Are you just starting out with guitar and looking for some inspiration? Learning songs not only teaches basic techniques but also keeps your practice sessions interesting.
In this article, we’ll go over 12 easy guitar songs for beginners that will impress your friends and family. Not to mention spark your passion for playing the guitar. So grab your instrument, and let’s take a journey into the musical realm!
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Reaping Benefits from Playing Tunes
Before embarking on our list of inspiring tunes, it is important to appreciate one major benefit of learning specific pieces. Developing skills like coordination between fingers, hand movements such as strumming or picking patterns, and nurturing rhythm sense.
By tackling real songs rather than mundane exercises or theoretical concepts, beginners can stay motivated while enjoyably sharpening their skillset.
Song Selection Criteria: What Should You Look For?
Careful selection of appropriate material is essential when starting out with a new instrument. A few wrong choices can lead to frustration that will delay your progress.
We have taken multiple factors into account while creating this list, including ease of chord progressions & fingerstyle/picking/strumming patterns (if any). All of the songs in this list contain only some of the very first basic guitar chords you learned, so even though some may be challenging, they are all achievable.
It is recommended that you pick songs that match your current skill level to avoid over or under-challenging yourself. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one chord!
Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners
Without any further ado, here is the list you came here for, 12 easy guitar songs for beginners:
1. Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
This is easily one of the most famous songs in history. Even though the beginner version doesn’t include the intro riff, playing this song in front of your friends will surely make an impression.
This song’s verses consist of three chords: D, C, and G. Even though the G chord might seem a little tricky, you’ll get it in no time.
2. Radiohead – Creep
Next on our list is ‘Creep’ by Radiohead. Another modern classic that has been covered numerous times on YouTube & elsewhere.
Perfect for beginners, this song has a simple chord progression and an uncomplicated strumming pattern. Making it an ideal starting point for those learning the basics.
As you master this piece, you will improve your chord transitioning skills while developing an appreciation of emotive playing methods such as vibrato & palm muting, among others, via its hauntingly beautiful melody line.
3. Jimi Hendrix – Hey Joe
Next up, we have iconic rock legend Jimi Hendrix’s timeless hit ‘Hey Joe’. This song offers the perfect introduction to power chords, along some basic bluesy riffs/licks thrown in here and there throughout the track.
It features simplified chord progressions like C, G, and D followed by A & E coupled with easy strumming patterns making it fairly accessible even if you are looking for a few easy guitar songs for beginners.
4. Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah
This beautiful melody is by Canadian singer/songwriter-poet Leonard Cohen. This song is ideal for those looking to explore the art of fingerstyle playing & its delicate nuances.
With a gentle fingerpicking pattern and chord progression (C, Am, F & G) that repeats throughout the entire song. It offers the perfect opportunity to practice your accuracy while strengthening your creativity.
5. Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love
Let’s now take our guitar journey into heavier territories with an awesome main riff from ‘Whole Lotta Love”. It’s composed exclusively using power chords (E5, D5, and A5).
This track is an excellent introduction to rock-style guitar techniques such as palm muting.
Mastering such an anthem song will make you feel invincible on stage, allowing you to channel your inner headbanger!
You can find the chords to Whole Lotta Love here.
6. Black Sabbath – Iron Man
Moving onto the metal genre, we have the heavy classic ‘Iron Man’. It’s composed entirely around three chords: E5, and G5, with occasional appearances of A major. Making it viable even for beginners who are venturing out in broader fields when compared to classic rock.
As you practice this track, it’s guaranteed that your muting technique, as well as your timing sense, will improve significantly!
Beyond learning an awesome song, this video is a rare peek at the great Marty Swartz in his early days.
7. Metallica – Master of Puppets
Moving on, we have another metal anthem from the band, which needs no introduction, Master Of Puppets!
Though initially intimidating for newcomers due to its complex rhythmic patterns & shifts among various sections, tackling the main riff (E5, F# along with G) & learning how different styles combine together in harmony can be a rewarding experience while learning the guitar.
If you feel confident enough, then mastering the solo section(s) provided within this masterpiece can take your skill level into stratospheres!
8. Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Next up, we have an alternative/punk-style hit performed by American pop-punkers Green Day. Featuring simple chord progressions (G, C, C add9, D, and Em) that don’t sound that simple.
Don’t get scared by the C add9 chord. It’s much simpler than you might think.
Aimed at acoustic fingerstyle players, it provides the perfect opportunity to understand the importance of minimalism via the strumming pattern offered here. Coupled with an appreciation for creative expression through using subtle effects like slides or hammer-ons when transitioning between chords.
Armed with these, you can create an engaging experience for your listeners with this classic track!
You can find the chords to Good Riddance here.
9. Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven
As we near our journey’s end, let’s explore the epic composition ‘Stairway To Heaven” by British rock juggernauts: Led Zeppelin!
This song is considered one of the most iconic pieces in history, and rightly so. Due to its mix of classical style fingerpicking along modern transitions between varied sections.
Though seemingly ambitious, breaking down chords (Am descends to F, and simply reverses) into individual components and focusing on each section steadily will unravel the mystery behind this masterpiece. While allowing students to master multiple styles at the same time through the use of traditional music theory concepts.
Here’s a great video lesson for it:
10. Bon Jovi – Wanted Dead or Alive
We move on to another legendary rock anthem composed by American supergroup Bon Jovi. This hit works particularly well when performed acoustically since it uses a simple chord progression D, C followed up by G7.
Helping beginners understand the basic building blocks required to produce quality performances
As you delve deeper into the realms offered here, you’ll develop an understanding of the bare essentials needed to accompany singing while strumming along this well-known classic!
11. John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads
We move on with this epic country hit by American singer/songwriter John Denver. It is perfect for beginners looking to explore the traditional genre when it comes to guitar playing.
It features straightforward chord progression (G, D, Em & C) coupled with a strumming pattern that acts as an ideal gateway into the roots of modern-day Nashville-style sounds.
As you progress through its easy sections savoring the joys of creating heartfelt melodies via the careful use of simple techniques (hammer-ons or slides etc.), the true beauty offered by this song will become apparent, taking your playing ability whole new level!
12. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Simple Man
I chose to end this list with one of my personal favorites, Simple Man. The reason it is the last is just because it won’t impress your friends as other songs in this list might.
This rock classic consists of just three chords: C, G, and Am, making it a very easy song to learn.
Wrapping Everything Up
Learning inspiring songs will always help you impress your friends and family, but don’t think that you won’t be impressed by yourself, too. Having such a list of highly recognized and easy guitar songs will make any beginner more confident,
By trying these songs, ranging from rock and metal folk, you should be able to acquire essential techniques. Plus, cultivate taste in music theory concepts while using your newfound knowledge to create amazing performances of your own!
If you feel that some of the above songs are too hard for you to accomplish, try out some free educational resources such as ClassicalGuitarShed. Sometimes, a structured approach to practice is all you need.