One of the things that makes the guitar so fun and easy to learn is the prevalence of guitar tabs online. Tablature, or tabs, is a form of musical notation meant for fretted instruments like the guitar. Beginners can use easy acoustic guitar tabs to learn songs without needing to know how to read standard musical notation.
In this article, we’ll share tips on how to read tablature and provide several easy guitar tabs for popular songs, so you can start playing some new music today!
Are Guitar Tabs for Beginners?
Guitar tabs are helpful resources for beginner guitar players:
- They provide visual instructions on how to play a guitar song or riff.
- Tabs use numbers and symbols to indicate strum patterns and which strings need to be played.
- Due to the variety of tab websites, beginners have access to a large amount of material covering various musical styles.
- Guitar tabs can offer a great introduction to the world of playing guitar.
Are you ready to start learning how to play some easy guitar tabs? Check out the tips in this post for how to read an easy guitar tab and watch the video below to learn how a guitar teacher can help you pick up these easy guitar tabs songs in no time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BhesQrMvY4
What Are the Most Important Guitar Tabs?
There are no single most important guitar tabs, but there are some that can help you improve your craft a bit quicker than others.
These tabs are essential for learning the basics of guitar playing and for building a strong foundation.
1. Smoke on the Water
This riff is undoubtedly one of the most famous guitar riffs of all time. It’s easy to play and is often one of the first riffs that guitarists learn. The power chords in this song are a fundamental part of guitar playing, and once you master them, you’ll be able to play countless other songs.
2. Stairway to Heaven
This is another iconic guitar tab, and it’s undoubtedly one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Although it’s a bit more challenging to play than Smoke on the Water, it’s worth the effort. Learning this song will help you improve your fingerpicking, and it will also help you understand different time signatures.
3. Wonderwall
Oasis’s Wonderwall is a modern classic and a must-know song for any guitarist. It’s a simple song with only four chords, but it’s incredibly popular, and you’re bound to impress your friends if you can play it.
4. Sweet Child O’ Mine
This is one of the greatest rock songs of all time, and the opening riff is one of the most recognizable. It’s a bit challenging to play, but it’s essential to learn if you want to play rock guitar. It will help you improve your fingerpicking and your timing.
5. Blackbird
Blackbird is another classic guitar song that every guitarist should learn. It’s a fingerstyle song that will teach you how to play intricate melodies while keeping a steady rhythm. The song is challenging, but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll have taken your guitar playing to the next level.
Bonus: The CAGED system
The CAGED system is one of the most essential things that every guitarist should learn. It’s not a particular song, but it’s a system that will help you understand the guitar fretboard better. It will teach you how to visualize the various chords and how to move them up and down the fretboard.
How to Read Guitar Tab Music
Before we dive into the songs and riffs, let’s start with an overview of tablature. What are guitar tabs and how do you read them? Guitar tabs are written out as six lines, with each line corresponding to a string on your guitar, e-B-G-D-A-E from the top down, as shown in the diagram below. Since there are two E strings in standard tuning, the higher-pitched string is written with a lowercase “e.”
Guitar tabs show you which note needs to be played on which string by placing a fret number on the corresponding line, but they do not tell you which finger to use or the timing of the piece. Since tablature gives you no information about the rhythm of the notes, it is not a good substitute for standard musical notation. This means, if you’re not familiar with the song in the first place, you won’t have all the tools you need to recreate the tune. It’s well worth it to learn how to read standard music notation along with tabs to get the full picture.
Read guitar tab music from left to right and use your ear to determine the timing of each note. You’ll have to listen to a recording of the song (if you don’t already know it by heart) to hear how it should be played and what rhythms are to follow. If you’re struggling with learning how to play guitar tabs or having trouble with a specific tab, work with a guitar teacher for some extra help! The combination of taking private lessons and experimenting with guitar tabs on your own will have you well on your way to playing along to all your favorite tunes.
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3 Easy Acoustic and Electric Guitar Tabs
Before playing the songs and riffs below, make sure your guitar is in tune. You may feel the urge to skip this test, but it’s a crucial one. You can easily tune your guitar with an app on your smartphone. Here’s a guitar tuning tutorial that shows you how. You can play these tunes on either electric or acoustic guitar. While the thinner strings of the electric guitar are often easier to play, performing these easy guitar music tabs on acoustic guitars will help your fingers build up strength!
Just like when you’re learning any other skill, if you’re a beginner, you’ll want to start with the basics. This might mean mastering nursery rhymes first, but you’ll soon work your way up to more complex tunes. Start with these easy guitar tabs for beginners, and you’ll be shredding and riffing on your favorite pop songs in no time.
Now, onto our guitar tab free list!
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
You’re most likely already familiar with this tune, so you should have an easier time learning the fingerings and rhythm because you already know what the song is supposed to sound like. You can play a wide range of notes without sliding all over your guitar neck in the intergalactic anthem, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
For this easy guitar song tab, keep your left hand in what is known as “first position.” Your index finger will play all notes on the first fret, your middle finger plays all notes on the second fret, your ring finger plays the third fret, and your pinkie plays the fourth fret.
Keeping your left hand still and using this fingering will help you build better speed and coordination as you learn how to play the guitar.
“Three Blind Mice”
“Three Blind Mice” is another tune that is probably already ingrained in your head. Since you know how it goes, it’s just a matter of figuring out where to place your fingers and following the rhythm from memory. You can also play “Three Blind Mice” in the same position noted above. Here is the tab for this catchy nursery rhyme.
“Happy Birthday”
Knowing how to play “Happy Birthday” on the guitar always comes in handy! Grab your guitar and send your happiest birthday wishes to the guest of honor when you try out this familiar tune using the easy guitar tab below. You already know this tune by heart, so now it’s time to figure out where your fingers belong on the frets.
As you can see, “Happy Birthday” is a melody that can be played on just one string and is composed of four short phrases. The tricky part of this guitar tab is deciding on the right fingering.
We recommend starting with your index finger on the second fret, your pinkie on the fifth fret, and your ring finger on the fourth fret. You can play the first phrase with your left hand in this position.
To play the note on the seventh fret in the second phrase, you will need to slide your pinkie up to reach. You can then play the fifth fret with your middle finger.
In the third phrase, you will have to slide your pinkie up again to reach the ninth fret, and then slide back down to play the fourth fret with your ring finger and the second fret with your index finger.
For the final phrase, use your pinkie to play the tenth fret and your ring finger to play the ninth fret. Then, slide your hand down to play the fifth fret with your index finger and the seventh fret with your ring finger.
Following this guide to the fingering of this piece enables you to hit all the notes while making minimal movements with your hand up and down the neck of the guitar.
More Easy Electric Guitar Tabs
Electric guitars are incredible instruments, especially when you get to play some rocking sounds with just a few notes. Even though it’s great to have a guitar instructor, sometimes it’s more convenient to have access to easy tabs that you can learn on your own.
1. “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes:
If you are a rock and roll fan, then “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes should be on the top of your list. It is an incredibly easy song to play and requires just three chords- E, G, and D. The intro takes a bit of practice to get the timing right, but once you get it, you will be able to play this song easily.
2 “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day:
If you are looking for a simple ballad, then “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day is perfect. It features three chords- G, C, and D- and has a memorable melody that you will recognize in no time. This song is perfect for practicing fingerpicking as well.
3. “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival:
“Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival is another excellent choice for beginner guitarists. It features three straightforward chords- D, A, and G- and has a catchy melody that will have you humming along in no time. The song also has a simple strumming pattern that makes it even easier to play.
4. “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You” by Led Zeppelin:
Although Led Zeppelin is known for their complex songs with intricate solos, “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You” is an easy song to learn. It features simple chord progressions like Am, C, D, and Em, and requires a bit of fingerpicking to get the classic sound. It is a great choice to please your friends with a classic tune.
A Few More Easy Acoustic Guitar Tabs
Whether you’re just starting out or have already mastered a few songs, these tabs are a great addition to your repertoire.
1. “Let Her Go” by Passenger
“Let Her Go” is a beautiful song that’s easy to play using basic chords. The tab for this song is simple and straightforward, making it perfect for beginners. All you need to know are four chords; G, D, Em, and C. Once you’ve mastered the chords, you can play along with the song and sing along to the catchy melody.
2. “Horse with No Name” by America
“Horse with No Name” is a song that features a unique guitar riff that’s easy to play using basic chords. The tab for this song uses just two chords; Em and D6/9. The song’s simple structure and repetitive chord progression make it easy to learn and play along with.
3. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
“Wish You Were Here” is a beautiful song that’s easy to play using basic chords. The tab for this song is simple and straightforward, using just four chords; G, D, Am, and C. The song’s slow tempo and easy strumming pattern make it a great song for beginners who are just learning to play the guitar.
Easy Guitar Tabs for Popular Songs
A guitar riff is a short, catchy series of notes that is usually repeated a few times within a song. Riffs are typically simple to play and easily recognizable.
Rock and pop music are full of great riffs that you can learn to play quickly. Are you ready to rock out? Here are a few examples with easy electric guitar tabs. Turn up the volume on your amp and work your way through these easy guitar tabs for beginners.
“Smoke on the Water”
This popular guitar riff comes from Deep Purple’s classic song, “Smoke on the Water.” Before tackling these easy guitar song tabs, play the recording of this song first to better familiarize yourself with it. The more familiar you are with the song, the easier it’ll be to replicate the tune.
You’ll notice that you need to play two notes on the same fret at the same time in order to play this riff.
One easy way to accomplish this is to lay your index finger across multiple strings in a partial barre chord and only strum the G and D strings. Hold the partial barre shape with your left hand and move your hand from the third fret to the fifth and sixth frets as needed.
“Sunshine of Your Love”
This riff from Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love” is also quick and easy to learn. Work your way through these easy guitar tabs, and you will be jamming out to this rock song in no time.
To use the proper fingering on this riff, start with your ring finger on the twelfth fret and your index finger on the tenth.
Now, this is a little bit tricky. When you play the first 10th fret note on your E string, slide your hand slightly up the neck to play the 10th fret with your ring finger. Now you can easily reach the 8th fret note that is coming up next.
You’ll notice that this riff calls for a bent string, as indicated by the “b” on the eighth fret of the A string. To bend this note, push the string up the neck of the guitar as you play. Bending a note creates a distinctive, bluesy tone.
“Satisfaction” – Guitar Riff Tabs
One of the most-loved riffs in rock and roll comes from the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction.” And you just might be surprised at how easy it is to learn. Once you master this song, you’re sure to feel the ultimate sense of satisfaction! Check out the tab below:
You can play this awesome guitar riff all on one string! To practice the correct fingering and play with better speed, use your index finger to play the second fret, your ring finger on the fourth fret, and your pinkie on the fifth fret.
Free Electric Guitar Tabs for Beginners
The good news is that when it comes to finding easy free guitar tabs for beginners, you don’t have to hunt high and low. There is no need to even go into a music shop because there are a ton of free resources online where you can find easy guitar tabs for popular songs and easy songs to play on the guitar. A couple of our favorite sites with popular songs include Ultimate Guitar and Songsterr to search for guitar tabs songs for free.
Keep in mind as you browse guitar tabs that most of what you see online was submitted by other guitarists just like you. If a tab doesn’t sound quite right, somebody may have heard the song differently or made a mistake when transcribing it. Look for the guitar tabs that have the highest reviews, and if it doesn’t sound right, trust your ear!
Also, realize that tabs are just a starting point when it comes to learning the guitar. Critical elements to the guitar such as rhythm, technique, and jamming with others are missing if you just stick to tabs alone. Think of them as a supplement to your guitar learning journey, rather than a comprehensive resource.
What is the Easiest Thing to Play on Guitar?
By far, the best way to learn guitar is through private lessons. Working hands-on with a professional guitar teacher will help you develop good playing and practicing habits for the long term. If a local teacher is not an option, online lessons can also be a great way to get your questions answered and learn new material. The beauty of online lessons is that you can learn from the comfort of your own home. You can connect with your private teacher entirely over the internet using your smartphone, computer and webcam, or laptop. It’s never been easier or more convenient to take guitar lessons. With the right teacher, you’ll have the support you need to reach your musical goals.
Check out the guitar teachers at TakeLessons to get started today, and in the meanwhile, try your hand at these easy guitar tabs for beginners!
Photo Credit: dustinphillips
Jessica Dais