Have you only recently picked up the guitar? You might already be imagining being able to
play some of the greatest rock or jazz songs of all time. While you won’t be able to reach the
levels of greatness that Jimi Hendrix managed in a matter of months, there are some
incredible songs that even beginners can manage.
Learning the Songs You Love as a Beginner
It might seem ambitious to start by playing full songs (rather than focusing on individual
chords), but it proves very effective for beginners. That’s because knowing how to play a
song on guitar provides far more inspiration than knowing how to play chords. When you can
finally play an entire song from start to finish, you’ll feel incredible about how much you have
achieved. Plus, learning a song you love provides even more incentive.
With that being said, here are some of the best songs to learn on guitar as a beginner – you
are sure to love at least one of these!
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Everyone loves the song Landslide – it’s a beautiful country-folk song with introspective
lyrics written and sung by the great Stevie Nicks. There’s a reason it often reaches high-up
spots on the greatest songs of all time lists! Learning Landside on the guitar is fantastic for
beginners and intermediates, as the chords are simple enough while giving you a chance to
grow your movements. It always helps to use a guitar tab when learning songs like these.
Unlike simple sheet music, a guitar tab for Landslide will show you exactly where to place
your fingers.
A Horse with No Name by America
The 1970s song is universally loved – a fun folk melody combined with interesting lyrics that
symbolize the desire to find a quieter, more peaceful place. It’s pretty simple to learn on
guitar. The basic chords will make learning the music easy, while the feeling you get from
knowing such an iconic song with guitar strings will fuel your desire to learn other, more complicated
songs.
House of the Rising Sun by The Animals
If you’re into folk rock, consider learning House of the Rising Sun by The Animals. Not only
is it a beloved song that almost everyone knows the lyrics to, but it’s also very easy to learn.
It only has the open chords Am, C, D, E, and F, so you’ll be able to play it in its entirety in no
time!
My Generation by The Who
Looking for something a little more upbeat? Try My Generation by The Who. It might be a
powerful rock song, but don’t let that fool you – playing it is refreshingly simple. In fact, the
song only consists of two chords G and F, so you’ll be able to play it as soon as you master
both of those!
Learning these songs will put you on a pathway to becoming a great guitar player. When
choosing a song as a beginner, always consider how easy the chords are and how much it
will teach you. Sometimes, trying a more complicated song with more chords like Landslide
will help you achieve a higher skill – although, there’s no shame in starting with the super
simple! Getting used to the movements will help you develop the muscle memory you need
to try out more complicated guitar sons in the future.
Photo by 42 North.
