Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners

December 17, 2024 by Klaus Crow

In this lesson we got a list with the best easy guitar songs for beginners that will get you started on the right track. 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, basic fingerstyle tunes, riffs, and guitar intros for you. For 2024 and 2025 these are still timeless and the perfect ones to start out with. It’s all here!

How to Play Easy Songs on the Guitar

For an easy guitar song you need two, three or four basic open chords and an easy chord progression like G – C, G – C – D or Em – G – C – D. The songs have a simple rhythm and strumming pattern 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 to play on the guitar, that’s where this post comes in.

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.

Enjoy!

Easy Guitar Songs For Beginners

1. A horse with no name – America

One could argue that “Horse with no name” is the easiest guitar song ever as far as guitar chords concerns with only two chords for the entire song. The chords are Em (022000) and D6-9/F# (2×0200). While the name of the second chord sounds overwhelming, it’s actually a really easy chord to play. The song also contains 2 different strumming patterns that are quite simple and straight forward. Strumming pattern #1 = ↓↓↑ (2x) Strumming pattern #2 = ↓↑ (4x)

2. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for – U2

This classic U2 ballad uses only three basic chords C, F and G. “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” is also perfect for beginners due to it’s slow tempo. You can strum the song with a basic 4 down strums per measure which sounds perfectly fine with this song or you can try a bit more musical strumming pattern that I’ll explain in the video lesson.

3. Have you ever seen the rain – CCR

The verses for “Have you ever seen the rain” is a perfect beginner workout with only two chords for the verse C and G and it starts with four measures on C, then two measures on G, two measures on C and repeat. For the chorus they play | F | G | C | Am | (2x) | F | G | C | You can play an easy down-up-down-up-down-up-down-up strumming pattern throughout the song.

4. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Sweet Caroline is Neil Diamond’s most famous song that is really fun to play. It can be simplified without having to compromise too much. The chord progression is as follows: Verse: / A / D / A / E / Prechorus: / A / A6 / E / D / E / Chorus: / E / D / D / E (2) D ↓— The strumming pattern for the song is just simply down-down-up throughout the entire song.

5. Zombie – Cranberries

“Zombie” by the Irish rockband The Cranberries is a great easy rock song to play. It contains four super easy chords: Em – Cmaj7 – G6 – D6-9/F#. 

| Em = 022000 | Cmaj7 = x32000 | G6 = 320000 | D6-9/F# = 2×0200 |

While the strumming pattern for the song is a little bit more varying it can be played with simple eight note down strums on each chord | ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓ | throughout the song. The chords and the strumming pattern make the song instantly recognizable. Try it and you’ll see.

6. Dreams – Fleetwoodmac

The legendary “Dreams” from Fleetwoodmac sang by Stevie Nicks is a beautiful song with only two chords Fmaj7 and Gmaj6 following with a simple chord progression playing one measure for each chord throughout the song: | Fmaj7 = xx3210 | Gmaj6 = 320000 | or play the Gmaj6 by moving the Fmaj7 chord up to the third fret | Gmaj6 = xx5430 | For the strumming pattern can play down-up-down-up-down-up-down-up ↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑ Practice thoroughly on the chord-changes and you’ve got a great beginner song.

7. Three little birds – Bob Marley

“Three Little Birds” is a song by Bob Marley and The Wailers. This song is a real classic and contains 3 easy open chords A – D – E. In the chorus only the chords A and D are played and the E major chord is added to the verse. The strumming pattern is a reggae beat that means you play four down strums on the after beat for each measure / bar. Count 1 and play the down strum, count 2 and down strum and so on. 1 ↓ 2 ↓ 3 ↓ 4 ↓

8. Love me do – The Beatles

There is no easy guitar song list complete without a Beatles song. “Love me do” was their official debut single and was released in October 1962. This song can be played with three chords G – C – D and you can add a G7 chord if you want to get fancy. The strumming pattern is a basic 4/4 strumming pattern: down-down-up-up-down-up ↓↓↑↑↓↑.

9. Stand by me – Ben E King

“Stand by me” by me, one of the most famous songs ever covered by many artists from every generation that followed, is always on the top 10 list of easy guitar songs. The chords for the song are G – Em – C – D, also referred to as the I – VI – IV – V chord progression, which is a very common chord structure for many popular 4 chord songs. The strumming pattern for the song is down-slap-down-slap ↓-x-↓-x

10. Knocking on heavens door – Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan’s classic “Knocking on heavens door” has become an easy rock song due to the cover version of Guns ‘n Roses. The chord progression for the song is | G D | Am | G D | C | and can be simplified by just playing two down strokes on G and D and four down strokes on Am and C.

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.

Scroll to Easy Beginner Guitar Songs

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).

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:

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 Lesson	Artist	Chords	Tabs
Horse with no name	America	Chords	Tabs
I still haven’t found..	U2	Chords	Tabs
Love me do	The Beatles	Chords	Tabs
Lazy Song	Bruno Mars	Chords	Tabs
To Love Somebody	Bee Gees	Chords	Tabs

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.

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
Sweet Caroline	Neil Diamond	Chords	Tabs
Stand by me	Ben E King	Chords	Tabs
As tears go by	Rolling Stones	Chords	Tabs
San Francisco	Scott McKenzie	Chords	Tabs
Brown eyed girl	Van Morrison	Chords	Tabs

More Easy 60’s Guitar Songs

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.

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
Knockin’ on heavens door	Bob Dylan	Chords	Tabs
Working Class Hero	John Lennon	Chords	Tabs
Hotel California	The Eagles	Chords	Tabs
Have you ever seen the rain	CCR	Chords	Tabs
Three little birds	Bob Marley	Chords	Tabs

More Easy 70’s Guitar Songs

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.

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
The River	Bruce Springsteen	Chords	Tabs
Wicked game	Chris Isaak	Chords	Tabs
Sweet dreams	Eurythmics	Chords	Tabs
The one I love	REM	Chords	Tabs
Patience	Guns ‘n Roses	Chords	Tabs

More Easy 80’s Guitar Songs

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.

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
What’s up	For non blondes	Chords	Tabs
Losing my religion	REM	Chords	Tabs
Zombie	The Cranberries	Chords	Tabs
Runaway train	Soul Asylum	Chords	Tabs
1979	Smashing Pumpkins	Chords	Tabs

More 90’s Guitar Songs

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.

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
Perfect	Ed Sheeraan	Chords	Tabs
Love on the weekend	John Mayer	Chords	Tabs
Watermelon sugar	Harry Styles	Chords	Tabs
Memories	Maroon 5	Chords	Tabs
I took a pill in ibiza	Mike Posner	Chords	Tabs

More Easy Last Decade Songs

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”.

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
Everybody hurts	REM	Chords	Tabs
Ain’t no sunshine	Bill Withers	Chords	Tabs
Hallelujah	Leonard Cohen	Chords	Tabs
We’re going to be friends	White Stripes	Chords	Tabs
House of the rising sun	The Animals	Chords	Tabs

Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen

More Easy Fingerstyle Songs

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.

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
Heart of gold	Neil Young	Chords	Tabs
Redemption song	Bob Marley	Chords	Tabs
American Pie	Don McClean	Chords	Tabs
Country roads	John Denver	Chords	Tabs
Sound of silence	Simon & Garfunkel	Chords	Tabs

More Acoustic Guitar Songs

Easy Electric Guitar Rock Songs

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
Seven Nation Army	White Stripes	Chords	Tabs
Sunshine of your love	The Cream	Chords	Tabs
Otherside	RHCP	Chords	Tabs
Creep	Radiohead	Chords	Tabs
Black	Pearl Jam	Chords	Tabs

More Easy Guitar Rock Songs

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.

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
Sweet Home Chicago	Robert Johnson	Chords	Tabs
Alberta	Eric Clapton	Chords	Tabs
Little Red Rooster	Howlin’ Wolf / Rolling Stones	Chords	Tabs
Before you accuse me	Bo Didley	Chords	Tabs
The thrill is gone	BB King	Chords	Tabs

More Easy Blues Guitar Songs

Easy Country Guitar Songs

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
Jolene	Dolly Parton	Chords	Tabs
Always on my mind	Willie Nelson	Chords	Tabs
Mama tried	Merle Haggard	Chords	Tabs
Your cheating heart	Hank Williams	Chords	Tabs
Achy Breaky Heart	Billy Ray Cyrus	Chords	Tabs

More Country Guitar Songs

Easy Jazz Guitar Songs

Song	Artist	Chords	Tabs
Autumn Leaves	Nat King Cole	Chords	Tabs
So What	Miles Davis	Chords	Tabs
Blue Bossa	Kenny Dorham	Chords	Tabs
Summertime	George Gershwin	Chords	Tabs
Fly me to the moon	Frank Sinatra	Chords	Tabs

More Easy Jazz Guitar Songs

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

More Easy Guitar Song Riffs & Intro’s

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

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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.