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The 15 Easiest Songs to Learn on Guitar: Top Beginner Guitar Songs

easiest songs to learn on guitar
The easiest songs to learn on guitar. Image by Ari Goldstein on Unsplash.

Last updated on July 9th, 2023 at 10:33 pm

Learning guitar is difficult, and it takes years to master. With the following easiest songs to learn on guitar, you can build your repertoire and impress friends even if you are just beginning your guitar journey.

Most of these songs surprisingly only contain a chord or two, meaning you’ll have your friends jamming to them in no time, even if you just started playing. Read on to discover the 15 easiest songs to learn on guitar.

15 Easiest Songs to Learn on Guitar

 

1. “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith

Sam Smith has been all over the news lately, especially after performing his top hit “Unholy” at the Grammy’s.

While you can’t play that banger just yet, “Stay With Me” only has a few chords, and they mostly repeat, making it a great place to start.

Related: 2023 Grammy Winners, Nominees, and Performances

 

2. “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen

Not only is this song one of the easiest songs to learn on guitar, but it is also easy to learn on almost any instrument, meaning you and your friends can rehearse it to play around the campfire together.

Related: Easiest Songs to Learn on Piano

 

3. “Love Me Do” by The Beatles

Once you master the above songs, the next of the easiest songs to learn on guitar is “Love Me Do” by the Beatles.

With only three chords total, you’ll have this popular song down in no time, but it will take a little time to get the rhythm just right.

Related: 15 Interesting Facts About the Beatles

 

4. “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus

If you are a country fan, then take a few minutes to learn this popular tune by country star Billy Rae Cyrus.

It does have a few unique chord changes, but with a little practice, you can have these mastered within a few plays.

 

5. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison

Are you looking to play for a sweetheart? Luckily this tune is one of the easiest songs to learn on guitar as it only contains 3 major chords and one minor chord, and they repeat often.

This is another song where rhythm is important, however, and you’ll need to practice to master it.

 

6. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Another tune that only relies on three major chords, “Sweet Home Alabama,” can help introduce you to the rock country genre.

If Kid Rock has taught us anything, once you master this song, “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevin should also be a piece of cake.

Related: Musicians Who Died in Plane Crashes

 

7. “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution” by Tracy Chapman

When you master songs with three chords, you can graduate to this tune by Tracy Chapman which has a total of four chords.

The introduction is a bit tricky, but once you conquer that hurdle, this song is smooth sailing.

 

8. “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift

Prefer more modern guitar songs? “Wildest Dreams” by Taylor Swift is actually one of the easiest songs to learn on guitar, as it just repeats the same chords over and over.

Additionally, it’s one of her slower tunes, giving you some time to change chords.

Related: 23 Facts About Taylor Swift You Should Know

 

9. “Zombie” by The Cranberries

Often mistaken as a Halloween song, this song is about an internal conflict in Ireland that killed thousands of people between 1960 and 2000.

While it does have a serious meaning, it is built on only a few fundamental chords, making it a cinch to play on guitar.

 

10. “I Wanna Be There” by Blessed Union of Souls

One of the popular three-chord numbers, “I Wanna Be There,” repeats G, C, and D over and over, making it one of the great songs to learn to play right away.

 

11. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley

For those who want to play a song with a little more island fever, “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley is also one of the easiest songs to learn on guitar.

With just three chords, A, D, and E, you’ll have this song memorized without a problem.

The hardest part will be getting the island rhythm down.

 

12. “I Can’t Explain” by The Who

When you are ready to graduate from three-chord tunes, the first four-chord tune you should try is “I Can’t Explain” by The Who.

While the fourth chord here is advanced, we recommend mastering the three easy ones first then adding the fourth in later.

 

13. “Imagine” by John Lennon

This song is near the bottom of our list, and for a good reason.

This song has a whopping 12 chords, which can seem like a lot when you’ve only been playing 3 or 4-chord songs, but the song repeats in the same order and is very slow, making it a great song to start taking on more chords.

Related: What Was John Lennon’s Net Worth

 

14. “Free Falling” by Tom Petty

Are you ready to learn some riffs? Start with “Free Falling” by Tom Petty.

This song has only 4 chords and three riffs, making it one of the easiest songs to learn on guitar for mastering riffs.

 

15. “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” by Green Day

We know you are dying to learn more complicated songs, and “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day is a great place to practice advancing yourself.

This song has many chords, but don’t let yourself get overwhelmed, because like “Imagine,” they repeat, so once you master the pattern, you can play this song with ease!

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Written by Hope Davis

Long-time music lover Hope became a full-time writer in 2020 after being laid off from her regular job due to COVID-19. She now spends her time traveling the world to see her favorite bands while writing about them!

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