There are many guitar songs that are very easy to play, even for beginners. Sure, you’ll have to learn a few guitar chords and how to strum, but once you learn them, you’ll be able to easily play thousands of songs.

Almost all recording artists have songbooks and sheet music available that are made “guitar easy.” You can also find tablature or “tabs” online by simply searching for guitar charts or the name of the song. You may want to choose a songbook from your favorite artist to help you learn their songs.

Here are twelve easy-to-play songs for guitar beginners who have learned some basic guitar chords. To play them, you’ll need to know the seven basic major chords. ABCDEF, Y GRAM. In the case of B. Y F major, which are usually barre chords, I suggest using the power chords B5 Y F5even for minor chords.

These will be much simpler to play for beginners. Barre chords are not necessarily more difficult to play, but they do require some finger strength that the beginning guitarist may not yet have.

The chords listed are in the order they are played. In other words, I have shown the chord progression for each song.

two chords

  • Paperback Writer – The Beatles; uses the G and C major chords
  • Nameless Horse – America; uses the Em (E minor) and D2 chords
  • All Lotta’s Love – Led Zeppelin; uses the major chords D and E

three chords

  • Bad Moon Rising – Creedance Clearwater Revival; uses the major chords D, A and G
  • All the Little Things – Blink 182; use the major chords C, G and F (use F5)
  • Along the Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix; uses the Bm (B minor), A, and G chords in an Eb (E flat) tuning (tuning all strings down a half step to E flat)
  • Never let go – Blind third eye; uses E, B and A major chords
  • Talk Dirty to Me – Poison; uses the major chords G, D and C
  • You Rocked Me All Night – AC/DC; uses the major chords G, C and D

four chords

  • When we die – Bowls for soup; uses the chords D, A, Bm (B minor) and G
  • Perfect World: Simple Map; use the chords Bm (B minor), G, D and A using the E flat (Eb tuning)
  • It’s My Life – Bon Jovi; uses the chords Bm (B minor), G, D and A

Find a recording of each song you want to learn and listen to the chord changes. Play the chords I have listed here so you can match the chords in the song. Once you can hear the chord changes, you can figure out how to play the strum pattern.

It’ll take a little practice, but soon you’ll have a dozen easy-to-play guitar songs for friends and family.