In order to be a successful musician, one must first learn the basics. For some, this means mastering the piano or learning how to read sheet music. For others, it might mean learning how to play the guitar.
While many people think that playing the guitar is difficult, there are actually a few songs that are easy enough for beginner musicians to play.
Who says easy guitar songs are boring? There are hundreds of simple songs that are easy to master, which is great news if you’re just beginning to learn how to play the guitar!
In this guide, we’ll share some easy guitar songs as well as how to play basic chords, and even more tips for learning new music.
So whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking for a song to add to your repertoire, we have you covered!
What is the Easiest Song to Play on Guitar?
There is no easy answer to the question of the easiest song to play on guitar, but some of the easiest guitar songs include:
- Stand By Me
- Ho Hey
- Close
- Royals
- Same Old Love
Different songs will have different levels of complexity depending on a number of factors. For example, some songs may be relatively straightforward in terms of rhythm and chord changes, making them relatively easy to grasp.
On the other hand, some songs may also include more intricate or unusual musical elements such as arpeggios or pedal notes, which may pose a challenge for beginners.
Ultimately, however, the easiest song to play on guitar will depend on your individual playing level and your specific interests and preferences. If you are just starting out, you might want to begin with simpler songs that use basic, open chords.
But if you are more experienced and looking for something more challenging or interesting, there are plenty of options out there that can keep you engaged and interested in your playing.
No matter which song you choose to learn first, the most important thing is simply to have fun and enjoy the process! Taking guitar lessons can help you master the basics, like what you’ll see in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwPswoolmz0
5 Easy Guitar Songs
Each song consists of distinct parts such as the intro, the verse, and the chorus. The way these parts are arranged constitutes the song’s structure. Understanding song structure helps you learn new songs quicker because you anticipate the part that’s coming up next.
As you learn new songs, or even as you listen to music, pay attention to how the parts of a song are arranged. A typical pop song might look like this: intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus.
Here are five of our favorite YouTube videos of easy guitar songs for beginners. Make sure to tune your guitar before getting started!
1. “Stand By Me”
If you are looking for easy guitar songs to impress your sweetheart, this classic tune should work like a charm. Originally recorded in 1961 by Ben E. King, this classic ballad uses just 4 chords: G, Em, C, and D. In the video below, you’ll learn how to play the chord progression and R&B strum pattern for “Stand By Me.”
2. “Ho Hey”
Looking for something a little more contemporary? This 2012 hit by The Lumineers should be right up your alley. Below, guitar teacher Dustin B. teaches a slight variation on the C chord for the intro, then shows you the simple chord progressions for the verse and chorus.
3. “Close”
“Close” by Nick Jonas has become a new pop favorite, and it’s one of the songs any beginner can play with a capo. In this tutorial, beginning guitarists will learn the chord progression and strum pattern to this catchy beat.
4. “Royals”
This is one of our favorite easy guitar songs. Teen pop queen Lorde’s catchy songs have an effortless cool that have generated a lot of buzz. Her breakthrough hit “Royals” is sure to be a favorite among beginning guitarists too, since it contains only three easy chords: D, C, and G.
5. “Same Old Love”
This tutorial makes a popular hit by Selena Gomez a breeze to play. You’ll be forming a few common chords in this song, as well as individual notes. Just be sure to have a capo before getting started, as you’ll need one to make this song even easier.
What is the Easiest Acoustic Guitar Song to Play?
Looking for more easy guitar songs for beginners? Here are some easy acoustic guitar songs:
- And It Stoned Me – Van Morrison
- Bad Moon Rising – CCR
- Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
- Dead Flowers – The Rolling Stones
- Disarm – The Smashing Pumpkins
- Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison
- Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
- Have You Ever Seen the Rain? – Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Heart of Gold – Neil Young
- Ho Hey – The Lumineers
- Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
- Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
- Learning to Fly – Tom Petty
- Love Me Do – The Beatles
- Mary Jane’s Last Dance – Tom Petty
- Mother – Pink Floyd
Still not satisfied? Here are some more ideas for easy guitar songs to learn:
- Mr. Jones – Counting Crows
- Mr. Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan
- No Rain – Blind Melon
- I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
- Rain King – Counting Crows
- Rockin’ in the Free World – Neil Young
- Run Around – Blues Traveler
- Seven Turns – The Allman Brothers Band
- The Times They are A-Changin – Bob Dylan
- Two Steps Behind – Def Leppard
- Used to Love Her – Guns N’ Roses
- What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? – R.E.M.
- What’s Up – 4 Non Blondes
- When I Come Around – Green Day
- Wild Horses – The Rolling Stones
- Wonderwall – Oasis
What Are Some Easy Electric Guitar Songs?
We didn’t forget about you, electric aficionados! Here are some easy electric guitar songs.
- 3am – Matchbox Twenty
- About a Girl – Nirvana
- Wild Thing – The Troggs
- Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
- Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Nutshell – Alice in Chains
- One – U2
- Polly – Nirvana
- I Remember You – Skid Row
- Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
What Are Some Easy Country Songs on Guitar?
If you love country, then you probably are looking for some easy songs to play on guitar that have a bit of a country twang. Here are your best options.
- A Boy Named Sue – Johnny Cash
- Achy, Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus
- Blown Away – Carrie Underwood
- Boys ‘Round Here – Blake Shelton
- Country Girl (Shake It for Me) – Luke Bryan
- Cruise – Florida Georgia Line
- Friends in Low Places – Garth Brooks
- Hurricane – Luke Combs
- I Got Away With You – Luke Combs
- I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash
- I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton
- I’m Gonna Be Somebody – Travis Tritt
- It’s Your Love – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
- Jambalaya – Hank Williams
- Jolene – Dolly Parton
- King Of The Road – Roger Miller
And a few more:
- Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys – Willie Nelson
- Ocean Front Property – George Strait
- Okie From Muskogee – Merle Haggard
- Ol’ Red – Blake Shelton
- Ring Of Fire – Johnny Cash
- Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
- Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
- Thank God I’m a Country Boy – John Denver
- The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
- There Was This Girl – Riley Green
- Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
- When You Say Nothing At All – Keith Whitley
- You Are My Sunshine – Jimmie Davis
What is the Easiest Guitar Riff?
When it comes to guitars, there are endless choices of riffs to choose from. But if you’re looking for an easy riff that anyone can learn, look no further than the iconic intro to Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” This simple, yet catchy riff is composed of just four notes, and can be played using any basic rock guitar technique.
Best of all, it’s easy to memorize and play at any speed. So whether you’re a beginner guitarist or a seasoned pro, the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” riff is a great choice for an easy guitar riff.
And if that doesn’t cut it, try out these fun guitar riffs instead:
- Come As You Are – Nirvana
- Day Tripper – The Beatles
- Paranoid – Black Sabbath
- Redemption Song – Bob Marley
- Back in Black – AC/DC
- Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple
- (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling STones
- One – Metallica
Where to Find Easy Guitar Songs Tabs
Want to know how to find easy songs to learn on guitar? Look no further.
If you’re just starting out playing guitar, it can be daunting to try and find easy songs to learn.
Luckily, there are a few resources that can help you get started. One of the best places to look is online tab websites. These sites provide chords and lyrics for popular songs, making it easy to learn new material.
Find some here:
You can also find tutorials and how-to videos on sites like YouTube, which can walk you through the process of learning a new song step-by-step. Finally, don’t forget about good old-fashioned sheet music. Many music stores sell collections of easy guitar songs that are perfect for beginners. With a little bit of patience and practice, you’ll be playing your favorite tunes in no time.
How to Play Easy Guitar Songs
To play any of these easy guitar songs, you must have a solid knowledge of some basic guitar chords. Chords are three or more guitar notes that when played together create a harmony. If you haven’t yet mastered reading sheet music for guitar, chord charts are an easier way to learn how to play chords.
This chart shows you how to play an A chord. Each of the six vertical lines represents one of the six strings on your guitar. Each horizontal line represents a fret. On chord charts, the line furthest to the left always corresponds to your sixth (or low E) string. The line furthest to the right represents your first (or high E) string. From left to right, the string names are E-A-D-G-B-E.
Your left-hand fingers are numbers one through four, starting with your index finger. According to this chart, you should play the A chord by placing your middle finger on the second fret of the D string, your ring finger on the second fret of the G string, and your pinkie finger on the second fret of the B string.
You’ll notice there are also Xs and Os at the top of the chart. The X represents a string that is not played. So when you strum your A chord, start from the fifth string down. The strings with Os at the top of the chart are played open, which means you should still strum this string but you do not need to hold down a fret with your left hand.
Now that you know how to read a chord chart, here are a few more basic chords you’ll need to learn in order to start playing easy guitar songs:
When you’re playing a song, you will need to be able to transition smoothly from one chord to the next. If you would like to practice changing chords before getting started with songs, try playing each chord above for four counts and then transition smoothly to the next chord.
Once you’re comfortable with these basic chords, it’s time to start putting them together and playing some easy guitar songs!
More Tips for Learning Easy Guitar Songs
It’s always best to start slow. Use a metronome and practice playing each part of the song slowly and in time. As your playing improves, pick up the pace until you are playing at the same tempo as the song. If you like, you can even play along with a recording of the song to give you a better feel for the rhythm.
For beginners, it is often very helpful to practice each part of the song separately before putting the whole thing together. Start with the verse, and once you feel comfortable playing that chord progression, move on to the chorus. When you feel confident playing each part separately, it’s time to put the whole song together.
No matter what song you’d like to play, odds are someone has already posted a YouTube video or a chord chart online. One of our favorite sites for free chord charts and guitar tabs is Ultimate Guitar. All of their arrangements are user-submitted, however, so be warned that you might sometimes come across a transcription of a song that doesn’t sound quite right.
So, what is the easiest song to play on guitar? The answer may surprise you. There are a number of songs that are relatively easy for beginners – the list above is a great place to get started.
Always remember to keep a positive attitude and have fun with your guitar! Learning to play these easy guitar songs might take some time at first, but you will only get better the more you practice. For more help learning how to play the guitar, sign up for lessons with a private guitar teacher. Your guitar teacher will help you avoid poor technique and bad playing habits. Search for a guitar teacher now!
Photo thumbnail by Rebekka
Megan L.