Easy Songs to Learn on Guitar (Sorted by Difficulty So You Can Stop Guessing)

Every guitar song claims to be easy right up until the F chord walks in. 🎸

Picking the right song makes practice feel like progress. A well-chosen song gives your fingers a win this week and a challenge for next week. This guide sorts real titles from MakeMusic Shop into four levels, so you can fret not and press play on a song that fits where you are right now.

How do you know if a guitar song is easy?

Check these five things before you commit:

• Chord count: Songs built on three or four chords come together fastest.
• Chord shapes: Open chords come first, and barre chords come later.
• Rhythm: Steady strumming is a friendlier start than fingerpicking.
• Tempo: A slower song gives your fingers time to switch shapes.
• Notation: Chords and lyrics show you the shapes. Tab shows you the exact string and fret.

Guitar chords and lyrics or guitar tab: which should you choose?

Chords and lyrics work well for strumming and singing along. You see the words with the chord names above them. Tab works well for riffs and melodies because it shows exactly where each note lives on the neck. Both formats are in MakeMusic Shop as instant downloads, so you can print a copy and put it on your stand today.

Level 1: Starter Songs (strum along)

These songs reward a short list of chord shapes and a steady strum. Your ear already knows the melody, which helps your fingers find their way.

• Lean On Me (Bill Withers, chords and lyrics): A song everyone knows by heart, so your ear leads the way.
• Count On Me (Bruno Mars, chords and lyrics): A feel-good strummer that sounds great with a singalong.
• Riptide (Vance Joy, chords and lyrics): A catchy chord loop you’ll want to replay all afternoon.

Skills you’ll build: Clean chord changes, a steady strumming hand, and singing while you play.

Level 2: Easy Riffs and Gentle Ballads

Now your fingers meet a famous riff or a slower song with a few more chord changes.

• Smoke On The Water (Deep Purple, guitar tab): One of rock’s most famous riffs, and a rite of passage for many guitarists.
• Another One Bites The Dust (Queen, guitar tab): A groove built on a short, repeating pattern, great for tightening your rhythm.
• Imagine (John Lennon, chords and lyrics): A gentle tempo gives you time to settle into each chord.

• House Of The Rising Sun (traditional folk song, chords and lyrics): A rolling pattern that’s fun to fingerpick once the chords feel comfortable.

Skills you’ll build: Reading tab, playing a riff cleanly, and smoother changes at a slower tempo.

Level 3: Next-step Songs

This level brings in barre chords, power chords, and longer songs that call for steady timing.

• Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen, chords and lyrics): A slow, swaying song that builds timing and chord-change confidence.
• Hotel California (Eagles, chords and lyrics): A great place to put your barre chords to work.
• Eye Of The Tiger (Survivor, guitar tab): A punchy riff that gives your picking hand a workout.

Skills you’ll build: Barre chords, power chords, and playing through a full song without stopping.

Level 4: Show-off Songs

You’re ready for fingerstyle patterns and rock epics. Take your time, loop the tricky bars, and enjoy the climb.

• Blackbird (The Beatles, guitar tab): A fingerstyle favorite that rewards patient practice.
• Nothing Else Matters (Metallica, guitar tab): An iconic fingerpicked intro that sounds impressive and teaches a lot.
• Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen, guitar tab): A guitar part for one of rock’s biggest epics.

Skills you’ll build: Fingerpicking, dynamics, and stamina for long, detailed songs.

How do you move up a level?

Move up when you can play your current song start to finish at a steady tempo with clean chord changes. Then pick one song from the next level and keep your favorite from this one in your rotation. Playing a familiar song between new ones keeps practice fun.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest song to learn on guitar?

Songs built on a few open chords at a steady tempo are the easiest to learn. Lean On Me, Count On Me, and Riptide are good places to start.

Do I need to read music to play these songs?

No. Chords and lyrics show you which shapes to play, and tab shows you where to place your fingers on the neck.

Can I print these songs?

Yes. Digital sheet music in MakeMusic Shop is an instant download, so you can print and start playing today.

Ready to find your next song?

Browse guitar chords, tab, and method books in MakeMusic Shop, then download and print your pick in minutes. For some titles, you can also sort by difficulty and grade level to find the right fit. Sign in with your MakeMusic Cloud or Studio email to get 25% off sitewide. 🎶

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