Trying to learn some easy guitar songs is a smart way to improve your guitar playing skills fast.
One of the reasons for this is that we might become more engaged with what we learn when there is a clear goal and recognizable tune.
It will take time before a beginner guitarist can match the level of the professionals though. First, you must work on some basic progressions to master the chords and build a strong foundation and understanding of several guitar chords.
But don’t fret!
In this article, you will see 10 easy guitar songs for beginners:
- Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
- Three little birds – Bob Marley
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
- Take me home, country roads – John Denver
- Sweet Home Alabama – Lynrd Skynrd
- Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
- Heart of Gold – Neil Young
- Let it Be – The Beatles
- Knockin’ on Heavens Door – Bob Dylan
- All I want is you – U2
Now, what qualifies as an easy guitar song is obviously subjective, and you may struggle with some of these more than others.
And that’s fine! As long as you practice and have that drive to master your skill, you will eventually get there.
So, without further ado, let’s see what ‘beginner guitar songs’ you should try out…
10 Of The Best Easy Guitar Songs for beginners
1. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
Tom Petty was a master when it came to beautiful soaring anthems with surprisingly simple guitar work.
If you want the ideal starting point, Free Fallin’ is hard to beat. It is played originally with a capo on the 1st fret, but if you don’t own one, you can of course still play it without it.
The entire song is basically just three chords, making it a super easy guitar song to learn quickly.
All you need are these guitar chords to play Free Fallin’:
- E major
- Asus2
- Bsus4
Take a look at the video below, and learn the song right away!
Chord progression: E maj – Asus2 – Asus2 – E maj – Bsus4
You can see the guitar tabs for Free Fallin’ here
2. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
This is yet another easy guitar song with three chords, over and over.
The most challenging thing about this song is the rhythm and tone rather than the chords. Some find that when they start out, it doesn’t feel like a Bob Marley cover.
That will come with time and practice. For now, you can focus on learning the chords. The chorus – the bit we all know – is a simple switch between A and D. the verses add in E chords for an A-E-A-D-A-E-D-A progression.
It allows for a simple and effective song you can play around with as you build on your skills.
Take a look at the video below to learn it quickly, with a nice, easy strumming pattern suitable for the beginner guitarist.
Guitar tabs for 3 little birds
3. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
This is one of the more contemporary options on this list.
‘I’m Yours’ is ideal for when you want to impress people with more than just classics.
Lyrically, this is quite complex. But, the majority of the song plays through a simple G-D-Em-C progression, making it great for duets.
Watch out for a few D7s here and there, and you’ll be fine.
Check out Marty’s tutorial in the video below. He uses a capo on the 4th fret, but you can of course play it without it, if you don’t own one.
Guitar tabs for I’m Yours (Jason Mraz)
4. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
Few songs can top this for bringing people together for out-of-tune sing-alongs.
Because of this, it is a great choice in easy acoustic guitar songs where the odd mistake won’t matter. It is also a simple song to learn.
The verses double through a progression of G-Em-D-C-G. Then, there is the chorus of G-D-Em-C-G-D-C- G. Again, there’s not much to include, and the progression will come together with ease.
Guitar tabs, Take me Home, Country Roads
5. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
This is another one we love to bring out at parties because of its simplicity. The melody sticks in your head and is considered by many to be the essential beginner guitar song.
You’ll also be glad to know that it is just as easy to play along on guitar. There are only three chords to worry about here, D, C, and G.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your electric guitar and play these familiar major chords.
Guitar tabs, Sweet Home Alabama
6. Tennessee Whiskey – Chris Stapleton
Only two chords are need in order to learn this amazing song! Team up with an awesome vocalist (if you are not one yourself of course), and you are golden.
Guitar chords used (without capo)
- A major
- B minor
Guitar chords used (with capo):
- G major
- A minor
Check Marty’s video below to learn it within minutes.
Guitar tabs, Tennessee Whiskey (no capo)
7. Heart Of Gold – Neil Young
This is one of those songs on acoustic guitar that every beginner guitar player should try at some point.
Surely it can’t be that hard to play, right?
It isn’t. The same chords (4) are used throughout the whole song.
Verse: Em-C-D-G.
Once you get to the chorus, you just switch that to an Em-G-C-G pattern and adjust the timing.
It shouldn’t be long before you’ve mastered it.
Guitar tabs, Heart of Gold, by Neil Young
Did you know?
A lot of pop songs use the same simple chord progression: C-G-Am-F. In other words, learn these guitar chords and you can expand the list of songs you know to play by quite a lot!
8. Let It Be – The Beatles
Widely regarded as the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, the Beatles created some truly timeless songs.
Let It Be is one many of us assume will be a little too advanced. However, you can follow the chord progression and don’t have to worry about any complicated timing.
Chord progression: The verses follow a pattern of C-G-Am-F-C-G-F-C, while the chorus is Am-F-C-G-F-C.
So, while there is variation, you only need four simple chords to master this classic.
Guitar tabs, Let it Be, by the Beatles
9. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
Depending on your generation, you may know this better as a Guns N’ Roses track.
But, that just shows how the bare bones of this song allow so many interpretations. You can develop your own version once more confident with the timing and strumming patterns.
The strumming pattern is the same throughout the whole song, making it one of the easiest songs on the list to learn quickly.
Guitar tabs, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
10. All I Want Is You – U2
Finally, perhaps you want to learn a pretty rock ballad to impress a certain someone. But, you’re worried your beginner status will let you down?
Ah, don’t worry. There are some simple pretty songs that will wow your beloved. All I Want Is You is perfect both lyrically and in its chord progression.
The intro and verses just switch from G to C. The chorus is a little more complex, with some Em and Gsus2 thrown in for flavor. But, you can pick these up with practice.
Guitar tabs, All I want is You (u2)
Momentum helps you to learn faster
Learning and practicing these easy guitar songs are a good way to create momentum and joy in learning for all beginner guitar players.
And based on my experience as a guitar and piano teacher, nothing helps more with learning than creating a sense of mastering something early on.
So, play easy guitar songs and enjoy the process!
The songs in this list are considered easy beginner songs because of:
- the simple guitar chords used
- the chord progressions
- the strumming patterns
Try to remember these three factors when looking for other easy guitar songs to learn. Other songs could be Brown Eyed Girl or Redemption Song.
In fact, if you want to try other songs for the acoustic guitar, you should read my other blog post with 15 more easy songs for beginners.
Within a short time and practice, you will get a feel for how to work through the patterns and timings until muscle memory takes over.
From there, you can start experimenting with the song and fine-tune your own style.
Don’t worry if you slip up here and there in the beginning. We all have had to begin somewhere.
For now, just enjoy the small victories with each successful verse and chorus and build confidence. Before you know it, you will impress friends and family in no time.
Good luck on your guitar journey!
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