If you are just learning to play guitar, then you will appreciate our list of easiest famous songs to play on guitar. It is always better to start with something you have heard countless times before.
From my personal experience, when people get their first guitar, they are thinking about playing their favorite song. This is a good idea if your favorite song is Knocking on Heaven’s Door or something similar. However, if it happens to be something along the lines of Voodoo Child from Jimi Hendrix, then you learn to choose your battles. Either that or you abandon the idea of playing guitar and come to hate the song you once loved. So, trust me, never take your favorite tunes on the beginning of your life as a guitar player. Take it easy, pick something recommended for the beginners and slowly build up your knowledge and skills until you are comfortable enough to cope with the bigger challenges besides switching from G to D.
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What makes a famous song? My opinion is that charts and sales are not the main criteria for branding a song famous. Even the performer doesn’t have to be a big name in music. It’s the songs that stand the test of time and that everyone is familiar with. If your friend who is only about EDM sings along with a song that randomly started playing on the radio, then that’s a famous song. For those of you who are into songs from Disney movies or have a kid who wants to play guitar, check out our list of 10 Easiest Disney Songs to Play on Guitar.
In order to come up with the list of easiest famous songs to play on guitar, I have started with recommendations from Tabs 4 Acoustic. After collecting suggestions for famous songs you should know how to play on guitar, I check the YouTube tutorials for each of them. If there were multiple tutorials that labeled a song as easy or for beginners, it came into consideration for the list. Since around 20 songs ticked all the right boxes, relying on my experience as a guitar player and music journalist, I’ve made the final cut taking in consideration the complexity of the song and its popularity. I also made sure that all the links for the chords match the ones used in the video. Since we all know that difficulty and popularity can be sometimes subjective, let us know in the comment section below, if you had any other suggestions for the songs that should be on the list. Now, let’s begin with the journey.
15. (Sittin’ On ) The Dock Of Bay – Otis Redding
As you see, there are just a few simple chords that you won’t have troubles getting comfortable with. The provided chords should match the video lesson below and will help you if you are more of a visual type. The song was recorded in 1967, shortly before Otis Redding’s death.
14. Blowin’ In The Wind – Bob Dylan
Good old Bob Dylan is always there when we need to get a song on our list. The song is pretty easy, to begin with, using just 3 basic chords. You will require a capo to play it the right way, but it should sound pretty close if you don’t have one.
13. Hey, Soul Sister – Train
The song has a simple strumming pattern, but it will give you some troubles if you are a complete beginner. You’ll also need a capo since it won’t sound good if you play it without it. The song put Train on the music map and they never matched its success.
12. For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
I forgot how catchy this song is. No wonder it’s on our list of easiest famous songs to play on guitar. Besides being a cool song, it brings to the table basic chords and easy going strumming. The video tutorial provided has an even simplified version, so you’ll be playing it in no time.
11. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
Here is the song with three chords to warm you up for further challenges. You’ll need a capo on the 3rd fret, but besides that, there isn’t anything intimidating about playing this classic. Even the tutorial below promises you’ll know how to play it when you finish watching the video.
10. Hello – Adele
Hello, it’s us, with another entry on our list of easiest famous songs to play on guitar. It won’t sound like the original since the song is played on the piano, but you’ll manage to mimic it pretty well. Adele returned back to the music stage with this song, and it turned out to be a major hit.
9. Louie Louie – The Kingsmen
As pointed out by the tutorial, there are multiple versions of the song, each having a different difficulty. This is probably the simplest one, using 3 basic chords without requiring a capo. The song dates from 1963 and it still sounds good with people gladly listening it. Enough to be considered famous, if you ask me.
8. Old Time Rock And Roll – Bob Seger
Chords: A, D, E
It was harder than expected to find the proper chords for this song since there are different ways to play it, so you should really pay attention to the tutorial, since it contains simplified version that only uses A, D, and E chords without barre chords. The song became popular years after the release, which is something Bob Seger songs tend to do.
7. Rockin’ In A Free World – Neil Young
Although it uses just the basic chords, this song sounds really powerful and big. Neil Young really did a tremendous job writing it. I’ve put the tutorial for the acoustic guitar since most beginners start with that, but you’ll be able to find some good lessons for electric guitar that are also easy.
6. Redemption Song – Bob Marley
Ready for some reggae on our list of easiest famous songs to play on guitar? The strumming is really simple but you will get a better feel if you decide to sing along while playing. A slight trouble could be the picking intro, but after some time, you’ll get it right. Marley wrote it after he was diagnosed with cancer and the song turned out to be one of his best works.
5. Twist And Shout – The Beatles
Let’s get some Beatles in here. Although originally recorded by The Top Notes, Twist and Shout that ranks 5th on our list of easiest famous songs to play on guitar gained popularity after the Beatles covered it for their first album. They surely didn’t complicate much since the song has only 3 beginner chords. Now, you can play it on acoustic guitar without any problems, but I opted for the electric guitar tutorial since I think it will show you some tricks you may use later.
4. Zombie – The Cranberries
Although in this tutorial, the song isn’t labeled as easy, I think it is the better from the bunch. You only have 4 chords to play that repeat themselves endlessly, so the strumming part is the only challenge. Also, you can play D or F# chord, depending on which is the easiest for you. The song is probably better known in Europe, so if you are from the United States, this is the perfect time to get introduced to it.
3. With or Without You – U2
We are continuing our list of easiest famous songs to play on guitar with this one that should really be a walk in the park. Edge is a skilled guitarist, but he didn’t force himself on one of the most famous songs from U2. You will basically play G, D, Em, and C chords in that order through the whole song. Just get the strumming pattern right, keep on repeating them and there you have. The version for the electric guitar features some delays, but you should turn to it only if you want to experiment a bit.
2. House of the Rising Sun – The Animals
If you’ve read some of my previous guitar related lists, you know I think this is the perfect song for the beginners. It will teach you the basic chords, one barre chord and help your strumming habits. If you are more of an advanced guitar player, the tutorial below features a couple of versions, so you can take whichever you think is best.
1. Knocking on Heavens Door– Bob Dylan
This song just had to be on top of our list of easiest famous songs to play on guitar. We know we might be a little obnoxious putting it on almost our entire list, but it is that easy. Even the biographer of Bob Dylan described it as “an exercise in splendid simplicity”. Although you might get the impression that Bob Dylan wasn’t much of guitar player, the fact was that he just pays more attention to the lyrics than the accompanying music. If you really like the song, once you perfect the craft of playing the guitar, you should revisit it, but the way Guns N’ Roses play it.
