10 Easy Guitar Songs Every Beginner Should Learn First
One of the best things about learning guitar is that you can start playing real songs surprisingly quickly. You don’t need to wait until you’ve “mastered the basics” — learning actual music is how you master the basics.
The songs in this list were chosen because they sound satisfying to play, use chords and techniques that beginners genuinely need to practise, and span a range of styles so there’s something here for everyone. Whether you’re eight or eighty, working through a handful of these songs will build your skills faster than exercises alone.
If you want to make the most of this list, guitar lessons at Manhattan Music can help you work through these songs with proper technique from the start — so the habits you build are good ones.
Why Learning Songs Beats Drilling Exercises
Exercises have their place, but they’re not what keeps most people practising. Songs do that. When you’re working toward something that sounds like music — something you recognise, something you love — you’re far more likely to pick up the guitar each day.
Each song in this list targets specific skills: chord transitions, strumming patterns, fingerpicking, basic rhythm, and building the muscle memory your hands need. For what to expect in your first year of guitar, these songs represent the kind of progress markers that keep momentum going.
A Note on Chord Diagrams
Each song below uses common open chords. If you’re not yet confident reading chord diagrams — the grid-style diagrams that show you where to place your fingers — our guide to reading chord diagrams explains exactly how they work in simple terms. It’s worth a read before you dive in.
You can also look up any chord in our free chord chart at any point while working through these songs.
The 10 Songs
1. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door — Bob Dylan
Chords: G, D, Am (or C)
This is one of the most beginner-friendly songs ever written, and it sounds beautiful from the very first strum. The chord progression is simple and repetitive, which gives you plenty of time to focus on clean transitions and steady strumming. It’s also a song most people recognise instantly, which means you’ll feel like a real guitarist the moment it comes together.
2. Horse With No Name — America
Chords: Em, D6 (a variation that’s easy to learn)
This is a wonderful early song because it uses just two chords the whole way through, and the strumming pattern is hypnotic and forgiving. The unusual voicing of that second chord sounds distinctive and interesting, which makes the song feel more advanced than it actually is. Great for building strumming consistency.
3. Wonderwall — Oasis
Chords: Em7, G, Dsus4, A7sus4
Yes, it’s a cliché — but it’s a cliché because it genuinely works as a beginner song. The chord shapes are a little unusual, which means you’ll learn some voicings that appear in other songs too. The strumming pattern has a nice push-pull feel that teaches you to play with rhythm rather than just downstrokes.
4. What’s Up — 4 Non Blondes
Chords: A, Bm, D, G
This song covers a strong set of chords that beginners need to practise anyway — the transition between A, Bm, D, and G is something that appears in hundreds of songs. The vocal melody is well-known enough that it’s easy to stay in time. It’s a great one to sing along with as you play.
5. Stand By Me — Ben E. King
Chords: G, Em, C, D
This is one of those songs that introduces four core chords in a progression that reappears throughout popular music. Once you can play Stand By Me, you’ll start recognising the same chord sequence in dozens of other songs — it’s a real “light bulb” moment for many students. Clean, simple, and musically satisfying.
6. Brown Eyed Girl — Van Morrison
Chords: G, C, D, Em
The strumming in this song is slightly more upbeat and syncopated than some of the others on this list, making it a good challenge once you’ve got your first couple of songs under your fingers. The chord shapes are all beginner-friendly, and the song has an energy that makes practising feel fun rather than like homework.
7. Leaving on a Jet Plane — John Denver
Chords: G, C, D
Three chords. That’s it. This is a beautifully straightforward song that sounds lovely and gives you a chance to focus entirely on your chord transitions and strumming rhythm. It’s particularly good for working on the G-to-C transition, which is one that trips many beginners up early on.
8. Free Fallin’ — Tom Petty
Chords: Fsus2, Csus2, Bbsus2 (simplified versions available)
This one’s a little more unusual in its chord shapes, but beginner-friendly versions using a capo make it very accessible. The song has a great feel and a lovely picking pattern option if you want to move beyond strumming. Tom Petty is one of those artists whose songs always feel worth playing.
9. Let Her Go — Passenger
Chords: G, D, Em, C
This song is popular with students of all ages, partly because it’s well-known and partly because the fingerpicking intro sounds impressive even as a beginner. The chord progression is one you’ll encounter repeatedly, and working out the picking pattern is a satisfying project for your second or third month of learning.
10. Blowin’ in the Wind — Bob Dylan
Chords: G, C, D
Another three-chord wonder. Dylan appears twice on this list for good reason — his songs are musically intelligent and emotionally resonant without being technically demanding. Blowin’ in the Wind has a gentle rhythm that’s forgiving while you’re still developing your strumming consistency, and it gives you another opportunity to practise smooth chord changes.
How to Get the Most Out of These Songs
Working through a list like this is most effective when you approach each song with intention. Here are a few tips that will serve you well.
Learn one song at a time rather than jumping between ten at once. Once a song feels comfortable — not perfect, just comfortable — add the next one. Slow things down before you speed them up. If a chord transition is stumbling, practise it in isolation at half speed, then bring it back into the song. And record yourself occasionally. Hearing your own playing is one of the fastest ways to notice what’s improving and what still needs work.
A teacher can help you sequence these songs based on your current level and identify exactly which techniques to focus on. Manhattan Music’s guitar teachers work with students from complete beginners right through to advanced players, and they’re very good at meeting you where you are.
Start Playing Real Music Today
There’s no reason to wait until you feel “ready” before learning songs – songs are what make you ready. Pick one from this list that appeals to you and start there.
If you’d like support and structured guidance as you work through these songs and beyond, Manhattan Music School in Eltham North has been teaching guitar to students of all ages for over 20 years. Call (03) 9439 4800 to find out about lesson availability, or visit our website to book through our guitar lesson program and take the first step.