A Wrinkle in Time
- Clash of the Titans
- Warcraft
- Prison Break
- Westworld
As single string guitar songs go, the melody in the “Game of Thrones” theme moves quickly across the fretboard. Therefore, it’s especially important to take your time and practice slowly when learning this song.
Fun Theory Tip!
The main melody of the “Game of Thrones” theme is in a minor key. Minor keys often convey a sense of sadness or drama. However, many people also describe this melody as ‘beautiful’ and ‘melancholic’, highlighting the complex emotions that minor keys can evoke.
Some guitarists tend to avoid using their fourth finger (pinky) when fretting notes. This is often because the pinky can feel weaker and less coordinated compared to the other fingers.
However, you should make an effort to involve your fourth finger as much as possible when playing melodies, including reaching for the higher frets in this “Game of Thrones” melody.
It takes time to train your fourth finger to be more active and independent, whether you’re using it for chords or melodies. But developing strength and dexterity in all four fingers will ultimately make you a more versatile and capable guitarist.
Game of Thrones theme song single string guitar melody
Completed All These Single String Guitar Songs? Where To Go Next?
Some of these one string guitar songs are definitely longer or more technically challenging than others. So, be patient with yourself and don’t worry if you don’t master them all immediately.
In your guitar journey, you’ll always encounter songs that you can learn quickly and others that require more time and dedication. That’s all part of the learning process!
If you’ve enjoyed learning these single string songs and want to continue expanding your musical horizons, here are some recommended lessons to explore next:
If you’re interested in understanding more about how melodies are constructed, you’ll want to learn about musical intervals and scales. You can start exploring these fascinating concepts here:
Recommended resources
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