To help you memorize chords better, and practice chord switching, I’ve compiled this list of easy guitar songs for beginners. It’s organized by which chords are used, so you can learn just 2 or 3 chords and get started with your favourite tunes right away.
I’ll be updating this list constantly as I come across (and remember) more and more easy songs. If you know any easy songs to play on guitar that aren’t here, I would really appreciate it if you could send a quick email to [email protected] (Please and thank you!)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Easiest Chord Progressions On Guitar
The Most Common 3-Chord Progressions
The Absolute Most Common Chord Progression On Guitar
Other Common Chord Combinations
The Easiest Chord Progressions On Guitar
(From Chapter 2 of our Beginner’s Guitar Course)
Please note that you may not be able to play with every single part of every song. To make it easier for you and prevent discouragement, I’ve indicated where this will occur. For instance, “I’ve Got A Feeling” has a riff at the end of each verse that goes very quickly and requires a few techniques that you may not have covered.
I have 2 things to say about this:
- Play along to the easy parts. I’ve chosen these songs because the majority of each tune is very easy to play along with.
- Practicing with a song is invaluable, and far more enjoyable than doing exercises all the time, so have fun and don’t worry about the parts you’re NOT getting… focus on the parts that you CAN play!
Progression #1 – E and Asus2
- Born In The USA – Bruce Springsteen – CAPO 7
- I’ve Got A Feeling – The Beatles – CAPO 5 (Note: Contains a riff at the end of each verse)
- I Have A Dream – ABBA – CAPO 1 (Note: The chorus contains a D chord)
- Born Free – Kid Rock (Note: later in the song we come across F#m and D)
- Achey Breakey Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus
- Boys Around Here – Blake Shelton (CAPO 5)
Progression #2 – C and Fmaj7
- Imagine – John Lennon (Note: C and Fmaj7 during the verse only. Also, the recording is slightly out of tune)
- Feeling Alright – Traffic
- Walk On The Wild Side – Lou Reed (Note: One part which has Dm, which we’ll learn later)
- I’ll Take You There – The Staple Singers
Progression #3 – G and Cadd9
- Love Me Do – The Beatles (Note: There’s a D chord in the “bridge”)
- Anyone Else But You – The Mouldy Peaches
- Paperback Writer – The Beatles
- Everyday People – Sly And The Family Stone
- Give Peace A Chance – John Lennon
- Jambalaya – Hank Williams
Progression #4 – G and Dsus4
- Stuck In The Middle With You – Stealers Wheel (Note: D and G mostly. A and C during the bridge)
- What I Got – Sublime – Watch the tutorial here
- Copperhead Road – Steve Earle
- Lively Up Yourself – Bob Marley
- Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke
Progression #5 – G, Cadd9 and Dsus4
- Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan – Watch the tutorial here (Note: contains Am, but we can play C instead and it sounds fine)
- Leaving On A Jet Plane – John Denver
- Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison – Watch the tutorial here
- The Joker – Steve Miller Band
- Love Me Do – The Beatles
- If I Needed You – Townes Van Zandt – CAPO 4
- You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
- Shine – Collective Soul
- Wonderful – Everclear
- Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash
- We’re Going To Be Friends – White Stripes – Watch the tutorial here (Note: the bridge contains an A chord)
- Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison
Progression #6 – G, Cadd9, Dsus4 and Em7
- The One I Love – R.E.M
- Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles (Note: only uses Em and C. Also, try experimenting with the E minor chord melody over this tune)
- Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton – Watch the tutorial here
- Redemption Song – Bob Marley
- Zombie – The Cranberries
- Time Of The Season – The Zombies
- Songbird – Oasis (Note: only uses G and Em)
- Stand By Me – Ben E. King
- Pompeii – Bastille – CAPO 2
- Last Kiss – Pearl Jam version
- Hello – Adele – CAPO 1
- Country Roads – John Denver – CAPO 2 (Note: bridge contains F)
- Teardrops On My Guitar – Taylor Swift – CAPO 3
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz – CAPO 4 – Watch the tutorial here (Note: bridge contains A7)
- Let It Be – The Beatles – CAPO 5 – Watch the tutorial here
- Love Story – Taylor Swift – CAPO 7
- Hey Soul Sister – Train – CAPO 9 – Watch the tutorial here
- Bloodbuzz Ohio – The National – CAPO 2 – Watch the tutorial here
The Most Common 3-Chord Progressions On Guitar
(From Chapter 4 of our Beginner’s Guitar Course)
In the beginner’s guitar course, I refer to these 3-chord progressions as “chord families.” I use this terminology simply to indicate that these are chords which work well together and are related through very strong musical forces that we’ll be learning about in the future.
Family #1 – A, D and E
- Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond – CAPO 2
- Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ – Michael Jackson (Note: it’s just D to E the WHOLE time)
- Second Hand News – Fleetwood Mac
- Three Little Birds – Bob Marley – Watch the tutorial here
- Lazy Song – Bruno Mars (Note: Has a couple extra chords here and there)
- Doesn’t Remind Me – Audioslave (Note: The bridge contains more chords)
- Lightning Crashes – Live – CAPO 2 (Note: The bridge contains more chords)
- I Have A Dream – ABBA – CAPO 1
- Boys Around Here – Blake Shelton (Note: Only uses A and D)
- Blue Suede Shoes – Elvis Presley
- Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley
- Praise You – Fatboy Slim – CAPO 3 – Watch the tutorial here (Note: the bridge contains a B7 chord)
- Rescue Me – Fontella Bass (Note: there’s a riff in there, just play D over it)
- Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran (Note: it goes pretty fast from E to A, then from D to E)
- Sympathy For The Devil – The Rolling Stones (Note: there’s a B7 in the chorus)
Family #2 – G, C and D
- Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan – Watch the tutorial here (Note: contains Am, but we can play C instead and it sounds fine)
- Leaving On A Jet Plane – John Denver
- Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison – Watch the tutorial here
- The Joker – Steve Miller Band
- Love Me Do – The Beatles
- If I Needed You – Townes Van Zandt – CAPO 4
- You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC
- Shine – Collective Soul
- Wonderful – Everclear
- Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash
- We’re Going To Be Friends – White Stripes – Watch the tutorial here (Note: the bridge contains an A chord)
- Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison
Family #3 – Em, Am and B7
- Shakin’ All Over – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Note: It’s just Em and Am)
- I Put A Spell On You – Jay Hawkins – CAPO 1
- Riders On The Storm – The Doors (Note: contains C and D)
Family #3 (converted to MAJOR) – E, A and B7
- Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash – CAPO 2
- Walk of Life – Dire Straits
- Yellow Ledbetter – Pearl Jam
- Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain – Willie Nelson
- Man of Constant Sorrow – Soggy Bottom Boys – CAPO 1 – Watch the tutorial here
Family #4 – C, F and G
or 
- Twist And Shout – The Beatles – CAPO 2
- Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
- Hand In My Pocket – Alanis Morisette
- Dreams – Fleetwood Mac – Watch the tutorial here (Note: only uses F and G)
- Down On The Corner – CCR
Family #5 – Am, Dm and E
- Black Magic Woman – Fleetwood Mac – CAPO 5
- Moondance – Van Morrison
- Natural Mystic – Bob Marley (Note: there’s a G in there every once in a while)
- God’s Gonna Cut You Down – Johnny Cash
The Absolute Most Common Chord Progression On Guitar
(From Chapter 5 of our Beginner’s Guitar Course)
This is THE most common chord progression on guitar. With it, you can play hundreds of songs. If you play it with a capo (which allows you to easily change keys) you can play thousands of songs.
The chords:
- The One I Love – R.E.M
- Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles (Note: only uses Em and C. Also, try experimenting with the E minor chord melody over this tune)
- Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton – Watch the tutorial here
- Redemption Song – Bob Marley
- Zombie – The Cranberries
- Time Of The Season – The Zombies
- Songbird – Oasis (Note: only uses G and Em)
- Stand By Me – Ben E. King
- Pompeii – Bastille – CAPO 2
- Last Kiss – Pearl Jam version
- Hello – Adele – CAPO 1
- Country Roads – John Denver – CAPO 2 (Note: bridge contains F)
- Teardrops On My Guitar – Taylor Swift – CAPO 3
- I’m Yours – Jason Mraz – CAPO 4 – Watch the tutorial here (Note: bridge contains A7)
- Let It Be – The Beatles – CAPO 5 – Watch the tutorial here
- Love Story – Taylor Swift – CAPO 7
- Hey Soul Sister – Train – CAPO 9 – Watch the tutorial here
- Bloodbuzz Ohio – The National – CAPO 2 – Watch the tutorial here
Other Common Chord Combinations
(From Chapters 4 and 5 of our Beginner’s Guitar Course)
Progression #1 – D, G and A
- Twist And Shout – The Beatles
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Deep Blue Something
- Dead Flowers – Rolling Stones
- Get Back – The Beatles
- Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) – Watch the tutorial here
- Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty – CAPO 3 – Watch the tutorial here
- The Gambler – Kenny Rogers – CAPO 1 – Watch the tutorial here (Note: song changes key around halfway thru and starts using D#, G# and A# instead of D, G and A)
- Mr. Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan – CAPO 3 – Watch the tutorial here (Note: “The Byrds” version = NO CAPO)
Progression #2 – G, C, D and Am
- What’s Up – 4 Non-Blondes – CAPO 2
- Dani California – Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Last Dance With Mary Jane – Tom Petty
- Shake it Off – Taylor Swift
- Radioactive – Imagine Dragons – CAPO 2 – Watch the tutorial here
- Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan – Watch the tutorial here
- Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd – Watch the tutorial here
- Motorcycle Song – Arlo Guthrie
- Working Class Hero – John Lennon – Watch the tutorial here
- State of Grace – Taylor Swift – CAPO 2
- Electric Feel – MGMT – CAPO 3
Progression #3 – C, F, G and Am
- Blowing In The Wind – Bob Dylan – CAPO 2
- Stay With Me – Sam Smith – Watch the tutorial here
- Have You Ever Seen The Rain – CCR – Watch the tutorial here (Note: the intro contains more chords)
- With Or Without You – U2 – CAPO 2
- Otherside – Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Save Tonight – Eagle Eye Cherry (Note: the chords change pretty fast)
- Maneater – Hall & Oates – CAPO 2 (Note: chorus is just Am, G, F, G)
