9 Easiest Guitar Songs For Beginners

In this lesson and on this page, I want to actually answer that for you in a practical way. Instead of just throwing random song titles at you, I am going to give you 9 specific songs, show you what makes each one easy, and explain how to use them as a path from total beginner to someone who can confidently say, “I play guitar.

There are 3 groups:

1. Absolute first songs – single simple movement between chords
2. Next step songs – still just 2 chords, but more rhythm and technique
3. 4 chord songs – the most common chord progression in popular music

Follow them in order and you will build real skills as you go – not just memorize random shapes.

If you prefer to watch, the full video lesson is embedded at the top of this page. On this page I will walk you through the same ideas in written form so you can follow along at your own pace.

Group 1 – Absolute First Songs To Learn On Guitar

These are the songs I recommend as your very first real tunes. The chords are extremely simple and the strumming can be just basic downstrokes. The whole point here is to:

• Get your hands moving
• Start feeling rhythm
• Actually sound like you are playing real songs

1. A Horse With No Name – America

Why this one is so easy

• Uses a super simple Em chord (two fingers)
• The second chord is just one small movement away – split those two fingers and you get a D6 shape
• You can play the whole thing with 4 slow downstrokes per chord

Even with that simple approach, it already sounds like the song.

Chords (easy version)

• Em
• D6 (same two fingers, just spread apart as shown in the video)

Rhythm focus

• Count 1 2 3 4 for each chord
• Try to emphasize beats 2 and 4 with slightly stronger downstrokes
• Keep your hand relaxed and swinging

This one is perfect for getting over that first rhythm hump so you are not stuck worrying about down vs upstrokes. You just start to feel the groove. Jan – What are the easiest song…

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2. Anyone Else But You – The Moldy Peaches

You might know this one from the Juno soundtrack.

Why this one is so easy

• Still only 2 chords
• Both chords use the exact same hand shape
• You just slide the shape down the strings to go from G to C

Chords (super simple shapes)

• G – 2 fingers on the lower strings, top string is not doing anything
• C – same shape moved down a set of strings

Rhythm focus

• On G, count 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4
• Then do the same thing on C
• The job here is to count carefully so you know how long to stay on each chord Jan – What are the easiest song…

This song forces you to start tracking the length of each chord, which is huge for not getting lost in a song.

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3. Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen

Why this one is so easy

• Starts on a full E major chord (a classic beginner chord)
• You keep your index finger glued down and just move the other two fingers as a unit for the next shape
• You can play it with nothing but steady downstrokes

Chords (simple shapes)

• E
• E-style alternate shape (same basic position, fingers shifted as shown in the video)

Rhythm focus

• Think of small, consistent downstrokes
• Count 1 2 3 4 over and over
• You can play it slower at first, then gradually speed it up toward the original feel Jan – What are the easiest song…

This finishes off our “absolute easiest” group. If you can change between the chords in these three songs and stay in time, you are ready for the next level.

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Group 2 – Two Chord Songs That Build Real Technique

Now we step into songs that are still only two chords, but they ask a bit more of you. These tunes will strengthen your chord switching, introduce new strumming feels, and start to make your rhythm hand feel more musical.

4. Tennessee Whiskey

Why this one is so helpful

• Still a two chord song (G and Am in my simple version)
• The switch between the chords takes a bit more coordination
• It is in 3/4 time, which is different from the usual “1 2 3 4” feel

Chords

• G
• Am

Technique focus

• Practice silent switching first – change chords without strumming at all
• Then play the chord switching game:
  • Strum G for a bar (or more)
  • Switch to Am on time
  • Keep the rhythm going as you switch

Rhythm focus – 3/4 time

• Count 1 2 3, 1 2 3 instead of 1 2 3 4
• Start with simple downstrokes on each beat
• Once you are solid, you can add a bit more strumming movement to match the song’s feel Jan – What are the easiest song…

This song teaches you to feel a completely different time signature, which opens up a huge number of folk, country, and ballad style songs.

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5. What I Got – Sublime

This was one of the first songs I ever really strummed on guitar.

Why this one is so helpful

• Still just two chords – G and D
• In regular 4/4 time
• This is where we start using upstrokes and more interesting rhythm

Chords

• G
• D

Rhythm focus

• Start with a very simple down and up pattern so your hand is always moving
• Then layer in a few extra upstrokes where it feels right
• Listen to how the original strumming swings a bit and try to imitate that

Expression tip

You do not have to strum all 6 strings every time. Try:

• Big full strums on some beats
• Smaller strums that only hit a couple of strings
• Occasional single string strokes

This is a simple way to add a ton of variety and musicality to your strumming without learning a new pattern. Jan – What are the easiest song…

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6. Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus

Why this one is so helpful

• It is another two chord country style tune
• Perfect for learning a basic boom-chuck / bass plus strum pattern

Chords

• Simple E chord and a second chord (commonly A in this style)

Rhythm focus – boom chuck feel

Instead of straight strumming like:

• down, down up, down, down up

you will do something like:

• Beat 1 – pick the thickest bass string of the chord
• Beats 2 and 3 – do a light strum on the middle and higher strings

This is the first step toward:

• Classic country strumming
• Walking bass lines
• Richer accompaniment where your picking hand is not just “all or nothing” Jan – What are the easiest song…

By the end of this group, you will have:

• Better chord switching
• Experience in 3/4 and 4/4 time
• A more expressive strumming hand

Now you are ready for the big one – four chord songs.

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Group 3 – 4 Chord Progressions That Unlock Thousands Of Songs

Now we move to the most common chord progression in popular music:

G – D – Em – C Jan – What are the easiest song…

There are literally thousands of songs that use these four chords in some order. I picked three that are especially beginner friendly and that each teach you something slightly different.

7. With or Without You – U2

Why this one is so helpful

• Uses our 4 chord family, but keeps strumming extremely simple
• Lets you focus on getting the chord shapes right and switching smoothly

Chords

• G
• D
• Em
• C

Rhythm focus

• Just downstrokes
• Count 1 2 3 4 and keep it steady
• Pay attention to your chord changes landing on time

This is a perfect first 4 chord song because you can ignore fancy strumming and just concentrate on your fretting hand. Jan – What are the easiest song…

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8. Last Kiss – Pearl Jam

Why this one is so helpful

• Same basic chord family, but in a different order: G – Em – C – D
• Uses what I like to call the most common strumming pattern ever

Chords

• G
• Em
• C
• D

Rhythm focus

• Work on that classic steady pattern that shows up in hundreds of songs
• Once you can loop this progression with that pattern, you have unlocked a huge part of the beginner song universe

This tune is like a crash course in “real” strumming with real chords. Jan – What are the easiest song…

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9. Viva La Vida – Coldplay

Why this one is so helpful

• Uses the same 4 chord family you already know
• Adds a rhythmic push – some chord changes land slightly earlier than you might expect

That rhythmic push can feel like it is tripping you up at first, which is exactly why it is so valuable to learn. It forces you to:

• Count carefully
• Really listen for where the chords change
• Get comfortable with chords moving on the “and” of the beat instead of always on the number

Once you get it, so many other songs with syncopated changes will suddenly make more sense.

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How To Actually Use These 9 Songs

Here is one simple way to turn this list into a real path:

Step 1 – Absolute beginner phase

• Start with Horse With No Name
• Add Anyone Else But You
• Then Born in the USA

Stay in this group until:

• You can switch chords without stopping the strum
• You can count out loud while you play

Step 2 – Rhythm and technique phase

• Work through Tennessee Whiskey, What I Got, then Achy Breaky Heart
• Focus on one new idea at a time: 3/4 time, upstrokes, boom-chuck bass notes

Do not rush the feel. It is better to play slow and groovy than fast and tense.

Step 3 – Real guitar player phase

• Move on to With or Without You, Last Kiss, and Viva La Vida
• Use these to solidify:
  • 4 chord progressions
  • Common strumming patterns
  • Rhythmic pushes and syncopation

By the end of these 9 songs, you are not just someone who “knows a couple chords” – you are a real guitar player who can pick up songs much more easily.

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Want A Clear Path Beyond These 9 Songs?

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Have a fun time practicing and I’ll see you soon!
-James