72 Easy Guitar Songs For Beginners (Tabs, Chords, Lyrics)


best easy-guitar-songs-for-beginners

When starting out with playing the guitar, it’s exciting to discover the vast amount of songs you can learn with just a few major chords. Easy guitar songs like these are a great place to begin for beginner guitarists.

As you continue to practice, you’ll improve and learn more on the guitar, but it’s important to have a starting point for finding the best easy guitar songs for beginners with tabs, chords, and lyrics. While guitar lessons, whether in-person or online, can provide guidance, it’s up to the player to put in the time and effort to improve.

It’s important to remember that starting out, you may not sound great. Becoming a skilled guitarist takes time and practice such as Eric Clapton or Johnny Depp, so don’t give up! Embrace your mistakes, learn from them, and work to make them sound better.

To help with learning chords, guitar tabs are easy-to-read diagrams that show where to place your fingers. Three common chords that appear in many songs are often used as a starting point for beginners. By breaking down these chords on a chord chart, players can easily visualize where to place their fingers. Let’s take a look now at what it looks like on a chord chart.

C Chord On Guitar
C Major Chord
D Chord On Guitar
D Major Chord
G Chord On Guitar
G Major Chord

When reading a chord chart, the numbers correspond to the fingers on your hand, indicating where to place them on the fretboard and which strings to play. For example, in the C Major chord, your index finger would be placed on the 1st fret of the B string, your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string, and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string.

The “X” symbol indicates that a string should not be played, while the “O” symbol indicates that a string should be played open, without any finger on it. The number on the upper left side of the chart indicates which fret should be played with the first finger.

E Minor Chord:

Now, let’s take a look at some simple and easy guitar songs that every beginner should learn.

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5 Simple & Easy Guitar Songs For Beginners (Guitar Tutorial Videos)

1. “i wanna be there” by blessed union of souls

This song is a great easy song for beginners to learn on the guitar. With just three simple major chords – G, C, and D – it’s a great starting point for those learning to strum and switch chords.

The chord progression is G | C | D | G. Once players can switch between these chords smoothly, they can play the entire song. It’s a simple and enjoyable love song that’s perfect for beginner guitarists.

2. “what’s up” by four non-blondes

The chords used in this song include E, Am, G, D, and B, but these are all fairly easy to learn on the guitar. This song is a crowd-pleaser and is widely recognized, making it a great choice.

3. “love me do” by the beatles

This easy guitar song can be played with just two chords for the chorus – G major and C major. Later in the song, during the bridge that goes, “Someone to love…”, a D major chord is added. This simple and easy guitar song is a great choice for beginner guitarists.

4. “brown eyed girl” by van morrison

“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison is a great example of an easy guitar song that can be played with just three guitar chords – G major, C major, and D major. During the chorus, an E minor chord is added in at the first “My brown-eyed girl”.

The chord progression for “Brown Eyed Girl” goes G | C | G | D, then C | D | G | Em. It’s important to note that while learning the chords correctly is important, the strum pattern used is what truly solidifies a player’s skill and rhythm.

5. “three little birds” by bob marley

“Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley is a classic reggae tune that is simple to play on the guitar. The song uses just three major chords – A, D, and E.

It’s important to note that the D chord used in the song is an open chord, meaning that one string is unfretted.

“Three Little Birds” can be a fun song to jam along to and is continuous in nature, making it perfect for beginner guitarists looking to practice their strumming and chord changes. The uplifting lyrics of the song, “every little thing is gonna be alright,” make it a feel-good tune that’s sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.

How To Use A Capo To Play The Best Easy Guitar Songs

A capo is a simple yet powerful tool that can help guitarists play easy guitar songs without needing to learn complex chords or barre chords. Essentially, a capo is a clamp that is placed on the fretboard of the guitar, allowing players to transpose chords up the neck of the guitar, effectively changing the key of the song.

Using a capo is fairly easy. To get started, simply attach the capo to the desired fret on the guitar. This creates a new nut on the fretboard and effectively raises the pitch of all the strings by the same amount. For example, if you place the capo on the second fret, the pitch of all strings will be raised by a whole step.

Using a capo is particularly helpful when playing easy guitar songs that use basic chords, such as G, C, D, and E. By placing the capo on a higher fret, these chords can be transposed to new keys, making it possible to play a wider variety of songs without needing to learn new chord shapes.

For example, if you wanted to play a song that uses the chords G, C, and D, but find that the key is too low for your voice, you could use a capo on the second fret to transpose the chords up by a whole step. This would effectively turn the G chord into an A chord, the C chord into a D chord, and the D chord into an E chord, while still maintaining the same chord shapes you are already familiar with.

Using a capo can be an incredibly useful tool for beginner guitarists looking to expand their repertoire of easy songs. With just a capo and a few basic chords, players can open up a whole new world of music and explore a wider range of styles and genres.

72 Easy Guitar Songs: The List For Beginners (Chords, Lyrics)

  1. Horse with No Name – America
  2. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
  3. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
  4. Love Me Do – The Beatles
  5. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
  6. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
  7. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
  8. Redemption Song – Bob Marley
  9. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
  10. Time of Your Life – Green Day
  11. Twist and Shout – The Beatles
  12. Wild Thing – The Troggs
  13. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
  14. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
  15. Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash
  16. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
  17. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
  18. You’re Beautiful – James Blunt
  19. Leaving on a Jet Plane – John Denver
  20. Let It Be – The Beatles
  21. Stand by Me – Ben E. King
  22. La Bamba – Ritchie Valens
  23. Wonderwall – Oasis
  24. House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
  25. Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
  26. I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash
  27. Jolene – Dolly Parton
  28. The Scientist – Coldplay
  29. The Joker – Steve Miller Band
  30. Zombie – The Cranberries
  31. Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
  32. Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison
  33. One Love – Bob Marley
  34. Tainted Love – Soft Cell
  35. Have You Ever Seen the Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival
  36. All Apologies – Nirvana
  37. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
  38. Yellow – Coldplay
  39. Hey Jude – The Beatles
  40. Hurt – Johnny Cash
  41. Island in the Sun – Weezer
  42. Losing My Religion – R.E.M.
  43. What’s Up – 4 Non Blondes
  44. Maggie May – Rod Stewart
  45. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
  46. I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
  47. Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day
  48. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
  49. Counting Stars – OneRepublic
  50. Imagine – John Lennon
  51. Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
  52. Lean on Me – Bill Withers
  53. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
  54. Save Tonight – Eagle-Eye Cherry
  55. All of Me – John Legend
  56. Let Her Go – Passenger
  57. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
  58. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas
  59. Royals – Lorde
  60. Someone Like You – Adele
  61. Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
  62. Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix
  63. Don’t Look Back in Anger – Oasis
  64. Use Somebody – Kings of Leon
  65. Pumped Up Kicks – Foster The People
  66. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
  67. Riptide – Vance Joy
  68. Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
  69. The Weight – The Band
  70. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
  71. Everybody Hurts – R.E.M.
  72. Sugar, We’re Goin Down – Fall Out Boy

1. Horse with No Name – America

Key: Em

Chords: Em, D6/9, Asus2, Em7, Dsus2, Fmaj7, G6, F#m7b5

Lyrics: “On the first part of the journey, I was looking at all the life”

Listen on YouTube

Next: Best Campfire Guitar Songs (Easy, Chords, Tabs, Everyone Knows)

2. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan

Key: G

Chords: G, D, Am7

Lyrics: “Mama, take this badge off of me. I can’t use it anymore.”

Listen on YouTube

3. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton

Key: G

Chords: G, D, C, Em7, Cmaj7, Am7, D7, B7

Lyrics: “And I say, ‘Yes, you look wonderful tonight.'”

Listen on YouTube

4. Love Me Do – The Beatles

Key: G

Chords: G, C, D

Lyrics: “Love, love me do. You know I love you.”

Listen on YouTube

5. Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

Key: A

Chords: A, E, D, A/C#, F#m

Lyrics: “If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world?”

Listen on YouTube

6. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

Key: G

Chords: G, C, D, Am7

Lyrics: “Do you remember when we used to sing, sha la la la la la la la la la la te da”

Listen on YouTube

7. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Key: D

Chords: D, C, G, F, Am

Lyrics: “Big wheels keep on turning. Carry me home to see my kin.”

Listen on YouTube

8. Redemption Song – Bob Marley

Key: G

Chords: G, Em, C, Am, D

Lyrics: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.”

Listen on YouTube

9. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen

Key: C

Chords: C, Am, F, G, E7

Lyrics: “I heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the Lord.”

Listen on YouTube

10. Time of Your Life – Green Day

Key: G

Chords: G, D, C, Em, Am

Lyrics: “Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.”

Listen on YouTube

11. Twist and Shout – The Beatles

Key: D

Chords: D, G, A

Lyrics: “Well, shake it up, baby, now (shake it up, baby). Twist and shout (twist and shout). C’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, baby, now (come on baby). Come on and work it on out (work it on out).”

Listen on YouTube

12. Wild Thing – The Troggs

Key: A

Chords: A, D, E

Lyrics: “Wild thing, you make my heart sing. You make everything groovy.”

Listen on YouTube

13. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Key: D

Chords: D, A, G

Lyrics: “I see a bad moon rising. I see trouble on the way.”

Listen on YouTube

14. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley

Key: A

Chords: A, D, E

Lyrics: “Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing gonna be all right.”

Listen on YouTube

15. Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash

Key: G

Chords: G, C, D, Em

Lyrics: “I fell into a burning ring of fire. I went down, down, down and the flames went higher.”

Listen on YouTube

16. I’m Yours – Jason Mraz

Key: B

Chords: B, F#, G#m, E, F#7

Lyrics: “Well, you done done me and you bet I felt it. I tried to be chill, but you’re so hot that I melted.”

Listen on YouTube

17. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd

Key: G

Chords: G, D, Am, C

Lyrics: “So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell, blue skies from pain?”

Listen on YouTube

18. You’re Beautiful – James Blunt

Key: G

Chords: G, D, Em, C Lyrics: “You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful. You’re beautiful, it’s true.”

Listen on YouTube

19. Leaving on a Jet Plane – John Denver

Key: G

Chords: G, C, D, Em Lyrics: “All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go. I’m standing here outside your door.”

Listen on YouTube

20. Let It Be – The Beatles

Key: C

Chords: C, G, Am, F

Lyrics: “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.”

Listen on YouTube

21. Stand by Me – Ben E. King

Key: A

Chords: A, F#m, D, E

Lyrics: “When the night has come and the land is dark and the moon is the only light we’ll see.”

Listen on YouTube

22. La Bamba – Ritchie Valens

Key: C

Chords: C, F, G

Lyrics: “Para bailar la bamba, para bailar la bamba, se necesita una poca de gracia.”

Listen on YouTube

23. Wonderwall – Oasis

Key: G

Chords: G, D, Am7, Cadd9, Em7

Lyrics: “Today is gonna be the day that they’re gonna throw it back to you.”

Listen on YouTube

24. House of the Rising Sun – The Animals

Key: Am

Chords: Am, C, D, F, E

Lyrics: “There is a house in New Orleans, they call the Rising Sun.”

Listen on YouTube

25. Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles

Key: Cm

Chords: Cm, G#, Bb, Ab, Eb

Lyrics: “Ah, look at all the lonely people. Ah, look at all the lonely people.”

Listen on YouTube

26. I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash

Key: F

Chords: F, Bb, C7, Dm, G7

Lyrics: “I keep a close watch on this heart of mine. I keep my eyes wide open all the time.”

Listen on YouTube

27. Jolene – Dolly Parton

Key: G

Chords: G, C, D

Lyrics: “Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. I’m begging of you please don’t take my man.”

Listen on YouTube

28. The Scientist – Coldplay

Key: Bb

Chords: Bb, F, Gm, Eb

Lyrics: “Come up to meet you, tell you I’m sorry. You don’t know how lovely you are.”

Listen on YouTube

29. The Joker – Steve Miller Band

Key: G

Chords: G, C, D

Lyrics: “Some people call me the space cowboy. Some call me the gangster of love.”

Listen on YouTube

30. Zombie – The Cranberries

Key: Em

Chords: Em, C, G, D

Lyrics: “In your head, in your head, they are fighting. With their tanks and their bombs, and their bombs and their guns.”

Listen on YouTube

31. Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers

Key: Am

Chords: Am, G, F, Em

Lyrics: “Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone. It’s not warm when she’s away.”

Listen on YouTube

32. Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison

Key: G

Chords: G, C, D, Em

Lyrics: “We both lie silently still in the dead of the night, although we both lie close together, we feel miles apart inside.”

Listen on YouTube

33. One Love – Bob Marley

Key: C

Chords: C, G, Am, F

Lyrics: “One love, one heart, let’s get together and feel all right. Hear the children cryin’ (One love), hear the children cryin’ (One heart).”

Listen on YouTube

34. Tainted Love – Soft Cell

Key: F#m

Chords: F#m, D, A, E

Lyrics: “Sometimes I feel I’ve got to run away. I’ve got to get away from the pain that you drive into the heart of me.”

Listen on YouTube

35. Have You Ever Seen the Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Key: G

Chords: G, D, C

Lyrics: “Someone told me long ago, there’s a calm before the storm. I know, it’s been comin’ for some time.”

Listen on YouTube

36. All Apologies – Nirvana

Key: F

Chords: F, Dm, G, C, Bb

Lyrics: “What else should I be? All apologies. What else could I say?”

Listen on YouTube

37. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver

Key: A

Chords: A, D, E, F#m

Lyrics: “Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River.”

Listen on YouTube

38. Yellow – Coldplay

Key: B

Chords: B, F#, G#m, E

Lyrics: “Look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do.”

Listen on YouTube

39. Hey Jude – The Beatles

Key: C

Chords: C, G, Am, F

Lyrics: “Hey Jude, don’t make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better.”

Listen on YouTube

40. Hurt – Johnny Cash

Key: A

Chords: A, E, D Lyrics: “I hurt myself today, to see if I still feel. I focus on the pain, the only thing that’s real.”

Listen on YouTube

41. Island in the Sun – Weezer

Key: D

Chords: D, G, A, Bm

Lyrics: “Hip hip. Hip hip. Hip hip. Hip hip.”

Listen on YouTube

42. Losing My Religion – R.E.M.

Key: Am

Chords: Am, Em, Dm, G, F, C

Lyrics: “That’s me in the corner, that’s me in the spotlight”

Listen on YouTube

43. What’s Up – 4 Non Blondes

Key: G

Chords: G, C, D, Em

Lyrics: “25 years and my life is still, trying to get up that great big hill of hope.”

Listen on YouTube

44. Maggie May – Rod Stewart

Key: D

Chords: D, G, A, Bm

Lyrics: “Wake up, Maggie, I think I got something to say to you. It’s late September and I really should be back at school.”

Listen on YouTube

45. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty

Key: F

Chords: F, C, Am, Dm, Bb

Lyrics: “She’s a good girl, loves her mama, loves Jesus, and America too.”

Listen on YouTube

46. I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Death Cab for Cutie

Key: C

Chords: C, Am, F, G

Lyrics: “Love of mine, someday you will die, but I’ll be close behind, I’ll follow you into the dark.”

Listen on YouTube

47. Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day

Key: F#

Chords: F#, B, C#, G#m

Lyrics: “I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known.”

Listen on YouTube

48. A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

Key: Bb

Chords: Bb, Gm, Eb, F

Lyrics: “Heart beats fast, colors and promises, how to be brave, how can I love when I’m afraid.”

Listen on YouTube

49. Counting Stars – OneRepublic

Key: C#

Chords: C#, A#m, F#, G#, G#m

Lyrics: “Lately I been, I been losing sleep, dreaming about the things that we could be.”

Listen on YouTube

50. Imagine – John Lennon

Key: C

Chords: C, Cmaj7, F, G, Am, Dm, E7

Listen on YouTube

51. Hound Dog – Elvis Presley

Key: C

Chords: C, F, G

Lyrics: “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time.”

Listen on YouTube

52. Lean on Me – Bill Withers

Key: C

Chords: C, Am, F, G

Lyrics: “Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow.”

Listen on YouTube

53. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas

Key: G

Chords: G, D, Em, C

Lyrics: “I gotta feeling that tonight’s gonna be a good night. That tonight’s gonna be a good night.”

Listen on YouTube

54. Save Tonight – Eagle-Eye Cherry

Key: Am

Chords: Am, F, C, G

Lyrics: “Go on and close the curtains ’cause all we need is candlelight. You and me and a bottle of wine, going to hold you tonight.”

Listen on YouTube

55. All of Me – John Legend

Key: Ab

Chords: Ab, Eb, Db, Fm

Lyrics: “What would I do without your smart mouth, drawing me in, and you kicking me out?”

Listen on YouTube

56. Let Her Go – Passenger

Key: G

Chords: G, D, Em, C

Lyrics: “Only miss the sun when it starts to snow, only know you love her when you let her go.”

Listen on YouTube

57. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day

Key: G

Chords: G, C, D, Em

Lyrics: “Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road. Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.”

Listen on YouTube

58. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas

Key: E

Chords: E, G, A, D, F#m

Lyrics: “All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray. I’ve been for a walk on a winter’s day.”

Listen on YouTube

59. Royals – Lorde

Key: C#

Chords: C#, A#m, F#, G#

Lyrics: “I’ve never seen a diamond in the flesh. I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies.”

Listen on YouTube

60. Someone Like You – Adele

Key: A

Chords: A, E, F#m, D

Lyrics: “I heard that you’re settled down, that you found a girl and you’re married now.”

Listen on YouTube

61. Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show

Key: A

Chords: A, D, E, F#m

Lyrics: “Headed down south to the land of the pines. I’m thumbing my way into North Carolina.”

Listen on YouTube

62. Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix

Key: E

Chords: E, G, A, D

Listen on YouTube

63. Don’t Look Back in Anger – Oasis

Key: C

Chords: C, G, Am, F

Listen on YouTube

64. Use Somebody – Kings of Leon

Key: C

Chords: C, F, Am, G

Lyrics: “I’ve been roaming around, always looking down at all I see. Painted faces fill the places I can’t reach.”

Listen on YouTube

65. Pumped Up Kicks – Foster The People

Key: F#

Chords: F#, G#m, C#, B

Lyrics: “All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, you better run, better run, outrun my gun.”

Listen on YouTube

66. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Key: A

Chords: A, D, E

Lyrics: “Where it began, I can’t begin to knowin’, but then I know it’s growing strong.”

Listen on YouTube

67. Riptide – Vance Joy

Key: Am

Chords: Am, G, C, F

Lyrics: “I was scared of dentists and the dark, I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations.”

Listen on YouTube

68. Radioactive – Imagine Dragons

Key: Bm

Chords: Bm, D, A, E

Lyrics: “I’m waking up to ash and dust, I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust.”

Listen on YouTube

69. The Weight – The Band

Key: A

Chords: A, D, E

Lyrics: “I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin’ about half past dead. I just need some place where I can lay my head.”

Listen on YouTube

70. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones

Key: E

Chords: E, A, D, G

Lyrics: “I can’t get no satisfaction, I can’t get no satisfaction. ‘Cause I try, and I try, and I try, and I try.”

Listen on YouTube

71. Everybody Hurts – R.E.M.

Key: C

Chords: C, G, Am, F

Lyrics: “When your day is long and the night, the night is yours alone, when you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, well hang on.”

Listen on YouTube

72. Sugar, We’re Goin Down – Fall Out Boy

Key: G

Chords: G, D, Em, C

Lyrics: “Am I more than you bargained for yet? I’ve been dying to tell you anything you want to hear.”

Listen on YouTube

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David Sandy

Hey there! My name is David Sandy and I'm the founder of Sandy Music Lab. I've been playing guitar for several years now and created this site to be able to share and explore music with others.
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"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Romans 10:9-10

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