GUITARHABITS

Free Quality Guitar Lessons

Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners

By 64 Comments

Last Updated on June 18, 2022 by Klaus Crow

easy guitar songs for beginners

If you want to learn some easy guitar songs for beginners you’ve come to the right place. I’ve put together a great list of simple songs to play on guitar that are great to strum and sing along with. We got easy acoustic and electric guitar songs, fingerstyle songs, riffs, and guitar intros for you. It’s all here!

How to Play Easy Guitar Songs

What are easy guitar songs for beginners? Easy guitar songs for beginners contain 2, 3 or 4 basic open chords and an easy chord progression like G – C – D. The songs have a simple rhythm and strumming patterns in 4/4, 3/4 or 2/4 time and usually played with a capo to transpose the song to the appropriate key. Finally you need a list of very easy songs play on the guitar like the list below.

Top 10 Easy Guitar Songs For Beginners

Here’s the Top 10 Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners. These songs will appear in every Top 10 Beginner Guitar Songs and are perfect to start your guitar journey. When you learn the songs I recommend you follow the order of the list. You can find the video lessons, chords and tabs further down this post.

  1. Horse with no name – America
  2. Three little birds – Bob Marley
  3. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
  4. Love me do – The Beatles
  5. Zombie – Cranberries
  6. Lazy Song – Bruno Mars
  7. Have you ever seen the rain – CCR
  8. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for – U2
  9. Stand by me – Ben E King
  10. Knocking on heavens door – Bob Dylan

Check out the Songs List Categories below or scroll right to the Easy Beginner Guitar Songs via the green button:

Easy Guitar Songs List Categories.

Basic Open Guitar Chords

Right from the start you want to learn how to read and how to play the most important basic open guitar chords: C – A – G – E – D – Am – Em – Dm (see video and chord diagrams below).

beginner guitar chords for easy songs C - A - G - E - D

beginner guitar chords for easy songs Am - Em - Dm


Once you got those under your fingers you can add the F and Bm chord and some dom7 chords like A7 – E7 – D7 – G7 and C7. You can check them out right here: The Second Most Important Guitar Chords For Beginners  Chords are you building blocks to create the harmony for the songs. You don’t need to learn all the chords at once, just start with the ones that are in the song you want to learn.

Strumming patterns

Rhythm guitar is all about the strumming and strumming patterns. It defines the groove, the beat and tempo of the song. For easy songs we’ve got easy strumming patterns that are universal for the most popular songs of all times.

Most songs have a 4/4, 2/4 or 6/8 time signature which can be played in different varieties using simple straightforward strumming patterns.

Playing with a Capo

Some of the songs in this list below are played with a capo. A capo is a small device that you can clamp onto the neck of a guitar and allows you to easily change the key of the guitar. It makes it possible to play the song in the original key but use simple open chords to make the song easier to play.

This is a common thing in guitar playing and guitar players do it all the time, not just beginners. It’s also a way to be more creative with your guitar playing. I always say: “Life is too short not to use a capo.”

Easy guitar songs of all times

In the song lists we’ve got links to video guitar lessons and tutorials, song chord sheets with lyrics and easy-to-read guitar tabs to learn the songs even faster. We’ve got easy songs of all times from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 2010, 2020 up till now, but also every style of music from easy rock, blues, country to jazz songs.

Finally we added some easy song riffs and intros to spice up your playing. Remember, take small steps, practice daily and diligently, and you’ll be playing these songs in no time. 

Start with your first easy guitar song or pick a song in the beginner song lists below:

Horse with no Name – America

Easy Guitar Songs List Categories

Click on the links to go to your favorite easy guitar songs category:

Enjoy the songs!

Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners Chords

A super easy guitar song for beginners is Horse With No Name by America. The song contains only two of the easiest chords and a basic strumming pattern that repeats throughout the entire song. Another fairly easy song to play is I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2, which includes three simple major chords (C, F and G) and a very common 4/4 time strumming pattern.

Also “Love me do” by The Beatles, “Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars and “To Love Somebody” by The Bee Gees are great easy beginner guitar songs. Check out the video lessons, chords and tablature below.

Video LessonArtistChordsTabs
Horse with no nameAmericaChordsTabs
I still haven’t found..U2ChordsTabs
Love me doThe BeatlesChordsTabs
Lazy SongBruno MarsChordsTabs
To Love SomebodyBee GeesChordsTabs

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2

Scroll down for easy guitar songs of all times and styles of music ↓

Easy Guitar Songs of the 60’s

The 1960s started a new music revolution where many timeless hit songs and simple guitar songs emerged from the ground. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond can be played with three major chords: A – D – E using a basic common 4/4 time strumming pattern (pattern #5). Stand By Me – Ben E King is one of the most famous easy guitar songs for beginners, because of it’s popular four-chord-song structure.

Other great contenders are As Tears Go By – Rolling Stones, San Fransisco by Scott McKenzie and Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison which al contains simple open chords with easy rhythm playing.

SongArtistChordsTabs
Sweet CarolineNeil DiamondChordsTabs
Stand by meBen E KingChordsTabs
As tears go byRolling StonesChordsTabs
San FranciscoScott McKenzieChordsTabs
Brown eyed girlVan MorrisonChordsTabs


Easy Guitar Songs of the 70’s

During the 1970s great bands like The Eagles and Crosby, Still, Nash & Young were dominating and influencing the music of that time. Songs like Hotel California and Teach Your Children are great songs to learn as a guitar student. Knocking On Heavens Door, Working Class Hero, and Have You Ever Seen The Rain are also easy popular guitar songs from the 70s you can play with basic beginner chords.

SongArtistChordsTabs
Knockin’ on heavens doorBob DylanChordsTabs
Working Class HeroJohn LennonChordsTabs
Hotel CaliforniaThe EaglesChordsTabs
Have you ever seen the rainCCRChordsTabs
Three little birdsBob MarleyChordsTabs


Easy Guitar Songs of the 80’s

The music of the 1980s came with a whole generation of new artists and new sounds. Lots of uncomplicated, legendary songs were composed like The River by Bruce Springsteen which uses the chords Em – G – D – C – Am, and Chris Isaak’s beautiful song Wicked Game, that came out in the late 80s, only uses a simple straight forward chord progression | Bm | A | E | E | during the whole song.

Another brilliant two-chord song is The One I Love is from the band REM. This song can be played with the chords Em and D. The One I Love by REM is by far one of the most easiest songs to play on guitar.

SongArtistChordsTabs
The RiverBruce SpringsteenChordsTabs
Wicked gameChris IsaakChordsTabs
Sweet dreamsEurythmicsChordsTabs
The one I loveREMChords Tabs
PatienceGuns ‘n RosesChordsTabs

Knocking on heavens door – Bob Dylan / Guns ‘n Roses


Easy Guitar Songs of the 90’s

The 90’s was the era of grunge music but also a lot alternative pop songs were hitting the charts that are perfectly cut out for beginner guitar players. Most of those songs are using only 3 or 4 open chords.

SongArtistChordsTabs
What’s upFor non blondesChordsTabs
Losing my religionREMChordsTabs
ZombieThe CranberriesChordsTabs
Runaway trainSoul AsylumChordsTabs
1979Smashing PumpkinsChordsTabs


Easy Guitar Pop Songs of the Last Decade

In the last decade with the arrival of new pop artists easy-to-play pop songs are present in great numbers. From Ed Sheeran to Taylor Swift to Maroon 5, they all are fans of the popular easy four-chord-song strategy.

SongArtistChordsTabs
PerfectEd SheeraanChordsTabs
Love on the weekendJohn MayerChordsTabs
Watermelon sugarHarry StylesChords Tabs
MemoriesMaroon 5ChordsTabs
I took a pill in ibizaMike PosnerChordsTabs


Easy Guitar Fingerstyle Songs

Easy fingerstyle or fingerpicking songs for beginners are usually played in 4/4 or 6/8 time. Two of the easiest fingerstyle songs are “everybody hurts” by REM and “We’re going to be friends” by the White Stripes. These songs are great to start out with. From there you can try other songs from the list like the more popular fingerstyle song “Hallelujah”.

SongArtistChordsTabs
Everybody hurtsREMChordsTabs
Ain’t no sunshineBill WithersChordsTabs
HallelujahJeff Buckley / Leonard CohenChords Tabs
We’re going to be friendsWhite StripesChordsTabs
House of the rising sunThe AnimalsChordsTabs

Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen


Easy Acoustic Guitar Songs

In the list below you can find 5 easy acoustic guitar songs that are timeless classics for anyone who wants to learn to play guitar. “Heart of gold” has a nice recognizable strumming riff and pattern that makes the song fun to play. Also Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” uses easy open chords with a beautiful guitar intro that makes the song stand out. Check out the tutorials, chords and Tabs below.

SongArtistChordsTabs
Heart of goldNeil Young ChordsTabs
Redemption songBob MarleyChordsTabs
American Pie Don McCleanChordsTabs
Country roadsJohn Denver ChordsTabs
Sound of silenceSimon & GarfunkelChordsTabs

Easy Electric Guitar Rock Songs

SongArtistChordsTabs
Seven Nation ArmyWhite StripesChordsTabs
Sunshine of your loveThe CreamChordsTabs
OthersideRHCPChordsTabs
CreepRadioheadChordsTabs
BlackPearl JamChordsTabs


Easy Blues Guitar Songs

Blues and blues song fit like a glove for beginners guitar players because of the simple I – IV – V chord progression. Once you know how to play a 12 bar blues progression of 12 bar blues shuffle you will come a long way playing easy blues songs like the ones below.

SongArtistChordsTabs
Sweet Home Chicago Robert JohnsonChordsTabs
AlbertaEric ClaptonChordsTabs
Little Red RoosterHowlin’ Wolf / Rolling StonesChordsTabs
Before you accuse meBo DidleyChordsTabs
The thrill is goneBB KingChordsTabs

Sweet Home Chicago – Robert Johnson


Easy Country Guitar Songs

SongArtistChordsTabs
JoleneDolly PartonChordsTabs
Always on my mindWillie NelsonChordsTabs
Mama tried Merle HaggardChordsTabs
Your cheating heart Hank Williams ChordsTabs
Achy Breaky HeartBilly Ray Cyrus ChordsTabs


Easy Jazz Guitar Songs

SongArtistChordsTabs
Autumn Leaves Nat King Cole ChordsTabs
So WhatMiles DavisChordsTabs
Blue BossaKenny DorhamChordsTabs
Summertime George GershwinChordsTabs
Fly me to the moonFrank SinatraChordsTabs


Easy Guitar Riffs and Intros Tabs

Song Artist Chords Tabs
Smoke on the water Deep purple Chords Tabs
Satisfaction Rolling Stones Chords Tabs
Enter Sandman Metallica Chords Tabs
Daytripper The Beatles Chords Tabs
Come as your are Nirvana Chords Tabs

I hope you like the songs from the lists and if you want to share your favorite easy guitar songs, have any suggestions for the lists or questions about the songs, please share them in the comments below. I appreciate it.

Keep picking!
~Klaus Crow

 

Klaus Crow - Guitarhabits.com
Klaus Crow

Klaus Crow is a professional guitar teacher running a guitar school based in The Netherlands. He started Guitarhabits in 2009 and is now teaching thousands of guitar students from all over the world becoming better guitar players.

🎸☕ 🌿 Support Guitarhabits 🎸☕ 🌿

 
 
.

Related posts:

  1. Top 25 Easy Pop Songs for Guitar – Last Decade
  2. Bar Chord Songs for Beginners and Intermediate
  3. Knocking on Heavens Door Guitar Lesson
  4. To Love Somebody Guitar Lesson

Comments

  5. Wayne says

    Hi, Kathleen
    You can play ”Wonderwall” of Oasis and ”Bouleward of Broken Dreams of Green Day” they’re really easy but brilliant singalong, playlong songs, masterpieces of awesome bands :):)

  7. Grace says

    Also Riptide by Vance Joy is pretty easy, it’s just the same 3 chords over and over again until the end

  9. Maddie says

    Thanks very helpful – grade 4 guitarist but stuck on holidays with no capo, these songs are enjoyable and easy to play

  14. Millie says

    This is a great list, I wish I had found it when I was struggling to find easy beginner songs to play! I have just made my own, shorter list, which includes many of these, plus a couple more. I look forward to reading more here, it looks like a great resource! Happy New Year to you!

  16. Sashi Malladi says

    Looks like the tabsrus website is offline. Hope this is a temporary outage.
    Why not move these to a site such as guitar tabs, if you don’t mind that suggestion?
    Thanks
    Sashi

  19. Josip Roncevic says

    That is very useful.
    Concerning me ,almost 70 th , I do like country as Johny Cash,Willie Nelson,Don Williams,Merle haggard,Alan jacsom,Kris Kristoferson,Dan Seals and similar artists.
    Thanks and best from Croatia ,Zagreb!

  22. Ngụy Hoàng Quốc Khánh says

    This, is, really, wonderful!!! No more comments for this sharing. Thank you – the guy who shares this for me!! Best wishes and a great day for you.

  26. Lilly says

    OMG this is amazing I think my favourite song to play is……. ain’t no sunshine!!!!
    I definitely recommend this website! Thanks for the help some wonderful songs in that list, I’ll definitely spread the word!

  27. kunci gitar says

    Great post!!! I read it yesterday but I had some thoughts about it and today I wanted to read it again because it is very well written.
    I really love the quality writing.

  29. Cptn. Wolfe says

    I was expecting Hurt – Johnny Cash to be here because it’s the song that I am thinking of beginning to play

  30. Leo Li says

    The very first song I learnt is Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here
    Learning Albert King’s Born Under a Bad Sign and Guns N Roses’ Patience right now
    These are easy songs to strum

  31. shyamal says

    hey. I’m trying to sign up. but it keeps saying I’m a bot. haha Maybe abit supper human but still human lol. can you sign me in.
    thank you.

  32. Laura says

    I’ve been taking lessons for a couple of months now, but needed some extra help with pinky exercises and then found this list of songs. It absolutely made my day to play Leaving on a Jet Plane for the first time. I grew up on John Denver, being born in 1961.

  33. kunci gitar says

    I’m a beginner.These songs help me to learn new things.Thanks for sharing , good article

  35. Shehbaz Khan says

    This is too awesome article for readers.
    Thank You so Much for Share with Us.

  47. Patricia says

    Hey Mate,

    I’m Patricia, and I write at instrumentbuzz.com. I’m also a regular contributor at Guitar Sumo. Anyway, I’m writing to you because I have some really interesting content ideas that I strongly feel will be perfect for guitarhabits.com’s audience.

    I can send you the topics I have in mind if you’re still open to new guest authors.

    I appreciate the time and really looking forward to working together.

    Cheers!
    Patricia

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Share to...
BufferCopyFlipboardHacker NewsLineLinkedInMessengerMixPinterestPocketPrintRedditSMSTelegramTumblrVKWhatsAppXingYummly