10 Easy (ish) Guitar Songs for Beginners - Plus some bonus Irish tunes........
You've got a guitar! Yes! Now, what the heckfire do I do with this thing.......?
As a beginner guitarist, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to learning songs. Obviously you'll have your own musical leanings so get on the interwebs and find what you love. But, in case you would need some quick inspiration, we've put together a list of 10 easy guitar songs that are perfect for beginners to learn. Whether you're interested in rock, pop, or folk music, there's should be something on this list for everyone.
"Wonderwall" by Oasis - You're not really learning guitar until you can punish others with a broken rendition of Wonderwall. This classic 90s guitar tune is a great one for beginners to learn. It only uses a handful of chords and has a fairly simple strumming pattern.
"Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison - Another classic song that's easy to learn, "Brown Eyed Girl" uses just a few open chords and has a super catchy melody that's sure to get stuck in your head. This tutorial is clear and really well put together, as one would only expect from JustinGuitar.
"Horse with No Name" by America - This laid-back folk rock tune features a simple chord progression and a memorable melody. Basically just two chords, this song is great for practicing your strumming, the variations of which are really well detailed in this video.
"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd - You've probably been to a wedding before, or any kind of function that has a backing DJ that is just there to help get the aunties moving. Well, while this tune will always be associated with low brow musicality, it's actually a great tune for beginners to practice a nice picking pattern and simple guitar licks, and it's also our first taste of electric guitar in this list. I mean, it's no worse than Wonderwall.....
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan - That's right, before Guns and Roses this was actually a folk song. I know, crazy eh? This iconic Dylan tune features just fa few easy enough chords and has a memorable chorus that's easy to sing along with. There's nothing to stop you from adding a little distortion also, if you would like to.
"Don't worry, Be Happy" by Bobby Mc Ferrin- We've all whistled (or at least attempted to) this tune at some point in our lives. A classic in joyous abandon and simple strumming, this tune will cement your campfire status for many years to come.
"I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz - "I'm Yours" is a fun, upbeat tune that would feel rather at home at a beach party. Possibly while staring into the eyes of a lady, or boy, or both at the same time if you can manage. The tune features a fairly simple chord progression and a catchy melody and is a great song for practicing your rhythm playing.
"Zombie" by The Cranberries - You know if you start playing this everyone will start singing along. That's what makes it an absolute classic and the fairly accessible chord pattern makes singing over the top fairly doable. Some very nice explanations of the strumming patterns here also.
"House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals - This classic folk song has been covered by countless artists over the years and features a memorable melody and fairly simple chord progression. This video has great coverage of different ways to play this tune from a simple, beginners rendition to a more traditional fingerstyle version.
"Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty - This absolutely classic Tom Petty tune features a nice chord progression and a really memorable melody that's wonderful for singing along to.
So there's those. But as we are an Irish music store and are consequently steeped in our own rich musical heritage, here's a few classic Irish numbers that would be fun to have in the bag also. Great for Paddy's Day, trips the fields and glens and other stereotypical things, these tunes aren't always the easiest, but they are classics.
"Whiskey in the Jar" - Traditional Irish folk song - You certainly know the Thin Lizzy version, and you've probably been subjected to Metallicas offering at some point. This classic Irish tune has been covered by countless artists over the years and features a simple chord progression that's fairly easy for beginners to pick up.
"The Wild Rover" - Traditional Irish folk song - Another popular Irish folk song, "The Wild Rover" features a simple chord progression and a memorable melody that's easy to sing along to.
"Danny Boy" - Traditional Irish folk song - Now, obviously The Muppets do the greatest version of this song that has ever been committed to tape but there wasn't any guitar involved unfortunately. One of the most iconic Irish songs, "Danny Boy" features a simple chord progression, a picking pattern that is nice to learn and a beautiful melody that's perfect for beginners to learn.
"Fields of Athenry" - Pete St. John - A staple of sessions, football matches and pubs everywhere, this classic Irish ballad features a simple chord progression and a memorable chorus that's easy to sing along to. It's a great song for practicing your strumming and singing skills. Another great video by Flynner.
And that's it for now. We hope this is helpful, inspirational and is a fun way to kick off some silly musical shenanigans.
At Musicmaker, we're committed to helping beginners learn to play guitar. We offer a wide range of guitars, accessories, and online resources to help you get started on your musical journey. Visit us in-store or online today and start learning to play guitar with Musicmaker, one of Dublin's oldest musical instrument stores.
