5 Easy Guitar Songs That Sound Impressive (Even If You’re a Beginner)
Learn 5 easy guitar songs that sound amazing and will impress your friends. These beginner-friendly tunes use simple chords and familiar melodies – perfect for your next jam session!
5 Easy Guitar Songs to Impress Your Friends
Have you ever been at a party, spotted a guitar in the corner, and thought “I want to play something…”—but couldn’t bring yourself to do it?
I’ve been there. And trust me, it’s not about how good you are. You don’t need to shred scales or play lightning-fast solos. In fact, when it comes to casual playing, people are way more impressed by songs they know—even if they’re played with just a few simple chords.
So today, I want to share 5 easy guitar songs that sound great, are fun to play, and are perfect for getting people to sing along.
Why These Songs?
I picked these 5 tunes because they all check three important boxes:
- Simple Chords & Patterns – No complicated shapes or rhythms.
- Well-Known and Loved – Crowd-pleasers that get people singing.
- Easy to Memorize – So you don’t have to stare at your phone mid-song.
🎸 Song 1: Stand By Me – Ben E. King
This one uses just G, Em, C, D – and the progression loops over and over.
Chord progression:
G G Em Em
C D G GThe chorus and verse use the exact same progression. This one’s a classic for a reason. It’s perfect for beginners, and even more perfect for group sing-alongs.
🔗 Stand By Me Guitar Lesson available here
🎸 Song 2: Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
You can strum this one using G, Em, C, D, but I highly recommend trying it with a fingerpicking pattern.
I use a simple ascending/descending motion:
Thumb → Index → Middle → Ring → Middle → Index
It gives the song that flowing, emotional feel that makes it hit even harder.
Tip: Start slow. Fingerpicking takes time, but this song is the perfect one to learn it on.
🔗 Hallelujah Guitar Lesson (Strumming) available here
🔗 Hallelujah Guitar Lesson (Fingerstyle) available here
🎸 Song 3: Creep – Radiohead
Just 4 chords: G, B, C, Cm.
Yes, the B and Cm are barre chords—but I show you how to simplify them in the lesson.
Once again, the progression repeats over and over…
G G B7 B7
C C Cm CmOnce you get the hang of it, this one feels and sounds powerful, especially when you kick in the chorus.
🔗 Creep Guitar Lesson for beginners available here
🎸 Song 4: Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
A soulful tune that sounds fancy but is built on a simple picking pattern using Am, Em, G, and Dm.
This one works great on acoustic or electric, and it’s perfect for getting into some expressive playing—even basic soloing using the A minor pentatonic scale.
Bonus: It’s super loopable and fun to jam over!
🔗 Ain’t No Sunshine Guitar Tutorial (full) here!
🎸 Song 5: The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel
An unforgettable fingerstyle intro, followed by classic folk-style chord changes like Am, G, F, C.
This one is more about timing than difficulty—and I’ve mapped it all out in the full lesson so you don’t miss a beat.
🔗 Sound of Silence Guitar Lesson available here
Final Thoughts
These 5 songs—Stand By Me, Hallelujah, Creep, Ain’t No Sunshine, and The Sound of Silence—are perfect for building confidence and making music with others.
You don’t need flashy technique or complex solos. All you need is a few chords, a good rhythm, and a song that people recognize.
Ready to Go Deeper?
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Have a fun time practicing and I’ll see you soon!
-James
