Top 20 Guitar Songs Every Beginner Should Know
- Oli Kipfer
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Do you want to learn guitar and play your first well-known songs as soon as possible? Building a good repertoire is the best way to start. These 20 guitar songs are particularly suitable because many of them can be played with just a few chords, simple strumming patterns or recurring song sections.
In a nutshell
The best guitar songs for beginners are not necessarily the technically easiest ones. What matters is that you enjoy listening to them, the chord progression is manageable and practising quickly gives you a sense of musical achievement. In this list, you will find 20 well-known songs from pop, rock, folk and reggae. Start with a song that motivates you and gradually expand your repertoire.
What makes a good guitar song for beginners?
A song is particularly suitable for getting started if it has one or more of the following characteristics:
The chords repeat throughout large sections of the song.
You can initially accompany it using simple downstrokes.
You can practise the tempo slowly and gradually increase it.
You already know the song and it motivates you to keep going.
You can learn the accompaniment first and tackle embellishments, riffs or the original tempo later.
You do not have to play every chord perfectly straight away. Being able to switch cleanly between two or three chords is already an important step forward.
The 20 best guitar songs for beginners
1. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” – Bob Dylan
A classic with a manageable chord progression and plenty of room for a calm, steady strumming pattern. It is ideal for practising chord changes in time.
2. “Horse with No Name” – America
This song is a good introduction to recurring accompaniment patterns. At first, you can focus entirely on the rhythm and maintaining a steady pulse.
3. “Stand by Me” – Ben E. King
The familiar, repeating harmony makes this song particularly suitable for combining steady accompaniment with singing.
4. “Riptide” – Vance Joy
This modern folk-pop song is well suited to beginners who want to learn a distinctive, continuous strumming pattern.
5. “Zombie” – The Cranberries
With its clear structure and driving rhythm, “Zombie” is fun to play even if you start with a simplified accompaniment.
6. “House of the Rising Sun” – The Animals
This song offers a good introduction to fingerpicking. First, practise the chord changes slowly and make sure that every string sounds evenly.
7. “Wonderwall” – Oasis
A popular guitar song for beginners with a characteristic accompaniment pattern. Start slowly and only increase the tempo once the chord changes feel secure.
8. “Wish You Were Here” – Pink Floyd
This song combines a memorable introduction with a clearly recognisable structure. You can learn it in small sections and put everything together later.
9. “Let It Be” – The Beatles
The calm accompaniment is ideal for practising chords using a steady quarter-note rhythm. Later, you can make the accompaniment more varied.
10. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” – John Denver
A catchy sing-along song with a clear structure. It is particularly motivating because you can build a complete accompaniment relatively quickly.
11. “Hallelujah” – Leonard Cohen
The slow structure gives you time to practise clean chord changes. The song is also well suited to experimenting with different fingerpicking and strumming patterns.
12. “Perfect” – Ed Sheeran
A good choice for beginners who want to accompany a slower pop song. First, practise the chord progression without singing and add the fingerpicking later.
13. “Love Me Do” – The Beatles
The song’s direct rock-and-roll character makes it a good exercise for simple, rhythmic chord accompaniment.
14. “Bad Moon Rising” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
This song is driven by a constant groove and a clear structure. It allows you to practise timing and consistent strumming.
15. “Three Little Birds” – Bob Marley & The Wailers
With this song, you can get to know your first reggae elements. Start with a simplified version and gradually work your way towards the typical offbeat accompaniment.
16. “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
The recurring accompaniment invites you to play along. For beginners, a simplified chord version is a sensible starting point before tackling the song’s distinctive details.
17. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” – Green Day
A suitable song for anyone who enjoys rock music. Its clear structure helps you combine chord changes, dynamics and stronger strumming.
18. “Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison
The cheerful groove keeps practice enjoyable. Start by focusing on a steady rhythm and play the accompaniment without unnecessary embellishments.
19. “I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz
This song is well suited to a relaxed accompaniment pattern and is a great exercise if you want to play and sing at the same time.
20. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Elvis Presley
The slow ballad gives you time to practise controlled chord changes. Depending on your level, you can accompany it with strumming, arpeggios or fingerpicking.
Which guitar song should you start with?
Do not automatically choose the shortest or supposedly easiest song. Choose the song you most enjoy listening to or singing along with. Motivation is an important factor when learning guitar.
As a first guide, you can choose as follows:
You want to practise chord changes: “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” or “Let It Be”
You want to learn a strumming pattern: “Riptide” or “Bad Moon Rising”
You want to learn fingerpicking: “House of the Rising Sun” or “Hallelujah”
You want to sing while playing: “Stand by Me” or “Take Me Home, Country Roads”
You like rock: “Zombie” or “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”
How to learn a new song on guitar
Listen to the song carefully. Pay attention to the tempo, time signature and recurring sections.
Learn the chords individually. Check each chord before connecting it with the next one.
Practise the chord changes without rhythm. Switch slowly between two chords.
Add a simple strumming pattern. At the beginning, consistency is more important than speed.
Practise in small sections. A chorus or verse is enough for an initial practice session.
Play regularly. Ten to fifteen focused minutes can be more helpful than a rare, lengthy practice session.
Simplify without feeling bad about it. A simplified version is a sensible step along the way, not a mistake.
Which guitar is suitable for learning?
Both acoustic and electric guitars are suitable for learning your first songs. An acoustic guitar is straightforward because you do not need additional amplification. An electric guitar can be comfortable to play if you prefer rock or pop music.
The most important thing is that the guitar is properly set up and feels comfortable for you to play.
If you are still unsure, our comparison of electric and acoustic guitars for beginners can help you decide. You can also find tips on buying an instrument in our article about guitar and electric guitar shops in Zurich.
Guitar Lessons for Beginners
You can teach yourself chords and strumming patterns. However, a teacher can help you develop good posture, clean technique and a suitable practice plan from the very beginning. This is particularly helpful with songs that can be played in several different ways, as a teacher can adapt the accompaniment to your level.
Find guitar teachers throughout Switzerland or search directly in your area:
If you want to learn to play guitar with children, you can find more tips in the article Learning to Play Guitar as a Child.
Conclusion: Your favourite song is the best first song
The 20 guitar songs on this list cover a wide range of styles and difficulty levels. You do not have to learn them all. Choose a song that inspires you, practise it slowly and stick with a simplified version until you feel comfortable with the basics. This is how your first chord change gradually turns into a song you can genuinely play.
Sources
All linked sources were consulted during the research for this article and support the statements made in the text.
Author (Olivier Kipfer, Marketing and Co-Founder, Matchspace Music)
🤖 This article was created with the support of AI and has been editorially reviewed, supplemented and approved by the Matchspace Music team.
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