Which songs should I start with on the guitar?
People often start playing the guitar with a lot of enthusiasm and a bit of clumsiness. Fingers fumble for the strings, chords sound off-key, and the rythm . And yet, it only takes a few chords to bring out a melody and shape a chorus.
Choosing your first track is a crucial moment. If it’s too complicated, you’ll get discouraged. If it’s too simple, you’ll feel like you’re going in circles. The right track should make you want to try again, give you confidence, motivate you, and help you improve.
But which song should you choose to really get started on the guitar? The one you’ve loved for years? The easiest one you found online? A must-play classic? Here are some tips and a selection of songs to help you get started on the guitar!
What Makes a Good Song for Beginners to Learn on Guitar
In practical terms, what makes a song “suitable” for a beginner learning to play the guitar? It’s not a matter of style. Rock, pop, folk, French chanson… anything works. It’s mainly simple technical criteria that make the difference.
Few agreements
A good song to start with usually has around 2 to 4 chords at most. This gives you time to get comfortable with the fingerings and work on the transitions without stress. The more chords there are, the more challenging the changes become.
Open agreements
Open chords (E, A, D, G, C, A minor, E minor, etc.) are a beginner’s best friend. They require less strength than barre chords and already allow you to play a wide variety of songs.
A rythm , repetitive rythm
A song that repeats the same rhythmic pattern throughout the verse and chorus is ideal. No need for complexity: a steady back-and-forth is more than enough to start with. The most important thing is consistency.
A moderate tempo
The faster the tempo, the harder it is to change chords. A slow to moderate tempo helps you stay relaxed and in control.
A simple structure
Verse / chorus / verse / chorus. That’s perfect. A clear structure helps you memorize the song faster and feel like you’re on familiar ground.
In short: simplicity, consistency, musicality. A good first track shouldn’t try to impress. It should inspire confidence and make you want to explore further.
10 Easy Songs for Beginners on Guitar
Here is a selection of songs that are easy to play when you're just starting out on the guitar.
1. Horse with No Name – America
Number of chords: 2
Difficulty: very easy
Ideal for: practicing consistency with the right hand
This piece is almost instructional in nature. Two chords alternate from start to finish: you can focus solely on the rythm fluidity. It’s perfect for establishing a steady back-and-forth motion without the stress of complex changes.
2. Knockin' on Heaven's Door – Bob Dylan
Number of chords: 4 open chords
Difficulty: easy
Ideal for: learning slow transitions
The progression repeats in a loop, allowing you to anticipate the changes. It’s an excellent exercise for smoothly transitioning between G, D, A minor, or C (depending on the tonality ) without rushing.
3. Stand by Me – Ben E. King
Number of chords: 4
Difficulty: easy
Ideal for: understanding harmonic cycles
The chord progression repeats almost throughout the entire song. It’s a great way to understand how a progression can carry an entire song. Start by practicing it slowly, then gradually increase the tempo.
4. Wonderwall – Oasis
Number of chords: 4 to 5
Difficulty: beginner to intermediate
Ideal for: stabilizing a repetitive sequence
The chords require a bit of precision in finger placement, but the structure is very repetitive. Once you get the hang of it, the piece quickly becomes rewarding to play.
5. I'm Yours – Jason Mraz
Number of chords: 4
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Perfect for: working on your groove
The challenge here isn't in the chords, but in the rhythmic flow. It's a great piece for learning to play more loosely and maintain a steady rhythm.
6. Let It Be – The Beatles
Number of chords: 4 main chords
Difficulty: easy
Ideal for: laying a standard game
The tempo is comfortable and the chords are standard. Great for building a solid foundation without excessive technical pressure.
7. Zombie – The Cranberries
Number of chords: 4
Difficulty: moderate
Perfect for: learning power chords
The rythm more energetic. If you play electric guitar, this is a great introduction to power chords.
8. Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes
Type: single-note riff
Difficulty: easy
Ideal for: hand-eye coordination
No complicated chords here. The guitar work is done note by note. Perfect for developing precision and clarity in your playing.
9. Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Green Day
Number of chords: 4
Difficulty: moderate
Perfect for: building rythm power chords
A clear, repetitive progression. Very engaging to play once you get the hang of it.
10. I Love Her to Death – Francis Cabrel
Number of chords: 4 to 5
Difficulty: easy
Ideal for: developing smoothness and consistency
A great choice in French, with a smooth progression and a comfortable pace that lets you get into the game.
Would you like to start singing to accompany your instrument? A Complete Guide to Mastering Coordination.
5 Easy French Songs for Beginners on Guitar
Want to start with songs in French? Great idea. The French-language repertoire is full of accessible songs, featuring open chords and clear rhythms.
Santiano – Hugues Aufray
Few chords, with a steady, catchy rhythm. Perfect for practicing barre chords and maintaining a steady tempo.
"La Javanaise" – Serge Gainsbourg
A smooth progression, perfect for working on the precision of your sequences. Technically accessible, yet highly educational musically.
Mistral Gagnant – Renaud
A great piece for getting started with simple arpeggios. It has a comfortable tempo, making it ideal for establishing a steady rhythm and working on consistency.
The Champs-Élysées – Joe Dassin
A clear structure, accessible chords, and an instantly recognizable chorus. It’s really fun to play right from the start.
Take Me Away – Charles Aznavour
A fairly standard chord progression, a moderate tempo, and a clear structure. This piece allows you to work on the consistency of your right hand while paying close attention to interpretation. It’s excellent practice for learning how to accompany a voice.
Should we start with the chords or the riffs?
This is a question that often comes up when you're just starting out on the guitar: is it better to learn chords first, or to dive right into a recognizable riff?
In reality, the two approaches complement each other.
Chords: The Solid Foundation
Learning open chords (E, A, D, G, C, Am, Em…) quickly enables you to play entire songs on the guitar. Even with just three or four chord shapes, your repertoire becomes quite extensive.
Practicing chords means learning:
how to position your fingers correctly,
to move from one position to the next without stopping,
to maintain a rythm .
Once these basics are in place, many pieces fall into place.
Riffs: instant gratification
Riffs, on the other hand, have a huge advantage: they’re instantly recognizable. Just a few well-placed notes, and everyone knows the song.
A simple riff is a great way to practice:
right-hand/left-hand accuracy,
playing note by note,
rhythmic regularity.
Even if you don't play the whole song, you already feel like you're "getting into" the music.
The best approach? Alternate between a chord-based piece to build fluidity and a simple riff for fun and precision.
When you start playing the guitar, you quickly end up with a pile of chord screenshots, saved YouTube videos, and hastily scribbled notes. The result: you spend more time searching than playing.
A good habit to get into right from the start: keeping your music in one place. With the Newzik app, you can:
keep your sheet music and chord charts all in one place,
note down the difficult changes,
slow down and tackle your work step by step,
create your own “beginner’s playlist.”
Want to start organizing your first tracks today? Discover Newzik and create your own personalized playlist.
FAQ – Getting Started with Guitar: Questions Everyone Asks
What is the easiest song to play on the guitar?
Songs with two or three open chords are the easiest to learn. Ideally, choose a song with a rythm and a repetitive chord progression. This allows you to focus on the transitions without getting bogged down by technical complexity.
Songs like “Horse with No Name” or “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” are often recommended because they allow you to focus on the rythm getting bogged down by complex changes.
The most important thing is to choose a song you like. Motivation makes a big difference.
Which song should I learn first on the guitar?
For your first track, choose:
few chords (2 to 4),
open chords (E, A, D, G, C, A minor, E minor),
a simple verse-chorus structure,
at a moderate pace.
Folk, pop, and French chanson classics are a great place to start.
How long does it take to play your first song on the guitar?
With a song that has just two or three chords, you can learn a simplified version in a few days if you practice regularly.
For a song with 4 open chords:
1 to 2 weeks to do them back-to-back without a break,
2 to 4 weeks to improve your fluidity.
Consistency is more important than duration: just ten minutes a day is enough to make progress.
Can you teach yourself to play the guitar using songs?
Yes. Many guitarists started out by learning songs right away.
Songs help you practice:
the agreements,
the rythm,
coordination,
a good ear for music.
Having some technical basics helps, but the songs themselves are a great way to learn.
Should you learn chords before riffs?
Chords are usually the first step, since they allow you to play full songs quickly.
Riffs, on the other hand, are very motivating and help build precision. The best approach is to alternate: a chord-based piece for fluidity, and a simple riff for precision.
Is it easier to start with an acoustic or an electric guitar?
Both are suitable for beginners.
Playing the acoustic guitar strengthens your fingers and makes it easier to learn open chords.
Playing the electric guitar sometimes requires less effort on the strings and can be very motivating if you like riffs.
Why don't my chords sound right at first?
That's normal. The strings may buzz or be muffled if your fingers aren't positioned correctly on the guitar yet.
With the repetition:
the pressure becomes more precise,
transitions become smoother,
The sound improves naturally.
Progress is often imperceptible from one day to the next, but becomes very clear over the course of a few weeks.
