Easy Guitar Songs to Learn: 40 Beginner-Friendly Songs (2026)
Learning guitar is way more fun when you can actually play songs. Forget struggling with impossible pieces — these 40 songs use beginner-friendly chords and will have you sounding great in no time.
What Makes a Song "Easy"? Simple chord shapes, slow tempo, minimal chord changes, and repetitive patterns. All songs here use mostly G, C, D, Em, and Am — the first chords every guitarist learns.
Super Easy (First Week Songs)
These songs use 2-4 chords with slow, simple strumming:
| Song | Artist | Chords | Why It's Easy |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Horse with No Name" | America | Em, D | Just 2 chords, whole song |
| "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | Bob Dylan | G, D, Am, C | 4 chords, slow tempo |
| "Bad Moon Rising" | CCR | D, A, G | 3 chords, simple pattern |
| "Three Little Birds" | Bob Marley | A, D, E | Reggae strum, very forgiving |
| "Leaving on a Jet Plane" | John Denver | G, C, D | Classic 3-chord song |
| "Take Me Home, Country Roads" | John Denver | G, Em, C, D | Slow, crowd-pleaser |
| "Stand By Me" | Ben E. King | G, Em, C, D | Same 4 chords, iconic |
| "Riptide" | Vance Joy | Am, G, C | 3 chords, popular hit |
Easy Acoustic Favorites
Songs that sound great with just an acoustic guitar:
| Song | Artist | Chords | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Wonderwall" | Oasis | Em7, G, D, A | Fingerpicking optional |
| "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" | Green Day | G, C, D | Beautiful and simple |
| "Wish You Were Here" | Pink Floyd | G, C, D, Am | Intro riff is learnable |
| "Hey There Delilah" | Plain White T's | D, A, Bm, G | Fingerpicking style |
| "Let Her Go" | Passenger | C, D, Em, G | Picking pattern |
| "Hallelujah" | Leonard Cohen | C, Am, F, G | Slow and beautiful |
| "The Scientist" | Coldplay | Am, C, G, D | Emotional ballad |
| "Someone Like You" | Adele | A, E, F#m, D | Piano song, works on guitar |
Easy Rock Songs
Get rocking with these simple rock tracks:
| Song | Artist | Chords | Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Wild Thing" | The Troggs | A, D, E | Classic rock, 3 chords |
| "Smoke on the Water" (riff) | Deep Purple | G5 | Iconic riff, power chord |
| "Back in Black" (riff) | AC/DC | E, D, A | Main riff is learnable |
| "Seven Nation Army" (riff) | White Stripes | E | Single-note riff |
| "Come As You Are" | Nirvana | Em | Simple chord, easy riff |
| "Blitzkrieg Bop" | Ramones | A, D, E | Punk = simple + fast |
| "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" | Joan Jett | E, A, B | Power chords |
| "All Right Now" | Free | A, D, E | Classic rock groove |
Easy Pop Songs
Modern and classic pop that works on guitar:
| Song | Artist | Chords | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Love Yourself" | Justin Bieber | C, Em, Am, G | Acoustic pop |
| "Perfect" | Ed Sheeran | G, Em, C, D | Wedding favorite |
| "Shape of You" (simplified) | Ed Sheeran | Em, Am | Can simplify to 2 chords |
| "Shallow" | Lady Gaga | G, D, Em, C | Duet potential |
| "Stay With Me" | Sam Smith | Am, F, C | Emotional ballad |
| "Wake Me Up" | Avicii | Am, F, C, G | Folk-pop hit |
| "Budapest" | George Ezra | F, C | Capo song, 2 chords! |
| "I'm Yours" | Jason Mraz | G, D, Em, C | Happy singalong |
Easy Country Songs
Country music is naturally guitar-friendly:
| Song | Artist | Chords | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Wagon Wheel" | Darius Rucker | G, D, Em, C | Crowd favorite |
| "Ring of Fire" | Johnny Cash | G, C, D | Classic country |
| "Jambalaya" | Hank Williams | G, C, D | Simple and fun |
| "Friends in Low Places" | Garth Brooks | A, D, E | Sing-along |
| "Folsom Prison Blues" | Johnny Cash | E, A, B7 | Walking bass line |
| "Sweet Home Alabama" | Lynyrd Skynyrd | D, C, G | Southern rock |
| "Cruise" | Florida Georgia Line | G, D, Em, C | Modern country |
| "Die a Happy Man" | Thomas Rhett | Capo + G, C, D | Love song |
Want to practice along with isolated guitar parts? StemSplit can remove everything except the guitar from songs — or remove the guitar so you can play along.
The Essential Beginner Chords
Master these chords and you can play hundreds of songs:
The Big 5
G Major C Major D Major Em Am
o o o o x o o x x o o o o o o o x o o
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | o | | | | | o | | | | | | | | | o |
| | o | | | o | | | | | o | | | | o o | | | | o | |
o | | | o | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Why These Chords?
- Used in thousands of songs
- Open chord shapes (easier than barre chords)
- Transition smoothly between each other
- Cover major, minor, and common progressions
Common Progressions
| Progression | Songs That Use It |
|---|---|
| G - C - D | "Sweet Home Alabama," hundreds more |
| G - D - Em - C | "With or Without You," "Let It Be" |
| Am - G - C - F | "Despacito," "Africa" |
| Em - G - D - A | "Wonderwall," "Save Tonight" |
| C - G - Am - F | "Let It Be," "No Woman No Cry" |
Practice Tips for Beginners
Start Slow
- Speed comes later; accuracy comes first
- Use a metronome at 60 BPM
- Only speed up when perfect at current tempo
Focus on Transitions
- Practice switching between two chords
- G to C, C to D, D to G
- Don't lift all fingers — pivot on common fingers
Use a Capo
A capo lets you play easier chord shapes in different keys:
- Song uses F? Capo 1, play E shapes
- Song uses B? Capo 2, play A shapes
- Opens up songs that would otherwise need barre chords
Practice with Backing Tracks
Playing alone gets boring. Practice with:
- YouTube backing tracks
- Karaoke versions of songs
- Stem-separated tracks (guitar removed) — create your own
How to Learn a Song
Step 1: Find the Chords
- Ultimate Guitar (ultimate-guitar.com)
- Chordify
- Search "[song name] chords"
Step 2: Listen to the Original
- Note tempo, feel, strumming pattern
- Count beats per chord change
- Identify any tricky parts
Step 3: Practice Section by Section
- Don't try to play the whole song immediately
- Master verse, then chorus, then bridge
- Chain sections together
Step 4: Play Along
- First with metronome
- Then with the actual recording
- Consider using a track with guitar removed
Creating Practice Tracks
Standard recordings have guitar competing with your playing. Better option:
Remove the Guitar
- Upload song to StemSplit
- Select "Other/Instruments" stem
- Download track with guitar removed
- Play along — you're the guitarist now
Isolate the Guitar
Want to learn a specific guitar part?
- Upload song to StemSplit
- Select "Other/Instruments" stem
- Listen to isolated guitar
- Hear exactly what they're playing
This works especially well for:
- Learning complex riffs
- Understanding rhythm guitar parts
- Practicing lead over rhythm
FAQ
How long until I can play songs?
With daily 15-30 minute practice, you can play simple songs (2-3 chords) in 1-2 weeks. More complex songs take 1-3 months.
Should I learn acoustic or electric first?
Either works! Acoustic builds finger strength but is harder on fingers. Electric is easier to play but requires an amp. Choose based on what music you want to play.
What if my fingers hurt?
Normal for the first few weeks. Take breaks when needed. Calluses will develop. If pain is severe, check your technique.
How do I know if I'm playing the right thing?
Record yourself and compare to the original. Use apps that can show if you're hitting the right notes. Play along with the song.
Is it okay to use tabs instead of reading music?
Yes! Tabs are perfect for guitar. Many professional guitarists never learned to read traditional notation.
How do I make chord changes smoother?
Practice transitions specifically. Find "pivot fingers" that stay in place between chords. Practice switching between just two chords before tackling full songs.
Can I skip learning chords and just play tabs?
You can, but chords open up way more songs. A few chord shapes = hundreds of songs. Tabs only teach one song at a time.
The Bottom Line
The best song to learn is one you're excited to play. Don't force yourself through boring exercises when you could be playing real music.
Start with the super-easy songs (2-3 chords), build your chord vocabulary, and gradually take on more challenging pieces. Before you know it, you'll be the one everyone asks to bring their guitar to gatherings.
Practice with Professional Backing Tracks
Remove the guitar from any song and play along.
- ✅ Your favorite songs, guitar removed
- ✅ Play lead or rhythm — your choice
- ✅ Works with any genre
- ✅ Better than YouTube backing tracks
