25 Best Songs to Learn on Guitar for Beginners

Choosing the right songs to learn as a beginner guitarist makes the difference between staying motivated and giving up. The best beginner songs use simple open chords, have a steady tempo, and are songs you actually want to play. Here are 25 great options organized from easiest to more challenging.

Absolute Beginner (2-3 Chords)

1. "Horse With No Name" — America

Chords: Em - D6/9 (just two shapes!) This song uses only two chord shapes and a simple strumming pattern. The D6/9 chord is played almost identically to Em, just shifted down two strings. Perfect first song.

2. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" — Bob Dylan

Chords: G - D - Am - C Four basic open chords with a slow tempo. The chord changes are predictable and evenly spaced, giving you plenty of time to switch.

3. "Love Me Do" — The Beatles

Chords: G - C - D Just three chords in a simple pattern. The Beatles' early songs are goldmines for beginners because they're built on fundamental chord progressions.

4. "Stand by Me" — Ben E. King

Chords: A - F#m - D - E Four chords with a steady, unhurried tempo. The F#m is the only slightly challenging chord, but it's a great introduction to barre chord shapes.

5. "Riptide" — Vance Joy

Chords: Am - G - C - F One of the most popular modern beginner songs. The strumming pattern drives the song, and you can simplify the F chord to Fmaj7 (remove the barre) when starting out.

Beginner (3-4 Chords, Steady Tempo)

6. "Wonderwall" — Oasis

Chords: Em7 - G - Dsus4 - A7sus4 Despite the fancy chord names, these are all easy shapes. The key is keeping your ring and pinky fingers planted on the 3rd fret while other fingers move around them.

7. "Let It Be" — The Beatles

Chords: C - G - Am - F The quintessential four-chord song. The I-V-vi-IV progression at a comfortable tempo. If you can play these four chords, you can play hundreds of songs.

8. "Brown Eyed Girl" — Van Morrison

Chords: G - C - G - D A feel-good classic with a bouncy rhythm. The bass runs between chords add character but aren't essential for beginners — the chords alone sound great.

9. "Sweet Home Alabama" — Lynyrd Skynyrd

Chords: D - C - G Just three power chords in the same pattern throughout the entire song. The strumming rhythm has a characteristic Southern rock feel.

10. "Wagon Wheel" — Old Crow Medicine Show / Darius Rucker

Chords: G - D - Em - C Another I-V-vi-IV song with an upbeat, singalong feel. Great for building speed in your chord changes.

Intermediate Beginner (More Complex Strumming or Chord Shapes)

11. "Wish You Were Here" — Pink Floyd

Chords: Em - G - A7sus4 - G - C - D - Am More chords than the previous songs, but the slow tempo gives you time. The intro is one of the most rewarding things to learn on acoustic guitar.

12. "Hey Jude" — The Beatles

Chords: F - C - C7 - Bb - Gm Introduces the Bb barre chord, but the song's slow build gives you time to prepare for each change.

13. "Hallelujah" — Leonard Cohen

Chords: C - Am - F - G - E7 A fingerpicking song that works equally well strummed. The E7 chord adds sophistication without difficulty.

14. "Hotel California" — Eagles

Chords: Am - E7 - G - D - F - C - Dm - E7 More chords, but the arpeggiated picking pattern at slow tempo makes each change manageable. This is the song every guitarist eventually wants to learn.

15. "Take Me Home, Country Roads" — John Denver

Chords: A - F#m - E - D A country-folk classic with alternating bass strumming. The F#m is good barre chord practice.

Songs That Build Skills

16. "Fast Car" — Tracy Chapman

Chords: Cmaj7 - G - Em - D The fingerpicking pattern is the main challenge, but it's one of the most satisfying patterns to learn. Start by just playing the chords, then add the picking.

17. "Nothing Else Matters" — Metallica

Chords: Em - Am - C - D - G - B7 The intro fingerpicking pattern is iconic and excellent for developing finger independence. The verse chords are standard open shapes.

18. "The Scientist" — Coldplay

Chords: Dm - Bb - F - Fsus2 Introduces minor key songs and the Bb barre chord. The slow arpeggiated pattern forgives imperfect technique.

19. "Someone Like You" — Adele

Chords: A - E - F#m - D A modern ballad that works beautifully with arpeggiated picking. Great for practicing smooth chord transitions.

20. "Shape of You" — Ed Sheeran

Chords: Am - Dm - G - C (with capo 4) Introduces percussive strumming technique where you tap the guitar body between chord hits — a signature Ed Sheeran style.

Crowd Pleasers (Great for Playing With Others)

21. "Don't Stop Believin'" — Journey

Chords: E - B - C#m - A An anthem that everyone knows. The verse builds to one of the most singalong-worthy choruses in rock.

22. "Sweet Child O' Mine" — Guns N' Roses

Chords: D - C - G (verse), Em - C - B7 - D (chorus) The iconic intro riff is challenging, but the rhythm guitar part underneath uses simple chords.

23. "Free Fallin'" — Tom Petty

Chords: D - Dsus4 - Asus4 - A Uses just two chord pairs with minimal finger movement between them.

24. "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" — Creedence Clearwater Revival

Chords: C - G - F Three chords with a driving rhythm. A timeless song that's easy to play and everyone recognizes.

25. "Shallow" — Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

Chords: Em - D/F# - G - C - Am - D A modern classic that builds from quiet verses to a powerful chorus. Great for learning dynamic playing.

How to Practice Effectively

1. Start slower than you think — Use a metronome at half the song's actual tempo
2. Master the chord changes first — Play just the chords without worrying about strumming
3. Use FindTheChords.com — Upload the actual song to verify you have the right chords and see exact timing
4. Play along with the recording — Once you can play the chords at tempo, play along with the original
5. Record yourself — You'll catch mistakes you don't notice while playing

Find Chords to Any Song

Not sure about the chords in a song you want to learn? FindTheChords.com analyzes any audio file and gives you the complete chord progression with timestamps, key, and BPM. Upload your favorite songs to see exactly which chords they use and when they change. It's free, with no signup or account needed.