As you begin to play the guitar, it’s best to start out by learning easy songs. This will help you build your confidence and proficiency as you learn chord progressions while playing recognisable melodies.
There are several beginner-friendly tunes that are perfect for learning the fundamentals as you embark upon your guitar-playing journey. Below, we'll share a list of the 10 easiest songs to learn on guitar. We'll also discuss the benefits of learning the songs and some tips to help you get started.
Benefits of Learning Easy Songs on Guitar
There are so many benefits to learning easy songs on the guitar. This is especially true if you're a beginner just starting out. The benefits include:
- Build confidence—you'll feel amazing when you first master a song that you can play from beginning to end. By learning the simple songs that we'll share below, you'll build the confidence and motivation to continue along your guitar-playing journey. You'll enthusiastically practice every day as you learn these easy-to-play songs because you'll love knowing how to play them and you'll be in for more.
- Improves Finger Dexterity—Playing easy guitar songs will significantly enhance your finger dexterity as a beginner. By changing cords and moving through simple chord progressions, you'll develop finger agility, muscle memory and dexterity. You'll also build finger strength while regularly playing easy guitar songs, which strengthens your fingers and makes it easier to press down on the strings.
- Expands Repertoire—By learning a wide variety of easy songs, beginners will expand their repertoire by learning different musical techniques, genres and styles. This will broaden their overall knowledge of music and help expand your musical palette while enhancing their overall repertoire.
Tips for Learning Easy Songs on Guitar
Learning songs on the guitar may seem challenging when you're new to the instrument. But it doesn't need to be mind-numbingly complex. In fact, we'd like to share some important tips and tricks that'll make learning easy songs on guitar easier than ever.
Start with Basic Chords
Begin playing guitar by learning a few of the basic chords at first. This will help you master more difficult chords as you become more proficient on the instrument.
The basic chords to learn are G, C, D, E and A. These are a few of the major chords you should learn first. Along with these major chords, learn a couple of simple minor chords, including Em, Am and Dm. Note that the ‘small m’ after a chord means that it’s a minor chord. If the chord is only shown as a capital letter, it means that it’s a major chord.
Many of the easiest songs to play use these basic chords and are common. That's why they're essential to learning and ideal for beginners to master. Once you master these chords, you can play many of the top 10 easy songs to learn on guitar that we've mentioned below.
Practice Strumming Patterns
When first starting, it's best to focus on mastering simple strumming patterns. You should begin by working on downstrokes and then gradually incorporate upstrokes to add additional rhythmic variation.
The best way to practice strumming is to use a metronome or backing track. This will help you improve your overall consistency and timing.
Use Online Resources
These days, it’s easy to learn guitar since there are so many great online resources available to you – literally at your fingertips! Remember to take advantage of these resources and make the most of them each and every day. You can use online video tutorials, chord charts and song tabs to learn new songs whenever you wish.
YouTube, JustinGuitar, Guitar365 and Ultimate Guitar are just a small sample of some great online resources that provide a wealth of information and knowledge for guitar players at every level of experience. There are lots of instruction materials and beginner-friendly content for you to peruse on these websites.
The top 10 Easy Songs to Learn on Guitar are:
- “Wonderwall” by Oasis
- “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz
- “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
- “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show
- “Better Be Home Soon” by Crowded House
- “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King
- “Hey Soul Sister” By Train
- “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
- “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty
- “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan
Start Learning Easy Songs on Guitar Today!
It's always wise to begin your guitar journey by learning easy songs. Start by learning the basic chords we discussed, including G, C, D, and E, and practice simple strumming patterns to build foundational skills.
Make the most of online resources whenever possible because there are many chord charts, video tutorials and tabs to guide you along the way. When starting out, break songs into manageable sections and consistently practice every day to continue to make improvements.
Remember to be patient and celebrate your successes along the way. If you remain persistent and dedicated, you'll confidently begin to play your favourite songs and so much more. With time, you may become a master guitar player. Remember that the journey of playing 1000 songs on the guitar begins with a single strum!