If you want to start a journey to become a true guitar genius, these 10 easiest electric guitar songs to learn for beginners is a good way to start.
Although there are many similarities between playing acoustic and electric guitar, there are also some unique and important differences. If you are good at playing acoustic guitar, it doesn’t mean you will play electric guitar with the same efficiency and vice versa. Among the key differences is the work of the hands on the guitar. Since the strings on the acoustic guitar are heavier than the ones on the electric guitar, you will have to work harder to press the strings. Also, the acoustic guitar can be played efficiently with both fingers and pick, while electric guitar playing requires using the pick most of the time. There are also differences in the softness of the guitar neck and string spacing. If by any case you want to stick with the acoustic guitar, then be sure to check our list of 10 easiest acoustic guitar songs to play.
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While playing acoustic guitar has its charms, playing electric guitar is a whole new experience. The electric guitar is capable of achieving a wider range of sounds and leaves space for improvisation. Also, electric guitar requires an amplifier if you are to play it. Although this can seem intimidating to a beginner, once you master the basics, it will be easy to discover and enjoy in what electric guitar has to offer.
To compile our list of 10 easiest electric guitar songs to learn for beginners, we searched the web and consulted various recommendations like those from Enki Village, Chainsaw Guitar Tuition, How To Play Electric Guitar and others. We took the ones that had the most recommendations and ones that are easy to learn based on personal experience. Then we picked 10 that are the easiest to learn based on complexity and number of chords needed, chord changes and other variations during the song. The song that made the list need the smaller number of chords that are easier to “catch” and the chords are repetitive. Also, to make it easier for you to master these songs, we pitched in the links where you can find all the chords for the particular song.
10. Horse With No Name – America
We will start our list with the song that is often recommended for electric guitar beginners. The reason is simple. The chords are repetitive through the entire song, and you’ll only need 4 of them. Although it features 2 barre chords D6/9 and Dmaj9, they shouldn’t represent much of a hassle.
9. Zombie – The Cranberries
We are continuing our list of easiest electric guitar songs to learn for beginners with this song which features three simple chords Em, C, G and one more challenging chord D/F#. This last chord adds a bit to the complexity of the song, but once you get past it, you will see just how simple the song is. Basically, you use the same chords in almost the same order through both verses and chorus.
8. Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison
This is a slow song that won’t give you troubles as soon as you get used to barre chord Cadd9 that is featured in the song. The rest of the chords C, D, G, Em are easy, and rhythm of the song doesn’t require much adjustment time.
7. Keep On Rockin’ In The Free World – Neil Young
This Neil Young’s classic ranks 7th on our list of easiest electric guitar songs to learn for beginners. It can be easily mastered with some patience and exercise. It uses Em, D, C, G and A chords. Change of the chords is simple and repetitive through the entire song. Em, D, C are used in the verses and G, D, C in the chorus, in the same order.
6. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
One of the songs that most of the electric guitar players learn first, so it had to be on our list of 10 easiest electric guitar songs to learn for beginners. Besides the challenging solo, the rest of the song is quite simple. You just need to play E, A, G, C in that order and repeatedly listen to the song, so you catch pauses and rhythm.
5. Knocking On Heavens Door – Bob Dylan
Although some of Bob Dylan songs require you to “break fingers”, Knocking On Heavens Door is a walk in the park. The 4 chords are enough to play it. The first line of chords is G, D, Am7 and the second one is G, D, C. And that’s it! Just play them in that order and follow the rhythm. Congratulations, you learned the song.
4. Clocks – Coldplay
Coldplay didn’t want to complicate this song, so they’ve decided to use D, Am, Em chords almost through the entire song. So basically, when you get through the first verse, you will be able to play 80% of the song. They did pitch in a small portion where you have to use F, C, G but it is one small verse and shouldn’t be complicated.
And now, let’s see the top three easiest electric guitar songs to learn for beginners.
3. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
Yes, even as a beginner, you can take on one of the most recognizable riffs in the world of rock music. And, believe it or not, that can be achieved with just two simple chords, E and A. These two chords just keep on repeating through the entire song, except the chorus when you have to pitch in B7 as well.
2. Sunshine Of Your Love – Cream
This is a pretty neat song for every beginner. You have a set of chords for the verses and set of chord for the chorus, which repeat in the same order through the entire song. The rhythm is easy, and you can even sing along if you like.
1. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
To finish off our list of 10 easiest electric guitar songs to learn for beginners, we prepared something special. If 4 chords are still too much for you, then how about a song that has only 3 chords and is a classic. D, C, and G chords repeat through the entire song and they keep coming in the same order. The rhythm is catchy and easy to master as well.
